Foreign & Security Policy

Every year, when the western countries’ parliaments debate about the extension or otherwise of their troops’ mission in Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan get concerned and anxious. More than 60% of Afghans want the international forces to remain in the country and 88% consider the Taliban and al-Qaeda the perpetrators of violence. 

Afghanistan’s south eastern province of Khost is well connected with important centers of trade on the other side of the border in Pakistan. At the same time, these advantages are also being used by insurgents and make Khost a primary spot for infiltration. TLO, a partner organization of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, takes a closer look at Khost province and analyzes the effects of the erosion of tribal unity there over the last decades. 

As the second day of the post-”cablegate” news cycle unfolds, local media in Jordan seems to have only stuck out its head enough to disseminate the government’s position in a slew of standardized articles in the major newspapers all reiterating the same denials and reaffirming the same positions.

Afghan President Karzai established “Peace Council” for negotiations with the Taliban. The names of 68 members of this council were announced, and hold few surprises

The final document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference includes reference to the convening of a conference in 2012 to discuss the idea of a Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free-Zone (WMDFZ) for the Middle East.

On Wednesday, June 2, the long-announced Peace Jirga starts in Kabul. 1600 delegates from all over Afghanistan will come together to discuss whether and how peace can be achieved. People are unsure what to expect from a gathering on which even a day before it is happening neither participants nor agenda have been made public. More easy than to know who will be attending the Jirga is to know who will not be there: The armed opposition has not been invited, the political opposition declares its boycott and women have only reluctantly been included.  

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is currently being attacked by radical islamists. Recently a UNRWA summer camp for palestine boys and girls has been set on fire. John Ging about the humanitarian crisis due to the Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in violation of international law.

On the occasion of the new Israeli residence order for the West Bank, Bernd Asbach interviewed Issam Nassar, co-founder of the "Institute for Jerusalem Studies" from Jerusalem.

How do the US bilateral nuclear deals with India and the United Arab Emirates influence the visions of a nuclear weapon-free world and the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in May? An article by

In many parts of Afghanistan, non-state institutions remain relevant to security and stability, despite repeated and concerted state-led attempts from the late 19th century onward to expand its administrative influence, including control over the provision of security and the administration of justice. This policy brief examines the historical background of tribal contracts, to what extent they still play a role in local governance today, and what implications can be drawn for the current promotion of community governance arrangements.