Balkh

Noor. However, that stability is largely dependent on Noor’s relations with another former warlord, First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum. In June [2015] the traditional rivals agreed to work together to restore security to northern Afghanistan.

Description of the violence

From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Balkh province counted 226 security incidents. Table 28 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents: (¹⁴⁷⁶)

Violence targeting individuals 30 Armed confrontations and airstrikes 81

Explosions 26

Security enforcement 70

Non-conflict related incidents 18

Other incidents 1

Total security incidents 226

Table 28: Security incidents by type, Balkh (Jan - Aug 2015)

The map in figure 31 presents the number of security incidents per district in Balkh province. (¹⁴⁷⁷)

Figure 31: Balkh, security incidents (Jan-Aug 2015)

The London-based private security company Edinburgh International stated in December 2014: (¹⁴⁷⁸)

An increase in armed attacks is currently occurring in the regional hub Mazar-e Sharif and neighbouring districts of Balkh, raising the prospect of a brief revival in insurgent activity in line with seasonal trends. While such attacks remain almost exclusively directed against the national security forces, sporadic bombings in Balkh’s major cities have been known to extend to civilian targets and could pose an indirect threat to the multitude of international and non-governmental agencies which operate from the city.

(¹⁴⁷⁶)  For more information on the source of the data and the methodology, see introduction.

(¹⁴⁷⁷)  For more information on the source and the methodology of the maps, see introduction.

(¹⁴⁷⁸)  Edinburgh International, Afghanistan Weekly Security Report, 4 December 2014.

Sporadically explosives went off in the city of Mazare Sharif. The target was not always clear. When a bomb placed on a handcart exploded on a fruit market in Mazar, three people were wounded at the end of November 2014. (¹⁴⁷⁹) At the end of March 2015, in two separate incidents, unknown gunmen killed two persons in the streets of Mazar. One was a relative of a provincial council member, the other an official of the ministry of Foreign Affairs, believed to be a close relative to provincial governor Mohammad Atta Noor. (¹⁴⁸⁰) At the beginning of April 2015, four heavily armed men dressed in military clothing attacked a court complex in Mazar-e Sharif. The attack lasted for many hours and only ended when all four attackers were killed by security forces. Depending on the source, 10 to 18 people were killed and more the 60 wounded, almost all of them civilians or civilian personnel of the court. (¹⁴⁸¹)

The western districts of Chimtal and Chahar Bolak were deemed relatively insecure and were, along with Balkh District, the centres of poppy cultivation in the province. (¹⁴⁸²) The area is also known for producing cannabis, which is another major factor of instability. (¹⁴⁸³) Together with Sholgar and Zari, this western part of Balkh is a mountainous area known as the Alborzmountain range. (¹⁴⁸⁴) According to researcher Paul Fishstein: (¹⁴⁸⁵)

Security in some areas of Balkh such as Jar Qalah was considered better due to the creation several years ago, under the sponsorship of Governor Atta, of the Afghan Local Police (ALP), which puts some money in local pockets, even if it raises concerns about long-term stability. Areas of Char Bolak, while not considered completely secure, were seen as better than two years ago. Taliban were said to circulate mainly at night, with elements from Koh-e Alburz (Alburz Mountains) attacking Chimtal and also collecting ten percent ushr (traditional tithe paid to the mullah or other religious leader for their services) in order to keep the opium poppy fields safe. Variation in security even within the two districts underlines the localised nature of conditions in Afghanistan.

Most insecurity incidents in this reporting period are from this area, with the epicentre in Chimtal district. In December 2014, an unknown person lobbed a hand grenade at a wedding party in Chimtal district, killing four guests and wounding 20 more. (¹⁴⁸⁶) Local security officials blamed insurgents for the attack. (¹⁴⁸⁷) In December 2014, ANSF conducted a military operation in the Chimtal district, claiming to have killed several insurgents. However, the Taliban spokesperson claimed to have killed several ANSF personnel in a bomb attack in the Alborz locality. (¹⁴⁸⁸) In January 2015 and April 2015, the ANA, together with police and intelligence forces of the NDS, launched major operations in the Alborz mountains to clear the area of insurgents. (¹⁴⁸⁹) One month later, ANSF held another major offensive in Khishindeh, Zari and Sholgar districts to clear these areas of insurgents. (¹⁴⁹⁰) A government spokesperson stated the operation was part of a wider campaign against the Taliban and IMU fighters who had been moving into neighbouring Sar-e Pul province in large numbers since 2014. (¹⁴⁹¹)

In February 2015, police claimed to have killed two insurgents in Sholgar district. (¹⁴⁹²) At the end of March 2015, depending on the source, three to five people were kidnapped while travelling between Sholgar and Mazar. The reasons for the abduction were unclear at the time of reporting. (¹⁴⁹³) In June 2015, seven Afghan nationals working for a Czech NGO and two security guards were killed in an attack on their compound in Zari district. A government spokesperson claimed the attackers were Taliban and foreign fighters from the IMU who crossed into Balkh from

(¹⁴⁷⁹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 civilians injured in Balkh market blast, 28 November 2014.

