Coalition Forces

Following investigations into prisoner abuse in Iraq and an ongoing investigation into the deaths of three prisoners in Afghanistan, the U.S. military acknowledged on May 11 that it has changed its treatment for Afghan detainees.  The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David Barno, also dismissed calls to allow human rights groups access to prisoners, insisting that there have been no new complaints since the changes were made.

The next day, U.S. officials conceded that there was an investigation into the alleged stripping, beating and photographing of Afghan police officer Sayed Nabi Siddiqui, arrested on suspicion of being a member of the Taliban.  Siddiqui contends that the abuse occurred in August 2003 at the U.S. base in Gardez, 60 miles south of Kabul. 

In addition, Afghan Human Rights Commissioner Ahmed Zia Langari has informed the United Nations of 44 complaints relating to treatment in U.S. custody as of May 12.  However, none of the other complaints involved torture.

Barno warned on May 12 that attacks from al Qaeda are likely to escalate.  He also stated that after meeting with Pakistan officials on May 11, he is confident in that country’s anti-terrorism efforts.

On Thursday, May 13, during a patrol of the Paj Kotal mountain pass in Kandahar province, U.S. soldiers killed five suspected Taliban militants, capturing five more.  The Americans were reportedly ambushed but sustained no losses. 

On May 15, two U.S. soldiers were hurt and one killed as their convoy was attacked in southern Helmand.  U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Michele DeWerth stated that one person had been detained in conjunction with the attacks.  However, the Afghan intelligence chief for Helmand claimed to have captured two Taliban fighters suspected of the attacks. 

Also in southern Helmand on May 15, a bomb discovered on a bridge was defused by U.S. soldiers.  Six people were arrested in connection with the incident.

Afghan police arrested six Taliban fighters on May 16 after they attempted to smuggle 80 AK-47 assault rifles in an oil tanker into the Kandahar region.  One of those arrested was reported to be Mullah Shirien, who is considered to be an advisor to Taliban leader Mullah Omar.   

The U.S. Army reported on May 18 that 700 Iowa troops will be deployed to Afghanistan within the next two weeks.  They will be stationed there for a year assisting with reconstruction efforts throughout the country.  These soldiers, drawn from the Iowa National Guard, had previously been training at Fort Hood, Texas with Task Force 168, which will provide security for the reconstruction teams.

Barno reported on May 19 that he would dispatch a fellow general to assess the 20 prisons throughout Afghanistan in response to increasing allegations of abuse.  At the time of this announcement, it was not decided who would lead the investigation; however, on May 23, Brig. Gen. Charles Jacoby was selected to lead the inquiry.

General Afghan Security Situation

It was reported on May 10 that a roadside blast hit a UN vehicle carrying election officials the previous day.  The four passengers were unhurt, but the escalation in attacks on UN officials has caused much concern; this is the fourth such attack this year.

Two bodies were discovered in the capital, Kabul, on May 10.  One of the dead is believed to be Swedish, with the other yet to be identified.

Afghan police broke up a 12-man heroin ring in Kabul on May 11, uncovering 31 pounds of heroin.

On May 12, two Afghan soldiers were killed by suspected Taliban fighters near Shahjoy in Zabul province: their convoy was ambushed on a U.S.-made highway.

Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali said on May 13 that government officials and warlords are involved in Afghanistan’s heroin trade.  He stated “I can't tell you particularly who is doing what, but generally I can say, yes, we have proof that the government officials, including security officers, are involved in drug trafficking.”  Many are worried about Afghanistan’s escalating heroin trade.  Last year, the United Nations reported that three quarters of the world’s heroin stemmed from Afghan poppy, which made up about half of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product. 

It was reported on May 18 that the Afghan government had officially launched its nationwide disarmament plan.  The Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) had been running as a pilot program in five regions since October.

Also on May 18, a two-day conference began in Doha, where representatives from more than 20 countries discussed financial and personnel needs for Afghan police.  An initial agreement led to a $200 million donation being pledged the first day.

Four employees of the Afghan government’s Central Statistics Office were injured on May 20 when a remote controlled bomb detonated as they drove through Jaji Maydan district of Khost province.  Two of the injured were seriously hurt.  Also on May 20, a homemade bomb was found in a girls’ school being used to register voters for the up-coming September election. 

Two police officers were killed on a road-side ambush on May 21.  The officers were escorting UN workers to their home, when shortly after the drop-off, their car came under attack between Shindand and Farah City.

International Security Assistance Force

On May 11, a rocket was fired at the main ISAF base in east Kabul.  One soldier was slightly injured; his identity was not revealed.

Top NATO officials met on May 18 to discuss the alliance’s role in Afghanistan.  Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer argued that Afghanistan is a test case of how to cooperate outside of Europe.  So far, NATO has been unsuccessful in providing security outside of the capital, Kabul.  

During a May 20 visit to a German-run police training center in Kabul, Germany’s Interior Minister Otto Schily praised the efforts taking place there.  He also pledged $57 million for training Afghan police. 

ISAF suffered two casualties on May 23, when a rocket struck a vehicle near Jalalabad road.

Pakistan

Pakistan Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz met with his Afghan counterpart to discuss trade between the two countries on May 17.  Cross-border trade has been on the rise; however, amid fears over Afghanistan’s heroin production, the Afghan minister urged the establishment of a textile factory so that farmers could start growing cotton once again.  Aziz also revealed that Pakistan is purchasing scanning machines for border crossings to discourage smuggling between the countries.

The Afghan government’s National Security Ministry reported on May 19 that it had arrested an alleged spy from Pakistan.  The suspect, Mohammad Sahil, admitted to fighting under the Taliban in the Panjwar district of Kandahar, and pleaded for his release in return for his renouncing violence.  Afghanistan has periodically accused Pakistan of spying, and cited this arrest as proof. The Afghan government apparently has as many as 500 suspects in custody for on suspicion of committing espionage. 

U.S. and Pakistani military officials met on May 24 to discuss ways to stop U.S. military incursions into Pakistan territory.  The Islamabad government has issued statements condemning these incidents, which reportedly happened on May 5 and 20.   

Other News in Brief

• On May 10, Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a rare trip to the Western Herat to meet with the governor, Ismail Khan.  The trip comes just one day after Khan described the on-going process to disarm factional fighters as impeding Afghanistan’s national security rather than aiding it.  Khan has claimed that disarming his, and other men, would create a giant power vacuum, threatening the country’s stability.  This is only the second trip Karzai has made to the region since being elected president two and a half years ago, and also comes on the heels of a clash in March between Khan’s fighters and troops of a military commander aligned with the central government.  Khan’s son, Mirwais Sadiq, who served as Karzai’s aviation minister, was killed in the March fighting.
    
• A day ahead of a May 12 ministerial conference to be chaired by UNDP administrator Mark Brown, UN officials urged central Asian countries to conduct more trade with Afghanistan.  Similarly, Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani expressed hope that the country could move beyond its heroin-driven economy and become a land bridge for the Central Asian Republics.
     
• It was reported on May 15 that Russia would be pulling its troops out from the 840 mile-long Tajik-Afghan border at the request of the Tajikstan government, even though two weeks earlier Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov said the handover would be a Russian decision.  Currently, it is estimated that there are 20,000 Russian troops within Tajikstan.  The pull-outs has caused concerns with the U.S. government because the area is a ripe for drug trafficking.  
    
• Afghanistan’s ex-king Mohammed Zahin Shah, 89, traveled to the United Arab Emirates on May 21 for medical treatment.  This is his fifth trip abroad for medical purposes since his return to Afghanistan in 2002 from exile in Italy.

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