Sar-e Pul

truck drivers complained about extortion by illegal armed men and insurgents on the road between the district and Aybak. (¹⁵³⁵)

Sare Pul borders Ghor and Bamyan provinces to the south, Faryab, Jawzjan and Balkh to the west and north and Samangan to the east. It is a mountainous province, especially in its southern part. The province consists of the following districts: Balkhab, Gosfandi, Kohestanat, Sangcharak, Sare Pul, Sayad, Sozmaqala. (¹⁵³⁶) The provincial capital is the town of Sare Pul. (¹⁵³⁷) The province has an estimated 559,577 inhabitants. (¹⁵³⁸)

The major ethnic groups living in Sare Pul province are Uzbek, Pashtun, Hazara, followed by Arab and Tajik; the major tribe is Uzbek in all districts. (¹⁵³⁹)

Sare Pul is among the richest provinces when it comes to natural resources. The province has vast reserves of petroleum, copper and other natural resources. (¹⁵⁴⁰)

Description of the violence

From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Sar-e Pul province counted 129 security incidents. Table 30 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents: (¹⁵⁴¹)

Violence targeting individuals 17

Armed confrontations 90

Explosions 11

Security enforcement 11

Total security incidents 129

Table 30: Security incidents by type, Sar-e Pul (Jan - Aug 2015)

The map in figure 33 presents the number of security incidents per district in Sar-e Pul province. (¹⁵⁴²)

Figure33: Sar-e Pul, security incidents (Jan - Aug 2015)

(¹⁵³⁶)  UNOCHA, AFGHANISTAN: Admin Level 3 Boundaries, 25 September 2012.

(¹⁵³⁷)  MRRD, Sar-i-Pul Provincial Profile, n.d.

(¹⁵³⁸)  UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Population estimate for 2015, 26 August 2015.

(¹⁵³⁹)  MRRD, Sar-i-Pul Provincial Profile, n.d.

(¹⁵⁴⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul Province Background Profile, n.d.

(¹⁵⁴¹)  For more information on the source of the data and the methodology, see introduction.

(¹⁵⁴²)  For more information on the source and the methodology of the maps, see introduction.

According to Obaid Ali from the Afghanistan Analyst Network, the security situation in the province has deteriorated over the past two years. (¹⁵⁴³)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty stated: ‘the type of militant attacks since the autumn of 2014 - ambushes and assaults involving large groups of fighters - support the reports of a growing militant presence.’ (¹⁵⁴⁴)

In Sar-e Pul district, Ali described how the Taliban had established a base only 10 kilometres from the governor’s office, in the Sheramha area just beyond the city borders. This mountainous area, which encompasses some 200 villages mainly inhabited by ethnic Arabs, borders the provinces of Balkh and Jawzjan. According to a local official, quoted by Ali, most villages in the area are controlled by Taliban fighters. They patrol the area at night and have set up a military-administrative unit that recruits fighters and appoints local sub-commanders and a judicial unit, whose verdicts are generally obeyed by the locals. According to a local commander quoted by Ali, many sub-commanders are locals angered by the ineffectiveness of local governance and the abuse of authority by local powerbrokers. All 81 ALP members have fled the area to Sar-e Pul city, taking their families with them. Two ALP commanders and 18 of their men have joined the Taliban. (¹⁵⁴⁵)

Also close to the provincial capital, a lot of the fighting was concentrated in and around the village of Balghala, outside Sar-e Pul town. In January 2015, insurgents stormed a police post in the village. Reportedly, they wanted to stone a couple accused of adultery held in the police post. When they failed, they retreated and burned down some civilian homes in the village by firing on them with rockets. (¹⁵⁴⁶) The same security post came under attack two weeks later.

