2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan
2.5 East
2.5.2 Nangarhar
governor for the Laghman province); (983) Idrees (984), Mohammad Tahir (Alishang district); (985) Noor Shah Chapaw, the so-called Taliban governor for Dawlatshah district and general commander for Dawlatshah, Alishang and Badpakh districts; (986) Jamshid and Turab (Alingar district) (987), Gul Khan (killed in Alingar district) (988), Zahidullah (arrested in Alingar district). (989)
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported in August 2015 that the Taliban Head of Laghman military division was Mullah Habib Rahman and that Deputy of Laghman in-charge was Mullah Muhammad Nazar. (990)
Description of the violence
From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Nangarhar province counted 1991 security incidents. Table 20 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents: (997)
Violence targeting individuals 189 Armed confrontations and airstrikes 1069
Explosions 254
Security enforcement 429
Non-conflict related incidents 44
Other incidents 6
Total security incidents 1991
Table 20: Security incidents by type, Nangarhar (Jan - Aug 2015)
The map in figure 22 presents the number of security incidents per district in Nangarhar province. (998)
Figure 22: Nangarhar, security incidents (Jan - Aug 2015)
The provincial capital Jalalabad is not spared from violence. In June 2015 a coordinated attack against police headquarters and then the use of a bomb against the same building the following month caused indirect civilian casualties. (999) Moreover, bomb blasts in the capital’s public spaces are frequent (1000) and especially places frequented by civilians such as bazars (1001) and hotels. (1002) In April 2015, a suicide attack at 8:00am near the Kabul Bank branch in Jalalabad caused at least 34 deaths and wounded more than 100 wounded. (1003)
Since 2012, the security situation has deteriorated with an increase of attacks against ANSF on the main Bati Kot highway while the trunk road Torkham-Jalalabad has also become a target. (1004) According to the Long War Journal (LWJ), ‘Nangarhar is a strategic province for both the Taliban and the Coalition. The province borders the Pakistani tribal agency of Khyber, and hosts the main supply route from Pakistan.’ (1005) Gunmen also attack civilians on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway. (1006)
(997) For more information on the source of the data and the methodology, see introduction.
(998) For more information on the source and the methodology of the maps, see introduction.
(999) Tolonews, 2 Civilians, 2 Police Injured in Nangarhar Blast, 25 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Nangarhar police HQ onslaught ends as 5 attackers killed, 1 June 2015.
(1000) Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 dead, female PC member among 6 hurt in blast, 10 February 2015; UNAMA, Press release, 29 January 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 dead, 8 hurt as twin blasts rock Jalalabad, 17 December 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 civilians killed in Nangarhar incidents, 14 November 2014.
(1001) Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 killed, 9 hurt in Jalalabad mortar strike, 11 November 2014.
(1002) Pajhwok Afghan News, Bomb rips through Jalalabad hotel, 5 wounded, 26 January 2015.
(1003) McNally, L., Is the Islamic State Escalating in Afghanistan?, 27 April 2015; Tolonews, Daesh Claims Responsibility For Deadly Jalalabad Attack, 18 April 2015.
(1004) Mansfield, D., From Bad They Made It Worse, The concentration of opium poppy in areas of conflict in the provinces of Helmand and Nangarhar, May 2014, p. 12.
(1005) Roggio, B., Taliban claim suicide assault on Jalalabad police HQ, 20 March 2014.
(1006) Khaama Press, Nangarhar University teachers on strike over stolen salaries, 4 April 2015.
The Taliban attacked checkpoints (1007) and security forces patrols. (1008) Indirect civilian casualties were caused by ambushes on ANSF representants (1009) and convoys (1010), rocket launches (Bati Kot district) (1011), roadside bombs (1012) (Achin (1013) and Sherzad districts (1014)) and explosions (Jalalabad). Civilians were also casualties (1015) of fights between insurgents and ANSF. (1016) This fighting prevented farmers from harvesting their crops. (1017)
Since the spring of 2015 (1018), IS has been attacking the Taliban and there were several fierce battles in Dehbala (1019), Chapahar (1020), Khogyani (1021), Nazyan (1022), Achin (1023), where tribal elders and at least 70 civilians were killed, (1024) and in Kot. (1025) In Muhmand Dara district, according to an article, 3 civilians were killed and homes set on fire during these battles. (1026)
In districts under IS control (Kot, Achin and Dehbala) the presence of IS fighters has an impact on civilians’ day-to-day life: livestock and crops are seized, schools, Islamic madrassas and clinics are closed, electricity lines and cellphone towers are destroyed, families have to send half of their sons to fight with them and to clearly identify
‘available women’: widows and unmarried women. People accused of being Taliban supporters are executed and elders taken in hostage. (1027)
(1007) Pajhwok Afghan News, Policemen among 10 dead in Nangarhar, Laghman clashes, 7 February 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 rebels dead in Nangarhar, Ghazni offensives, 16 December 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 rebels killed in Chaparhar clash, 15 December 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 rebels killed in Nangarhar, Kunar, 18 November 2014.
