Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has overturned the ban on special forces night raids. There is acute awareness of Afghan public opposition to night raids and the danger that the policy reversal may expose Ghani to some future political attacks. However, the fact that Ghani and the White House are willing to stir up negative public sentiment during a politically fragile period may give some indication of the seriousness with which they are taking the threat posed by a resurgence in Taliban activity.
Tag: Taliban
The monthly briefing, December 2014: Civilian rule returns to Burkina Faso, concern over Russia’s territorial expansion, conflict with Islamic State increasingly complex
The first in a new series of monthly political and security risk briefings that have replaced our weekly updates. This month: civilian rule returns to Burkina Faso but armed forces retain considerable power; concern over territorial expansion after Russia signs treaty with Georgian breakaway territory of Abkhazia; conflict with Islamic State in Syria becomes increasingly complex; and more.
The weekly briefing, 2 June 2014
Political and security risk updates from the Open Briefing intelligence unit. Protesters in Central African Republic demand interim government’s resignation, incumbent president pushed into tight runoff vote in Colombia’s presidential election, Greenpeace activists board drilling rigs bound for the Arctic, and more.
The weekly briefing, 19 May 2014
Political and security risk updates from the Open Briefing intelligence unit. African leaders declare war on Boko Haram, end of winter in Afghanistan marks beginning of Taliban’s spring offensive, Western sanctions threaten Russian Arctic development, and more.
India: Jostling for geopolitical control in Afghanistan
In this article co-published with openDemocracy, Open Briefing contributing analyst Shazad Ali argues that the international community has somewhat ignored India's role in Afghanistan's future, which, in fact, will be pivotal as US forces drawdown in the country by the end of the year.