(¹⁴⁸⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, MoFA official gunned down in Balkh, 30 March 2015.

(¹⁴⁸¹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 dead, 67 hurt in militants attack in Balkh, 9 April 2015; Tolonews, Siege Ends but 10 Dead, 66 injured, 9 April 2015; RFE/RL, Deadly Siege Of Afghan Court Complex Ends, 9 April 2015.

(¹⁴⁸²)  Fishstein, P., Evolving terrain: Opium Poppy Cultivation In Balkh and Badakhshan Provinces in 2013, February 2014, p. 8.

(¹⁴⁸³)  AREU, A Little Bit Poppy-free and a Little Bit Eradicated: Opium poppy cultivation in Balkh and Badakhshan Provinces in 2011-2012, May 2013.

(¹⁴⁸⁴)  Pajhwok Afghan News, All Balkh polling stations be secured, 24 February 2014.

(¹⁴⁸⁵)  Fishstein, P., Briefing note on fieldwork in Balkh Province, May 2015. Opium Poppy and rural livelihoods, October 2015, p. 1.

(¹⁴⁸⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 wedding guests killed, 20 wounded, 7 December 2014.

(¹⁴⁸⁷)  Tolonews, Unknown Gunmen Attack Wedding Party in Balkh, 7 December 2014.

(¹⁴⁸⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 47 insurgents perish in new operations, 20 December 2014.

(¹⁴⁸⁹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan forces launch counterinsurgency offensive in Balkh, 16 January 2015; Tolonews, ANA Operation Successfully Underway in Balkh, 16 January 2015; Tolonews, Security Forces Launch Operation ‘Alborz Yak’ in Balkh, 30 April 2015.

(¹⁴⁹⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Balkh districts cleared of militants: official, 31 May 2015.

(¹⁴⁹¹)  RFE/RL, Nine Afghans Killed In Attack On Guesthouse, 2 June 2015.

(¹⁴⁹²)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 15 rebels dead in fresh bout of violence, 23 February 2015.

(¹⁴⁹³)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Gunmen kidnap 3 civilians including trader in Balkh, 30 March 2015; Tolonews, Unknown Gunmen Abduct Five Passengers in Balkh, 30 March 2015; Ariana News, 5 Local residents Kidnapped in mid way of Sholgara-Balkh Province, 30 March 2015.

the neighbouring province of Sar-e Pul. (¹⁴⁹⁴) In July 2015, a bomb exploded, depending on the source, in or near a mosque in Sholgara district. The blast killed one or three civilians and injured 11 to 14. (¹⁴⁹⁵)

At the end of December 2014, two civilians were wounded when an explosives–laden motorbike drove into a border police vehicle in the town of Hayratan. (¹⁴⁹⁶)

The districts of Balkh and Dawlatabad are included in the APPRO study on women’s security in transition. At the end of November 2014, the survey concluded that in Balkh district, the security situation had improved because the initial post-election rise in insurgent activity had waned. Unlike Balkh, residents of Dawlatabad said the security situation got worse in the villages and rural areas around Dawlatabad, mostly in the eastern districts. However, respondents blamed insecurity in Chimtal and Chahar Bolak primarily on criminality, including theft and robbery. (¹⁴⁹⁷)

After a kidnapping attempt was foiled, the provincial chief of police announced in June 2015 an increase of police checkpoints throughout the province, reacting to what he described as ‘a spike in insecurity’. (¹⁴⁹⁸)

Displacement

From January to July 2015, no displacement was profiled by UNHCR originating from Balkh. In July 2015, UNHCR stated: (¹⁴⁹⁹)

Since the beginning of the year, few families had been assessed by the IDP Task Force. However, as a result of the growing instability in the northern region, during the last months, and particularly in July, authorities in Balkh started to report a growing presence of IDP families in the Province. Families were reported to have moved across provinces, from unstable areas to the most urbanised and developed provinces of Northern Afghanistan. As previous assessments showed, the more stable and secure situation mixed with the enhanced economic and livelihood opportunities, continued to be pull factors driving IDPs and other individuals towards Balkh, largely from Sar-i-Pul and Faryab but also as far as Kunduz.