(1008) Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 rebels killed, 6 injured in Nangarhar skirmish, 6 January 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Taliban killed, 8 injured in clashes, 3 November 2014.
(1009) Pajhwok Afghan News, Jalalabad bomb blast leaves 5 injured, 12 February 2015; Tolonews, Suicide Attack Targeting Foreign Troop Convoy Leaves 4 Dead, 12 Wounded in Jalalabad Friday, 10 April 2015.
(1010) Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants kill ALP commander in Nangarhar, 16 April 2015; Tolonews, Suicide Attack Targeting Foreign Troop Convoy Leaves 4 Dead, 12 Wounded in Jalalabad Friday, 10 April 2015.
(1011) Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 militants dead in Nangarhar search operation, 11 May 2015.
(1012) Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 rebels killed in Zabul; 5 passengers injured in Nangarhar, 17 March 2015.
(1013) Tolonews, Eight Civilians Killed in Nangarhar Roadside Mine Blasts, 2 March 2015.
(1014) Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 children dead in blast; looming terror bid foiled, 14 March 2015.
(1015) Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians killed in Ghanikhel operation, elders claim, 14 March 2015.
(1016) Pajhwok Afghan News, 10 rebels dead as anti-militants operations underway, 10 January 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Nine militants killed; woman commits suicide, 23 November 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 killed, 100 netted in Chaparhar offensive, 4 November 2014.
(1017) Pajhwok Afghan News, Nangarhar drone strike kills 13 militants, 10 May 2015.
(1018) Express Tribune (The), Neighbourhood watch: Afghan Taliban warn Baghdadi to stay out, 20 June 2015.
(1019) Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 militants dead in Daesh, Taliban fighting, 26 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Lull noticed in Daesh, Taliban fighting in Nangarhar, 9 July 2015.
(1020) Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban-Daesh clashes spread to Chaparhar, 19 May 2015.
(1021) Pajhwok Afghan News, 13 militants dead in Daesh-Taliban clash in Nangarhar: MoD, 28 June 2015.
(1022) Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban- IS clash, drone strike kill 13 rebels, 6 July 2015.
(1023) Foschini, F., Classics of Conflict (2): Reviewing some of Afghanistan’s most notorious hotspots, 9 July 2015.
(1024) UNAMA, Press release, 12 July 2015.
(1025) Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban, Daesh clashes underway in Nangarhar, 17 May 2015.
(1026) Pajhwok Afghan News, 14 dead as Taliban-IS clashes resume in Nangarhar, 14 July 2015.
(1027) Washington Post (The), The Islamic State is Making these Afghans Long for the Taliban, 13 October 2015; Anonymous source specialised in security in Afghanistan, emails and briefing, July - October 2015.
In order to counter insurgents’ attacks, numerous foreign drone and air strikes were used to eliminate them, especially in Lalpur (1028), Dehbala (1029), Batikot (1030), Mumand Dara (1031), Khogyani (1032), Chaparhar (1033), Nazyan (1034) Sherzad (1035), Achin (1036) and Durbaba (1037) districts.
Civilians are specifically targeted when blasts and attacks are in public spaces such as schools (1038) (Behsud (1039), Muhmand Dara (1040)), mosques (Khogyani (1041), Rodat (1042)) and bazars (Batikot (1043)). Local press reported on the killing of tribal elders (1044), government agents (1045), religious scholars (1046) and kidnappings and killings of civilians. (1047)
Displacement
In July 2015, because of the clashes between two rival non-State armed groups since first weeks of June, people fled from Kot and Achin districts; (1048) 1,347 families (9,073 individuals) were profiled but, because of the daily departures, not all families could be registered up on their arrivals. (1049) By comparison, in May 2015, 62 families’ displacements from Nangarhar were profiled by UNHCR. (1050)
Actors in the conflict
In order to strengthen their presence, the insurgents take advantage of rivalries, tribal conflicts, land disputes (1051) as well as the resistance against the eradication of opium cultivation, which has increased by 400 % between 2012 and 2013. (1052)
(1028) Tolonews, Nangarhar Drone Strike Kills 20 Suspected Daesh Militants, 30 July 2015; Tolonews, 14 Taliban Insurgents Killed in US Drone Strike in Nangarhar, 1 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 militants killed in Nangarhar, Kunar incidents, 10 June; Pajhwok Afghan News, Nangarhar drone strike kills 13 militants, 10 May 2015; Tolonews, Nangarhar Drone Strike Kills 7 Taliban, 14 March 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 rebels dead in drone strike in Nangarhar, 8 January 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes kill 4 rebels in Nangarhar, 24 December 2014.