In the attack a civilian was killed and another wounded while helping the security forces protect the post. (¹⁵⁴⁷) In the same village, a group of insurgents that had joined the government side earlier rejoined the insurgency again two weeks later when the security post came under attack again; this time is was torched by the insurgents. Again, a number of residential houses were burned down during the clash. (¹⁵⁴⁸) In the subsequent military operation to clear the area of insurgents, eight militants and an army soldier were killed. (¹⁵⁴⁹) The fighting in the area continued for several more days and included Afghan Special Forces and armed citizens. (¹⁵⁵⁰) In May 2015, insurgents again attacked the village, killing three members of the villagers’ civilian militia and injuring several others; in July 2015, another civilian was killed in an attack on the village. (¹⁵⁵¹) In August 2015, insurgents kidnapped four judges on the road between Sar-e Pul and Jazwjan. (¹⁵⁵²)

In July 2015, an ALP commander in Kohistanat district defected to the Taliban and took, depending on the source, seven to 200 ALP members with him. Subsequently, the other ANSF members were driven out by the insurgents who took control over the whole district, including the district centre. (¹⁵⁵³) They managed to keep the district centre for more than one month. (¹⁵⁵⁴) At the beginning of August, ANSF launched an operation to retake the district, with the help of local residents of a so-called uprising against the insurgents. (¹⁵⁵⁵) The operation called ‘Shamshir –Do’

(Sword-2) lasted for several days and included heavy fighting with many casualties on both sides. (¹⁵⁵⁶) During the clashes, the insurgents kept the road blocked sending the prices of basic food items in the district soaring. (¹⁵⁵⁷) After weeks of fierce fighting, the security forces announced, at the end of August 2015 that they had recaptured the district. (¹⁵⁵⁸) The insurgents had apparently left the district without any more fighting when Vice President Abdul

(¹⁵⁴³)  Obaid, A., The Insurgency in the North: Case studies from Kunduz and Sar-e Pul, 5 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁴)  RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s New Northern Flash Points, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁵)  Obaid, A., The Insurgency in the North: Case studies from Kunduz and Sar-e Pul, 5 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 13 insurgents killed in Sar-i-Pul, Herat incidents, 17 January 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁷)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians among 3 killed in incidents and violence, 4 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Policeman among 5 dead in Sar-i-Pul, 15 February 2015; Tolonews, Taliban insurgents attack police outpost in Sar-e-Pul, 15 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁴⁹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, ANA soldier among 8 dead in Sar-i-Pul clashes, 17 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, MP wants security forces better equipped, 21 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁵¹)  RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s New Northern Flash Points, July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians among two dead in Sar-i-Pul clash, 4 July 2015.

(¹⁵⁵²)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kidnap 4 judges in Sar-i-Pul, 18 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁵³)  Khaama Press, ALP commander joins Taliban group along with his 7 men in Pul, 27 July 2015; Khaama Press, Taliban seize Kohistanat district of Sar-e-Pul, says member of provincial council, 28 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kohistanat district fall as ALP commander defects, 28 July 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁴)  Anonymous source specialised in security in Afghanistan, emails and briefing, July - October 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁵)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul clashes leave 20 dead, 11 wounded, 5 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, ANA soldiers among scores of dead in Sar-i-Pul offensive, 9 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁷)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Road blockade sends prices soaring in Kohistanat, 24 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁵⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan security forces recapture Kohistanat district, 22 August 2015.

Rashid Dostum entered Sar-e Pul after arriving from Faryab with 2,000 armed men. (¹⁵⁵⁹) After the insurgent retreat the road opened again and the month-long blockade of the district ended. (¹⁵⁶⁰)

In March 2015, ANSF launched a big military operation in certain areas of Sozma Qala, called ‘Fateh Zemistani’ in which they killed dozens of militants, including some commanders. (¹⁵⁶¹) In June 2015, insurgents took over 14 villages in Sozma Qala without a fight after the local police negotiated their way out. (¹⁵⁶²) A few days later, insurgents took control of the strategically important Mirzawalang valley in Sayyad district, connecting Kohistanat with the provincial capital. They subsequently cut off the road to the remote district. (¹⁵⁶³) This area was quickly retaken by ANSF. (¹⁵⁶⁴) Efforts to retake terrain in Sozma Qala lasted much longer. (¹⁵⁶⁵)

The local director of Hajj affairs was abducted while travelling the road between Sozma Qala and the provincial centre and a few days later his decapitated body was found. Earlier, three employees of the National Solidarity Program were kidnapped in the same area but set free after negotiations. (¹⁵⁶⁶) In June 2015, a policeman was pulled out of his car by the insurgents and when he tried to resist, the Taliban shot him, together with the other passengers, including an eight-year-old child. Allegedly, the insurgents also stopped a taxi that was taking the victims to the hospital. (¹⁵⁶⁷) In July 2015, four students were abducted from the same road and later released after negotiations. (¹⁵⁶⁸) A roadside bomb targeting a police chief ended up killing a newlywed couple in July 2015. (¹⁵⁶⁹)