In July, DoRR in Balkh received a significant number of petitions from families claiming to be newly displaced to the province. Based past experience, the IDP Task Force members felt that some of those families could be from areas not directly affected by the conflict and travelled to Balkh solely for economic opportunities. During July 2015, the teams visited 120 families and identified 54 families/290 individuals as conflict-induced IDPs who were assessed by the joint teams. They were largely from Qaisar district of Faryab and had left their houses due to military operations and generalised insecurity and violence. (¹⁵⁰⁰)

Actors in the conflict

An important player in the north is the 209th Shaheen Military Corps, based in Balkh province and led by General Zalmai Weesa. (¹⁵⁰¹) The head of the training department of the Shaheen corps was killed at the end of February 2015 by his own secretary. (¹⁵⁰²)

According to a study by APPRO, ANA and ANP are generally considered capable, helpful and respectful to women.

In Balkh district, the decline in insurgent activity was attributed to ANSF effectiveness and specifically to the new district police chief. (¹⁵⁰³)

ALP is deployed in the Alborz districts of Chimtal, Chahar Bolak and Sholgara. (¹⁵⁰⁴) Some concerns are also voiced about the ALP being a source of unrest in some districts. ‘ALP were generally considered as groups of armed men with no responsibility and a source of instability. The fact that many ALP members do not wear uniforms adds to

(¹⁴⁹⁴)  RFE/RL, Nine Afghans Killed In Attack On Guesthouse, 2 June 2015.

(¹⁴⁹⁵)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 killed, 11 injured in Balkh mosque bombing, 17 July 2015; Tolonews, Balkh blast kills 3, injures 14 near mosque, 17 July 2015.

(¹⁴⁹⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 civilians hurt in Hairatan suicide attack, 28 December 2014.

(¹⁴⁹⁷)  APPRO, Afghanistan: Monitoring Women’s Security in Transition. Cycle 5, January 2015, p. 19-22.

(¹⁴⁹⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, More security check posts established in Balkh: Police, 21 June 2015.

(¹⁴⁹⁹)  UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced Displacement (January to July 2015), 16 September 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁰⁰)  UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-induced Internal Displacement – Monthly Update, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁰¹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Rebels’ infiltration into north blocked: Weesa, 22 December 2014.

(¹⁵⁰²)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Shaheen Military Corps official shot dead in Balkh, 28 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁰³)  APPRO, Afghanistan: Monitoring Women’s Security in Transition. Cycle 5, January 2015, pp. 19-22.

(¹⁵⁰⁴)  US Department of Defense, Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, April 2014, p. 55.

confusion and mistrust of ALP by community members.’ (¹⁵⁰⁵) Allegations that the provincial government paid and armed militias alongside the ANSF were denied by governor Atta Noor in June 2015. (¹⁵⁰⁶) Yet RFE/RL claimed to have interviewed local commanders that were paid 10,000 afghanis (USD160) per month and armed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs to fight the insurgents in the eastern parts of the province, both inside and outside the ALP programme.

Pashtun tribal elders claimed these militias ‘prey on villagers’: (¹⁵⁰⁷)

The tribal elder said militiamen were exhorting taxes from them, burning their crops, making arbitrary arrests, and even killing and raping villagers. ‘The region is being flooded with weapons,’ says the tribal leader. ‘Nobody knows which are the soldiers, police, militias, or militants. Everybody is fighting and killing each other.’

In January 2015, shortly after IS announced the birth of the Khorasan chapter, jihadi leaders and youth created the group Margh (‘Death’) in Mazar-e Sharif. They claimed they had 5,000 followers and would fight against any form of terrorism in Afghanistan. (¹⁵⁰⁸) Not much has been heard of the group since. In Khulm district, the provincial administration has embarked on creating community policing forums called ‘Peace Committees’, said to bridge the gap between people and police and join hands against criminals. (¹⁵⁰⁹)

Insurgents include Taliban, and also IMU and al Qaeda. According to Landinfo, these groups cooperate with each other. (¹⁵¹⁰) In August 2015, the Taliban issued a statement in which mullah Mohammad Younus was named in charge of the province Balkh. (¹⁵¹¹)