(1029) Tolonews, Nangarhar Drone Strike Kills 20 Suspected Daesh Militants, 30 July 2015; Tolonews, 28 Taliban Insurgents Killed in US Drone Strike in Nangarhar, 15 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes kill 17 rebels in Nangarhar, 5 June 2015.
(1030) Pajhwok Afghan News, Offensive underway against IS in Nangarhar, 13 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, US drone strike in Nangarhar kills 7 rebels, 22 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 rebels killed in Nangarhar, Kunar, 18 November 2014.
(1031) Tolonews, Eight Taliban insurgents killed in Nangarhar drone strike, 20 June 2015; Tolonews, 17 Taliban insurgents killed in US drone attack in Nangarhar, 5 May 2015.
(1032) Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 rebels dead in Nangarhar drone attack, 18 February 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes kill 4 rebels in Nangarhar, 24 December 2014.
(1033) Tolonews, Drone Strike in Nangarhar Kills 3 Insurgents, 6 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes kill 17 rebels in Nangarhar, 5 June 2015.
(1034) Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes in Nangarhar kill 45 rebels, 16 May 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 more insurgents eliminated in Nangarhar clashes, 5 February 2015.
(1035) Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 militants dead in Nangarhar drone strike, 1 December 2014.
(1036) Pajhwok Afghan News, 70 rebels dead in IS-Taliban clashes, drone strikes, 7 July 2015.
(1037) Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes in Nangarhar kill 45 rebels, 16 May 2015.
(1038) Pajhwok Afghan News, Girls’ school blown up in Nangarhar, 13 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Girls’ school blown up in Nangarhar, 29 January 2015.
(1039) Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 students injured in Behsud school blast, 14 December 2014.
(1040) Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants torch yet another school in Nangarhar, 9 February 2015.
(1041) Pajhwok Afghan News, Casualties as bomb rocks Khogyani mosque, 28 November 2014.
(1042) Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 killed in Nangarhar mosque shooting, 9 February 2015.
(1043) Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 dead as rebels storm Batikot bazaar, 31 December 2014.
(1044) Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants slit throat of Batikot district NSP chief, 20 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Unidentified gunmen kill 2 brothers in Nangarhar, 27 January 2015; UNAMA, Press release, 24 December 2014.
(1045) Tolonews, Ex-Provincial Council Leader Found Beheaded in Nangarhar, 25 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants slit throat of Batikot district NSP chief, 20 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Batikot district chief unhurt in bomb attack, 28 April 2015; Tolonews, Deputy Prosecutor Killed in Nangarhar Blast, 22 April 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Former Taliban members among 5 dead in violence, 6 April 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, High school teacher gunned down in Batikot, 1 April 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 dead as bomber targets MP motorcade, 27 February 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Anti-corruption court Judge shot dead in Jalalabad, 10 January 2015.
(1046) Pajhwok Afghan News, Ex-PC secretary shot dead in Nangarhar, 1 July 2015.
(1047) Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants behead 4 civilians in Nangarhar, 9 December 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 civilians killed in Nangarhar incidents, 14 November 2014.
(1048) Tolonews, Hundreds of Families Displaced After Taliban and Daesh Clash in Nangarhar, 15 June 2015.
(1049) UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015, p. 2.; UNHCR, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, June 2015, p. 4.
(1050) UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-Induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, April 2015, p. 2.
(1051) Foschini, F., Classics of Conflict (2): Reviewing some of Afghanistan’s most notorious hotspots, 9 July 2015.
(1052) Jackson, A., Politics and Governance in Afghanistan: the Case of Nangarhar Province, May 2014, p. 27.
