2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan
2.3 South
2.3.4 Uruzgan
Actors in the conflict
In the beginning of 2015, Brig. Gen. Qasim Janglbagh was named Nimroz police chief. (699) In a Pajhwok article on 1 January 2015, Col. Amanullah Khashrody was named police chief of Delaram district in Nimroz. (700) By the end of January, Col. Najibullah was named Delaram police chief. (701)
The Taliban commander for Nimroz is Mawlawi Abdul Aziz. He pledged allegiance to the new leader Mansoor. (702) Mawlawi Abdul Qayum Rohani is named as Taliban shadow governor for Nimroz. The Taliban reportedly has established a ‘quick reaction force’ of between 200 and 500 fighters which is operational in Farah, Nimroz and Herat. (703)
About 72 percent of the province is mountainous while 21 percent is plain. UN OCHA estimates the population for 2015 to be 386,818 for the province of Uruzgan. (708) The main tribe in the province is Pashtun including its sub-tribes Popalzi, Achakzai, Noorzai, Barakzai, Alkozai and Durrani. Hazara and Kuchi sub-tribes also live in the province. (709)
Description of the violence
From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Uruzgan province counted 376 security incidents. Table 13 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents: (710)
Violence targeting individuals 45 Armed confrontations and airstrikes 187
Explosions 108
Security enforcement 34
Non-conflict related incidents 2
Total security incidents 376
Table 13: Security incidents by type, Uruzgan (Jan - Aug 2015)
The map in figure 15 presents the number of security incidents per district in Uruzgan province. (711)
Figure 15: Uruzgan, security incidents (Jan - Aug 2015)
Khaama Press calls Uruzgan one of the relatively volatile provinces in which armed insurgent groups are actively operating and often carry out attacks. (712) The minister of interior stated in a gathering in Tirinkot that efforts were being made to resolve issues regarding the security situation in the province to further meet the necessities of police, and provide essential training. (713) In 2015, several security operations were conducted by the ANSF in the province of Uruzgan. During each operation, insurgents were arrested, killed and wounded. Weapons were also seized. (714) Examples of security incidents include: Seven policemen and dozens of militants were killed in November of 2014 during clashes in the district of Dehrawud in the province of Uruzgan. According to local sources the clash erupted three days earlier in three different towns. Three policemen were injured. (715)
(708) UNOCHA, AFGHANISTAN: Population Estimate for 2015, 26 August 2015.
(709) Pajhwok Afghan News, Brief introduction of Uruzgan province, n.d.
(710) For more information on the source of the data and the methodology, see introduction.
(711) For more information on the source and the methodology of the maps, see introduction.
(712) Khaama Press, Taliban beheads religious cleric in Uruzgan province, 6 October 2015.
(713) Frontier Post (The), New police chief for Uruzgan introduced, 29 Mai 2015.
(714) Pajhwok Afghan News, Khas Uruzgan road reopens after 3 months, 9 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Gigantic anti-rebels operation being launched in south, 9 July 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 112 militants killed in a week in south, 1 July 2015; Tolonews, 62 Insurgents Killed in Afghan Operations, 17 June 2015; Tolonews, 110 Insurgents Killed in Afghan Military Operations, 11 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 22 Taliban militants killed in Wardak, Uruzgan:
MoI, 2 June 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 130 insurgents eliminated in Uruzgan offensive, 22 May 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, Over 80 insurgents, 11 army personnel killed: MoD, 30 March 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 24 rebels dead in Uruzgan, Kandahar security operations, 15 February 2015.
(715) Pajhwok Afghan News, Dozens reported dead in Uruzgan fighting, 5 November 2014.
In December 2014, unidentified gunmen shot a teacher in the Pitawi village of the district of Khas. (716) Three employees of an NGO in the health sector were kidnapped by unidentified perpetrators. The police received the information about the abduction only 26 hours later as no one had filed a report. (717) Increased efforts by tribal elders led to a release of the hostages within five days. (718) Two separate bomb explosions in December 2014 caused the death of police personnel. One of the incidents took place in the district of Chinarto. Two police officers were killed in the blast. The second incident involved a roadside mine blast in the district of Dehrawud which killed a third police officer and wounded a civilian. The Taliban claimed responsibility for killing the third police officer. A commander of the Taliban was detained by the police for his role in terrorist activities. (719) Four insurgents were caught trying to plant landmines in the provinces of Uruzgan and Khost. They were shot on the spot. The incident took place in the provincial capital. (720) Two women and a girl were killed during a bomb explosion in the capital of Uruzgan province. The bomb went off in the village of Sar Chuglo on the outskirts of Tirinkot. No further information about the incident was given. (721)
According to official sources, people were killed and wounded in January of 2015. In one incident in the area of Khar Karez the teenage son of a local elder was killed with an explosive device. In a roadside bombing in the vicinity of Tirinkot City, an unidentified number of people were killed. Five people, including two women, were wounded in the incident. (722) Three ANA soldiers were wounded in an explosion in the district of Khas Uruzgan. (723) Two policemen were gunned down by an unknown assailant in the provincial capital of Uruzgan. (724) A police vehicle hit a roadside mine, killing one policeman and wounding two others in the Shaplogh area of Tirnkot. (725) Three women were also killed in a road side explosion. The incident took place in the district of Chinartu. (726) An insurgent was killed in a roadside explosion in the provincial capital of Uruzgan. (727) Four insurgents, including their commander, were killed during an ambush by the ANA. An additional four insurgents were wounded. Weapons were seized by the ANA during the incident which took place in the district of Deh Rawud. (728)
In February 2015, the director of hajj and religious affairs of Uruzgan was injured a second time within five months.