There were group kidnappings in Sar-e Pul last winter. In November 2014, insurgents kidnapped 10 civilians in the area between Balkhab and Kohistanat districts (¹⁵⁷⁰) and in January 2015, 12 people were abducted from their home near Sar-e Pul city by unknown gunmen. (¹⁵⁷¹) In April 2015, eight to 11 people were kidnapped at gunpoint in the Sancharak district when travelling from Balkhab district to the provincial capital. (¹⁵⁷²) This incident came after insurgents launched an attack on a security post in the district and lost four combatants, as well as killing as many policemen. (¹⁵⁷³) Two weeks later, all of them were released, reportedly after a ransom was paid. (¹⁵⁷⁴)

In January 2015, the district police chief of Sangcharak district was killed. The district governor and a former jihadi commander who were with him were unhurt. (¹⁵⁷⁵) Also, in Sancharak, a pro-government armed group stopped a bus at an illegal checkpoint, ordered one passenger off the bus, and shot and killed him in front of the other passengers in May 2015. (¹⁵⁷⁶)

In January 2015, two suicide bombers targeting the district government compound of Balkhanab were identified by local residents and beaten to death. (¹⁵⁷⁷)

In December 2014, a policeman died while trying to defuse a bomb placed along the road between Sar-e Pul and Jawzjan provinces. (¹⁵⁷⁸)

(¹⁵⁵⁹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Dostum enters Sar-i-Pul city, warns rebels to surrender, 27 August 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban leave Kohistanat district to Afghan forces sans resistance, 28 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁰)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Vital road reopens to traffic in Sar-i-Pul, 29 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁶¹)  Tolonews, 11 Taliban insurgents killed in Sar-e-Pul operation, 1 March 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 50 rebels dead in Sar-i-Pul operation, 26 February 2015.

(¹⁵⁶²)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun 14 villages in Sar-i-Pul, 9 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁶³)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul villages fall for Taliban, 13 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁴)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 14 rebels eliminated in Sar-i-Pul clashes, 14 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁵)  Khaama Press, 83 militants killed in newest military operations across the country, 15 June 2015; Khaama Press, Seven soldiers martyred 83 militants killed in newest military operations, 17 June 2015; Khaama Press, 10 soldiers martyred, 70 militants killed in newest military operations, 20 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Kidnapped district Hajj affairs director found dead, 25 May 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁷)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Minor girl among 3 killed in Sar-i-Pul attack, 4 June 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 abducted university students released in Sar-i-Pul, 12 July 2015.

(¹⁵⁶⁹)  Tolonews, Newly wed couple killed in Sar-e-Pul blast, 12 July 2015.

(¹⁵⁷⁰)  Khaama Press, Taliban militants kidnap 10 civilians in Sar-e-Pul operations, 28 November 2014.

(¹⁵⁷¹)  Khaama Press, Unknown gunmen kidnapped, 12 civilians in Northern Afghanistan, 10 January 2015.

(¹⁵⁷²)  Khaama Press, Nine civilians kidnapped in Sar-i-Pul, 2 April 2015.

(¹⁵⁷³)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Policemen among 8 dead in Sar-i-Pul firefight, 1 April 2015.

(¹⁵⁷⁴)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Kidnapped Sar-i-Pul passengers- released, 14 April 2015; RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s New Northern Flash Points, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁷⁵)  Tolonews, District police chief killed in Sar-e-Pul ambush, 10 January 2015.

(¹⁵⁷⁶)  UNAMA, Afghanistan Midyear Report 2015, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, July 2015, p. 54.

(¹⁵⁷⁷)  Khaama Press, 2 suicide bombers beaten to death by Sar-e-Pul residents, 7 January 2015.

(¹⁵⁷⁸)  Tolonews, Policemen killed defusing a bomb in Sar-i-Pul, 20 December 2014.