In 2012, the Haqqani network was predominantly present in the districts of Hesarak, Sherzad, Chapahar and Jalalabad. (1053) The porous nature of Afghanistan‘s southern border with the Pakistani Kurram Tribal Agency enabled the family-based Haqqani network in Nangarhar to use this province to facilitate infiltration and move IMU fighters towards Kabul and the North of Afghanistan. (1054)
The Taliban, as well as groups affiliated with Hezb-e Islami and the Pakistani Taliban, are also present in the district of Khogyani. (1055) According to the Long War Journal, the Peshawar Regional Military Shura (one of the Taliban’s four military councils) sponsors attacks in the province of Nangarhar and the Tora Bora Military Front, (1056) led by Anwarul Haq Mujahid, also operates in this region. (1057)
Maulvi Mir Ahmad Gul, Taliban’s shadow governor for Nangarhar was killed in Pakistan in June 2015. (1058) The jihadi commander in Nangarhar and in-charge of Shinwar district is Mullah Faisal. (1059)
During drone strikes and ground operations Taliban‘s commanders were identified, arrested or killed: in Batikot district: commanders Khan Afzal, Hanifa and Dr Omar (1060), commander Sparghay (1061), commander Shamsullah; (1062) in Chaparhar district: commanders Nawab (1063) and Moulvi Aziz; (1064) In Dehbala district: commander Qari Rafiq (1065), Aimal; (1066) in Durbaba district: Abdul Qahar aka Haqyar as the Taliban shadow governor; (1067) in Muhmand Dara district: Mullah Daoud; (1068) in Sherzad district: Zarqavi (1069) and Noor Alam as theTaliban’s chief for the district. (1070) A large number of Pakistani militants were identified by the Afghan Army and were arrested (Durbaba and Batikot districs (1071)). Tehrek-e Taliban (1072) and Lashkar-e-Islam, banned in Pakistan, are active in this province, especially in Nyazan district (1073), as was the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar whose commander, Maulana Shakeel Ahmed Haqqani, alias Qari Shakeel, was killed in Nangarhar. (1074)
IS is starting a strategy of trying to take control of Nangarhar province, but is facing stiff resistance. Main leaders who pledged allegiance to IS were reported killed in Achin district: Gull Zaman (vice-chief), Jahanyar (deputy of the latest) (1075) and Hafiz Saeed Khan (ex leader of TTP and IS emir for ‘Khorasan province’), whose death was denied by IS. (1076) In Chaparhar district, IS commanders Ghulam Farooq and Mir Wais were also killed. (1077)
(1053) Mansfield, D., From Bad They Made It Worse, The concentration of opium poppy in areas of conflict in the provinces of Helmand and Nangarhar, May 2014, p. 12.
(1054) Dressler, J., The Haqqani Network: A Strategic Threat, March 2012, p. 30.
(1055) Mansfield, D., From Bad They Made It Worse, The concentration of opium poppy in areas of conflict in the provinces of Helmand and Nangarhar, May 2014, p. 13.
(1056) See glossary.
(1057) Roggio, B., Taliban claim suicide assault on Jalalabad police HQ, 20 March 2014.
(1058) Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s shadow governor gunned down in Peshawar, 13 June 2015.
(1059) Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Pledges of allegiance to new Amir take place throughout Afghanistan, 9 August 2015.
(1060) Pajhwok Afghan News, US drone strike in Nangarhar kills 7 rebels, 22 June 2015.
(1061) Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 killed in Nangarhar drone strike, 9 June 2015.
(1062) Pajhwok Afghan News, Nine militants killed; woman commits suicide, 23 November 2014.
(1063) Pajhwok Afghan News, Dreaded commanders among 12 dead in drone strikes, 28 December 2014.
(1064) Pajhwok Afghan News, Drone strikes kill 17 rebels in Nangarhar, 5 June 2015.
(1065) Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 militants dead in Nangarhar drone strike, clashes, 8 July 2015.
(1066) Pajhwok Afghan News, Schools closing Taliban leader killed, 17 November 2014.
(1067) Tolonews, NDS Arrests Taliban Shadow Governor for Nangarhar, 29 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban district chief among 6 held in Nangarhar, 28 June 2015.
(1068) Tolonews, 17 Taliban Insurgents Killed in US Drone Attack in Nangarhar, 5 May 2015.
(1069) Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 militants dead in Nangarhar drone strike, 1 December 2014.
(1070) Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 insurgents killed in Sherzad offensive, 30 November 2014.
(1071) Pajhwok Afghan News, Pakistanis among 17 rebels held in Nangarhar, 20 April 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, NATO drone strike leaves 6 insurgents dead, 12 November 2014.
(1072) Pajhwok Afghan News, TTP faction head injured in Afghan-NATO raid, 9 February 2015.
(1073) Pajhwok Afghan News, Pakistani militants eliminated in Nazyan drone strike, 24 March 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Fazlullah narrowly escapes drone strike, 25 November 2014.
(1074) Pajhwok Afghan News, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar commander killed in Nangarhar, 13 March 2015.
(1075) Tolonews, Daesh Fighters Flee to Mountains After Commanders Eliminated: Muslimyar, 12 July 2015.
(1076) Roggio B., Islamist State says Emir for Khorasan province is alive, 13 July 2015.
(1077) Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Daesh fighters killed, 6 held in Jalalabad, 28 July 2015.