A bomb detonated when the director´s car passed a motorcycle in the first district of Tirinkot. (729) In a separate incident a religious scholar was killed by unknown assailants. According to an official source, the attackers cut the throat of the religious cleric in front of his house in the district of Chinarto. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. (730) Ten people were killed and 37 injured during an explosion caused by a suicide bomber inside a hotel in Tirinkot city. Seven people were said to be in critical health condition. However, according to official police sources, the explosives of the bomber were detonated before he could reach his initial target, which was a senior police officer. (731)
Three employees of a development project died in March of 2015 during a landmine explosion. The incident took place in the area of Kori Manda on the outskirts of Dehrawud district. A third employee was injured in the incident.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. (732) In a separate incident, five employees of the NGO Save the Children were kidnapped in Surab, when travelling to their project. (733) The bullet-ridden bodies of these workers were found five weeks later. No group claimed responsibility. However, it was stated that the Taliban demanded a prisoner exchange for the workers. (734)
(716) Pajhwok Afghan News, Teacher, elder gunned down in Uruzgan, Nangarhar, 24 December 2014.
(717) Pajhwok afghan News, Uruzgan gunmen kidnap 3 health workers, 30 December 2014.
(718) Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban set free NGO workers in Uruzgan, 2 January 2015.
(719) Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 policemen dead in Uruzgan explosions, 20 December 2014.
(720) Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 planting bombs killed in Uruzgan, Khost, 8 December 2014.
(721) Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 of a family dead in Tirinkot blast, 7 December 2014.
(722) Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 dead in Uruzgan, Zabul violence, 2 January 2015.
(723) Pajhwok Afghan News, Policemen among 15 dead in security incidents, 7 January 2015.
(724) Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 police, many rebels killed in violence, 7 January 2015.
(725) Pajhwok Afghan News, Roadside bomb kills Uruzgan policeman, 8 January 2015.
(726) Pajhwok Afghan News, Mother killed along with 2 daughters in Uruzgan blast, 14 January 2015.
(727) Pajhwok Afghan News, Border police personnel among 5 found dead in Paktia, 14 January 2015.
(728) Pajhwok Afghan News, Militant commander among 4 killed in ANA ambush, 23 January 2015.
(729) Pajhwok Afghan News, Gunmen slash religious scholar’s throat in Uruzgan, 12 February 2015.
(730) Pajhwok Afghan News, Gunmen slash religious scholar’s throat in Uruzgan, 12 February 2015.
(731) Ariana News, Uruzgan Bombing Leaves 10 Dead, 37 Injured, 26 February 2015.
(732) Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 employees of a development project dead in blast, 1 March 2015.
(733) Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 ‘Save the Children’ workers kidnapped, 3 March 2015.
(734) Guardian (The), Afghanistan: bodies of five abducted aid workers found, 11 April 2015; Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 kidnapped NGO workers killed, 10 April 2015;
RFE/RL, Taliban Suffers ‘Heavy Casualties’ In Badakhshan, 10 April 2015.
In April 2015, an official of Kabul was shot by an unknown assailant in Tirinkot. (735)
In May 2015, heavy clashes between Afghan security forces and insurgents erupted in several parts of Uruzgan, leaving 167 militants and 7 security force officers dead. Civilians were killed in the ongoing clashes as well. The insurgency has intensified its attacks on security checkpoints. (736) The governor of the Shaheed Hassas district was killed when his vehicle struck an IED. One of his bodyguards was also injured in the incident. No group claimed responsibility. (737)
In June 2015, 16 people were wounded in two separate incidents in Uruzgan. The first explosion hit the vehicle of a police officer in the provincial capital, wounding a woman and three children. The police officer escaped unharmed.