Displacement

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) profiled 104 families or 615 individuals displaced from Kohistanat, Sayyad and Sangcharak districts in Sar-e Pul and Darzab in Jawzjan towards Sar-e Pul city in April 2015. (¹⁵⁷⁹) Some, although limited, displacement towards Balkh also took place. (¹⁵⁸⁰) Major armed clashes displaced 87 families or 501 individuals from Kohistanat and 78 families or 446 individuals from Sar-e Pul from January to August 2015. (¹⁵⁸¹)

Actors in the conflict

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: (¹⁵⁸²)

[m]ost militants in Sar-e Pol Province are believed to be locals, but there has been a large influx of Taliban and foreign militants since 2014. Many militants arrive from Badghis and Faryab provinces, and are active today in about half of Sar-e Pol’s seven districts. They control large swaths of territory and some fight for the Taliban as well as the IMU.

In December 2014, provincial authorities stated that several Uzbek nationals, including women, assisted local insurgents in anti-government activities in the Kohistanat district. They brought with them bomb-making skills they had learned in Pakistan. (¹⁵⁸³) Foreign fighters are said to run a major training camp in neighbouring Ghor province, from where they train and lead Afghan insurgents in Faryab and Sar-e Pul. (¹⁵⁸⁴) The Taliban shadow governor for Sar-e Pul is Mawlawi Najibullah Attaullah, affiliated to the Quetta Shura. (¹⁵⁸⁵)

In January 2015, reports surfaced about the appearance of IS in Kohistanat district. Some residents claimed outsiders came to the district, carrying the black flag of IS, along with the white flag of the Taliban. One resident claimed it was a prison escapee from Sayyad district who pledged allegiance to IS. Officials claimed these reports were untrue. (¹⁵⁸⁶) Besides regular ANSF members, the ALP is active in the western districts of Sare Pul, Kohistanat and Sayyad. (¹⁵⁸⁷) There have been reports of misconduct by ALP members in the past. (¹⁵⁸⁸) In this reporting period (April 2015), a group of 10 ALP members severely beat eight civilians, including two boys, with their rifle butts following a dispute over land use in Sayyad district. After the attack, the ALP reportedly prevented the victims from seeking medical attention for several hours. (¹⁵⁸⁹)

Villagers complained in Kohistanat and Sozmaqala about growing insurgent infiltration in the spring of 2015 and mobilised self-defence groups as they lacked government support. (¹⁵⁹⁰) These so-called ‘popular uprisings’, were reportedly involved in the fighting to retake the district of Kohistanat in August 2015. (¹⁵⁹¹) These pro-government armed groups had also been accused of misconduct. Between 1 January and 30 June 2015, UNAMA documented 13 separate incidents of human rights abuses carried out by pro-government armed groups in Sancharak district, while no incidents were documented in 2014. Human rights abuses included deliberate killings, serious assaults, illegal taxation and other forms of extortion, forced labour, illegal detention, denial of access to healthcare, land theft, and property destruction. Abuses by pro-government armed groups in Sancharak district caused eight civilian casualties (six deaths and two injured). Of further concern, UNAMA received multiple reports that a pro-government armed group in Sancharak district sexually exploited boys under the age of 16 in bacha bazi practices. (¹⁵⁹²)

(¹⁵⁷⁹)  UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, April 2015.

(¹⁵⁸⁰)  UNHCR, Afghanistan Conflict-induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁸¹)  Anonymous source specialised in security in Afghanistan, emails and briefing, July - October 2015.

(¹⁵⁸²)  RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s New Northern Flash Points, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁸³)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Uzbek women join rebels in Sar-i-Pul, 21 December 2015.

(¹⁵⁸⁴)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Hundreds of foreign insurgents lead, train Taliban in Ghor, 5 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁸⁵)  UN Security Council, Letter dated 18 August 2015 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 26 August 2015, p. 21.

(¹⁵⁸⁶)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Emergence worries Sar-i-Pul residents, 15 January 2015.

(¹⁵⁸⁷)  US Department of Defense, Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, April 2014, p. 55.

(¹⁵⁸⁸)  Pajhwok Afghan News, ALP chided over families’ displacement, 28 October 2013; Pajhwok Afghan News, AIHRC wants illegal armed groups disbanded, 2 September 2014.

(¹⁵⁸⁹)  UNAMA, Afghanistan Midyear Report 2015, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, July 2015, p. 71.

(¹⁵⁹⁰)  RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s New Northern Flash Points, July 2015.

(¹⁵⁹¹)  Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul clashes leave 20 dead, 11 wounded, 5 August 2015.

(¹⁵⁹²)  UNAMA, Afghanistan Midyear Report 2015, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, July 2015, p. 76.