Kandahar

The province of Kandahar is known as a commercial hub of the country. (⁵⁷⁰) UN OCHA estimates the population for 2015 to be at 1,226,593. (⁵⁷¹)

The Kabul-Kandahar highway is one of the most important highways in Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghans commute daily to more than 10 provinces for personal and commercial purposes. In recent years this highway has become a hotbed of insurgent violence and organised crime. (⁵⁷²)

Description of the violence

Kandahar is among the most volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan, where anti-government armed militant groups are operating and frequently carry out insurgency activities. (⁵⁷³) Kandahar traditionally accounts for a large share of the security incidents recorded nationwide. (⁵⁷⁴) Military operations, insecurity and clashes between AGEs and ANSF are common in Kandahar. (⁵⁷⁵)

From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Kandahar province counted 1,734 security incidents. Table 10 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents: (⁵⁷⁶)

Violence targeting individuals 109 Armed confrontations and airstrikes 782

Explosions 251

Security enforcement 565

Non-conflict related incidents 22

Other violent incidents 5

Total security incidents 1,734

Table 10: Security incidents by type, Kandahar (Jan - Aug 2015)

The map in figure 12 presents the number of security incidents per district in Kandahar province. (⁵⁷⁷)

Examples of security incidents in the province of Kandahar include: In November 2014, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle attempting to target the third police district detonated his explosives before reaching his target. No other casualties were reported. (⁵⁷⁸) The deputy of the provincial governor of Kandahar province was gunned down during a class at the University of Kandahar. No group claimed responsibility. (⁵⁷⁹)

In December 2014, six people, including two police officers, were killed in a suicide attack targeting the Maywand police headquarters. Five civilians and one police officer were wounded in the attack. According to sources, five attackers were involved in the incident and four of them were killed by the security forces. (⁵⁸⁰)

In January 2015, at least two people, including a child, were wounded during a bomb explosion in the city of Kandahar.

No group claimed responsibility for the incident. (⁵⁸¹)

In February 2015, three civilians and a policeman were killed in a complex suicide attack in the district of Spin Boldak.

Eight other people were injured. The suicide attackers were killed by security forces. (⁵⁸²) Still in February, six police

(⁵⁷⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Background Profile of Kandahar Province, n.d.

(⁵⁷¹)  UNOCHA, AFGHANISTAN: Population Estimate for 2015, 26 August 2015.

(⁵⁷²)  Tolonews, ANP Officers Kidnapped on Kabul-Kandahar Highway, 17 April 2014.

(⁵⁷³)  Khaama Press, Suicide car bomb attack on Kandahar intelligence compound thwarted, 11 September 2015; UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 1 September 2015.

(⁵⁷⁴)  Tolonews, 88 percent increase in civilian casualties: TOLOnews, 5 April 2015; Tolonews, Civilian deaths drop in May amid high insurgent casualties: Report, 6 June 2015.

(⁵⁷⁵)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, June 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, March 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, February 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, January 2015.

(⁵⁷⁶)  For more information on the source of the data and the methodology, see introduction.

(⁵⁷⁷)  For more information on the source and the methodology of the maps, see introduction.

(⁵⁷⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Would-be bomber blown up in Kandahar, 1 November 2014.

(⁵⁷⁹)  RFE/RL, Afghan deputy governor shot dead, 3 November 2014.

(⁵⁸⁰)  Tolonews, Six killed in suicide attack in Kandahar, 8 December 2014.

(⁵⁸¹)  Tolonews, Kandahar explosion injures two civilians, 18 January 2015.

(⁵⁸²)  Tolonews, Kandahar suicide attack kills four, 19 February 2015.

officers were killed in an attack in the district of Maywand. The police arrived while the militants were detonating a mine and the attackers opened fire on them. An unknown number of insurgents were killed as well. (⁵⁸³)

In April 2015, a member of the NDS was shot by an unidentified assailant in Kandahar city. The attacker escaped and no group claimed responsibility for the attack. (⁵⁸⁴) Also in April, three people were killed and an additional 17 were wounded in an explosion in the provincial capital. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. (⁵⁸⁵)

Figure 12: Kandahar, security incidents (Jan - Aug 2015)

In May 2015, three policemen were killed during an insider-attack (⁵⁸⁶) in the Shaheedan area of Maywand district.