The second bomb also detonated in the Tirinkot district, leaving three police officers hurt, as well as one civilian. (738) Unknown assailants gunned down the director of education in the district of Chora. The attackers forced their way inside the mosque and shot the director as he was delivering the Tarawih prayers. No group claimed responsibility for the incident. (739)
In July 2015, the Dehrawud district police chief was killed during ground engagements between the Taliban and the police, which lasted for several days. The exact number of additional victims, however, is unknown. (740) The Taliban has been suspected of hanging a tribal elder accused of working with the government. His son, who had also been kidnapped, was later released. The incident took place in the Khas Uruzgan district. (741)
In August 2015, targeted killings claimed the lives of several prominent officials, including the head of provincial council of Uruzgan. (742) Insurgents heavily attacked the Afghan police headquarters, and, according to reports, surrounded governmental buildings before reinforcements could arrive. (743) The ANSF heavily retaliated against the Taliban in Uruzgan, which led to a slowdown in attacks in Uruzgan, as well as the Dehrawud area in Helmand. (744)
Displacement
According to UNHCR, no IDPs were reported in Uruzgan in December 2014. (745) In January of 2015, 69 families or 591 individuals were displaced from the district of Chanarto and the area of Garmaba in Trinkot to the provincial capital of Tirinkot. (746) According to UNHCR, no IDPs were reported in Uruzgan in February 2015. (747) Small-scale displacement took place in Uruzgan in March 2015, but no numbers were cited by UNHCR. (748) The district of Khas Uruzgan experienced displacement in April 2015. The IDPs, consisting of 79 families or 529 individuals, were displaced to the province of Ghazni. (749) In May 2015, no IDPs were recorded by UNHCR as relevant areas were not accessible.
The northern part of Uruzgan was affected. (750) Small-scale displacement took place in Uruzgan June 2015, but no numbers were cited by UNHCR. (751) According to UNHCR, no IDPs were reported in Uruzgan in July 2015. (752) In August 2015, Uruzgan was identified as having small-scale displacement. However, no specific numbers were stated. (753)
(735) Khaama Press, Kabul Bank official shot dead in Uruzgan, 26 April 2015.
(736) Khaama Press, Afghan special forces conduct complex operation in Uruzgan province, 23 August 2015;
(737) Tolonews, District Governor Killed in Uruzgan Roadside Mine Blast, 23 May 2015; RFE/RL, Roadside Bomb Kills Afghan District Chief, 23 May 2015.
(738) Pajhwok Afghan News, 16 people injured in Uruzgan explosions, 29 June 2015.
(739) Pajhwok Afghan News, District edu director shot dead inside mosque, 30 June 2015.
(740) Pajhwok Afghan News, Dehrawud police chief killed in clash, 17 July 2015.
(741) Pajhwok Afghan News, Insurgents kidnap, hang Uruzgan tribal elder, 22 July 2015; Tolonews, Taliban Hang Tribal Elder in Uruzgan, 22 July 2015.
(742) Telegraph (The), Afghan forces recapture district which fell to Taliban after withdrawal of British troops, 30 August 2015.
(743) Triple Canopy, Afghanistan Weekly Security Report, 27 August 2015.
(744) Triple Canopy, Afghanistan Weekly Security Report, 13 August 2015.
(745) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, December 2014; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, February 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, July 2015.
(746) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, January 2015.
(747) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, December 2014; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, February 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, July 2015.
(748) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, March 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, June 2015.
(749) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, April 2015.
(750) UNHCR, Afghanistan: Conflict-Induced IDPs by Province of Displacement Profiled from January to May 2015 [map], 31 May 2015;
(751) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, March 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, June 2015.
(752) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, December 2014; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, February 2015; UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, July 2015.
(753) UNHCR, Afghanistan conflict-induced internal displacement monthly update, August 2015.
Generally, the insecurity and the clashes between AGEs and ANSF were repeatedly cited as the main reason for displacement. (754)
Actors in the conflict
Intense clashes between the Taliban and security forces were ongoing between November and August 2015. (755) In mid-May the Taliban intensified their attacks in Uruzgan. (756) This led to a fall of a dozen checkpoints to the Taliban in June 2015, (757) and several attacks on a number of others in May 2015. (758) In some instances Taliban fighters were killed and injured, (759) in other cases members of the ANSF, (760) governmental staff or civilians were injured or killed. (761) In December 2014, Taliban insurgents blocked a main road in the province of Uruzgan as a response to security forces cutting of smuggling routes. (762)
In January 2015, women of Uruzgan for the first time showed their support for the ANSF. In a gathering in the provincial capital the women, along with a greater number of men, paid their respects to the ANSF and their efforts in maintaining security. Several women offered flowers to the security personnel. (763)