The culprits escaped with weapons and ammunition. (⁵⁸⁷) Afghan security forces also clashed with Taliban insurgents in the city of Kandahar after the insurgents had stormed a residence, a hostel that houses trainee teachers. (⁵⁸⁸) In June 2015, 45 Taliban militants were killed and an additional 40 militants were injured during an airstrike by the ANSF in the district of Shorabak. According to sources, Taliban fighters were gathered in the Badi Tapa area and planning an attack when they were hit by airstrikes. (⁵⁸⁹) Also in June, a roadside bomb in the district of Khakrez killed a woman and injured three people. (⁵⁹⁰) Two members of the ALP killed five of their own colleagues in the district of Khakrez. The gunmen fled with weapons and ammunition after the attack. The incident took place one month after another attack in which also two men dressed as police shot and wounded more than seven police officers in the district of Maywand. (⁵⁹¹) Still in June, unknown assailants attacked a police checkpoint in the city of Kandahar and clashed with security forces. The number of victims was unclear; however, according to an official source, three policemen were injured and a woman was killed during the attack. (⁵⁹²)Additionally, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a police vehicle, wounding two border police officers and five civilians in the provincial capital. (⁵⁹³)

(⁵⁸³)  Tolonews, Six policemen killed in Taliban attack in Kandahar, 17 February 2015.

(⁵⁸⁴)  Tolonews, NDS member gunned down in Kandahar, 30 April 2015.

(⁵⁸⁵)  RFE/RL, Explosion in Southern Afghanistan kills three, 21 April 2015.

(⁵⁸⁶)  An attack conducted by a member of the same security force, in this case ANP.

(⁵⁸⁷)  Khaama Press, Three policemen martyred in Kandahar “insider attack”, 25 May.

(⁵⁸⁸)  RFE/RL, Afghan security forces in standoff with Taliban in Kandahar, 26 May 2015.

(⁵⁸⁹)  Ariana News, Afghan airstrikes kill 45 Taliban, wounded 40 – Official, 27 May 2015.

(⁵⁹⁰)  RFE/RL, Four killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan, 14 June 2015.

(⁵⁹¹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 ALP men killed in Kandahar insider attack, 8 June 2015.

(⁵⁹²)  Tolonews, Unknown gunmen attack police post in Kandahar, 26 May 2015.

(⁵⁹³)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 wounded in Kandahar suicide attack, 18 May 2015.

In July 2015, an explosion at a police checkpoint in the city of Kandahar killed three people, including a police officer.

Thirteen civilians were also killed. According to an official source, the explosion might have been caused by a suicide bomber. No group claimed responsibility. (⁵⁹⁴) Two police officers died during an attack in the province of Kandahar.

Also in July 2015, a police officer and his brother were gunned down by an unidentified man in Kandahar. (⁵⁹⁵)

Displacement

UNHCR did not document any IDPs originating from or to Kandahar in December 2014. (⁵⁹⁶) In January 2015, about 150 families or 1,066 individuals were registered as IDPs in Kandahar city. The IDPs originated from the districts of Khakrez and Ghorak in Kandahar, as well as the districts of Sangin and Kajaki from Helmand province. (⁵⁹⁷) In February 2015, a few spillover movements from the province of Helmand into the district of Maywand were reported, without UNHCR citing any numbers. (⁵⁹⁸) According to UNHCR, in March 2015, 93 families or 697 individuals were displaced from the districts of Kandahar city, Maywand and Panjwayi. The IDPs originated from Kandahar province, specifically the districts of Ghorak, Khakriz and Maiwand, as well as from the district of Gizab in Daikundi province. (⁵⁹⁹) UNHCR did not document any IDPs originating from or to Kandahar from April to May 2015. (⁶⁰⁰) In June 2015, however, 210 families or 1,653 individuals were profiled as new conflict-induced IDPs. Of these 21% originated from the district of Ghorak and the rest mainly from northern Helmand. (⁶⁰¹) UNHCR did not document any IDPs originating from or to Kandahar from July to August 2015. (⁶⁰²)

Military operations, insecurity and clashes between AGEs and ANSF were repeatedly cited as the main reason for displacement. (⁶⁰³)

Actors in the conflict

Kandahar was the first city to be captured by the Taliban in 1994 and the place of residence of its leader Mullah Omar. (⁶⁰⁴) It was the birthplace of the Taliban’s insurgency (⁶⁰⁵) and is the focus of the Taliban’s efforts as regaining control over Kandahar city has been one of their most important goals since 2001. (⁶⁰⁶)

In 2015, the Taliban leadership included persons from Kandahar province. Mulla Abu Ahmad is the head of the financial commission. (⁶⁰⁷) The new Taliban leader Mansour used to be the Taliban commander for the province on Kandahar. (⁶⁰⁸) In 2014, Dr. Abdul Wasi’ Azzam was in charge of the province, but he was killed in April. (⁶⁰⁹) Another former Taliban provincial commander for Kandahar is Mullah Muhammadzai. Mawlawi Abdul Ali Jihadyar was named in 2015 as Taliban head of Shahwalikot and Miyanisheen districts. (⁶¹⁰)

(⁵⁹⁴)  RFE/RL, Deadly bomb blast hits Afghan police checkpoint, 6 July 2015.

(⁵⁹⁵)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 police officers killed; elder’s house attacked, 16 July 2015.

(⁵⁹⁶)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, December 2014; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, April 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced IDPs by Province of Displacement Profiled from January to May 2015, 31 May 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, August 2015.

(⁵⁹⁷)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, January 2015.

(⁵⁹⁸)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement – Monthly Update, February 2015.

(⁵⁹⁹)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement – Monthly Update, March 2015.

(⁶⁰⁰)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, December 2014; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, April 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced IDPs by Province of Displacement Profiled from January to May 2015, 31 May 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, August 2015.

(⁶⁰¹)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, June 2015.

(⁶⁰²)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, December 2014; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, April 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced IDPs by Province of Displacement Profiled from January to May 2015, 31 May 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, August 2015.

(⁶⁰³)  UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, June 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, March 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, February 2015; UNHCR, Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, January 2015.

(⁶⁰⁴)  Barfield, T., Afghanistan – A cultural and political history, 2010, pp. 258-260.

(⁶⁰⁵)  Reuters, Kandahar, cradle of Afghan insurgency, torn by tribal rivalry ahead of vote, 28 March 2014.

(⁶⁰⁶)  ISW, The Taliban’s campaign for Kandahar, December 2009.

(⁶⁰⁷)  Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, An interview with the head of ‘Financial Commission’ of the Islamic Emirate, 7 June 2014.

(⁶⁰⁸)  Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, A detailed interview of Zabihullah Mujahid with the Daily Asharq Al-Awsat about the recent developments, September 2015.

(⁶⁰⁹)  Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Message of condolence of Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate regarding the martyrdom of two Jihadi officials, 22 April 2014.

(⁶¹⁰)  Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Pledges of allegiance to new Amir take place throughout Afghanistan, 9 August 2015.

In December 2014, the local population of 10 villages in the district of Maywand showed their disapproval of the Taliban and its attacks and further decided to protect their areas themselves. (⁶¹¹)

In 2014 and 2015, the Taliban claimed to have seized the districts of Registan and Ghorak in Kandahar province. (⁶¹²) The former district was reportedly captured with an important role in the fighting played by the Baluch insurgent group Junood al Fida, loyal to both the Taliban and al Qaeda. The group’s leader is Abdul Hafeez. (⁶¹³) It reportedly operated in the districts of Shorabak and Reg. It was also reported that al Qaeda had training camps in the south of Kandahar, which came under attack from the US in October 2015. (⁶¹⁴)

Kandahar’s ANP chief is General Abdul Raziq. (⁶¹⁵)