The security situation in Afghanistan further deteriorated over the first three weeks of Ramadan. Northern provinces are called the ‘new frontline’ where the Taleban, other anti-government, pro-government armed groups and the Afghan National Security Forces are fighting. What is happening in Northern Afghanistan? And how does that affect Cordaid’s work in that region?
As part of the annual nation-wide spring offensive, the Taleban this year focused in particular on the north. After years of relative stability, the insurgency managed to get close to the provincial centers of northern provinces Kunduz and Sar-E Pul. In Balkh province, another important province in the center of northern Afghanistan, nine aid workers of the Czech humanitarian organization People in Need were killed on June 2. The horrifying attack has not been claimed yet.
New and continuous fighting
Lenny Linke works for The Liaison Office and recently researched community security in the northern province Balkh for Cordaid. “The Taleban is now focusing more on the northern provinces, with continuous fighting in some southern provinces, which have been unstable for a longer time. With fighting in both areas, the Afghan National Security Forces are therefore stretched between the north and the south, and are under great pressure now that the majority of the international military troops has pulled out.”
The situation in North Afghanistan is different from what is happening in the South. “In places like Uruzgan, for example, stability is more much actor-dependent. If one strongman gets killed, as, for example, the provincial chief of police commander Maitullah Khan in March, the power game changes. The Taleban in Uruzgan have been able to take advantage of the power vacuum that Maitullah left.”
Scared of a shadow
The recent offensives have, amongst other factors, also been aided by the present of foreign fighters from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries. “Most communities in the North, compared to those in the south, don’t have the experience of dealing with the Taliban. In the North people are ‘scared of a shadow’. This means that even if people don’t have direct contact with the Taleban, they are hearing rumours and are anxious what will happen if they take over control.”
Cordaid in North Afghanistan
Cordaid is active in two provinces in North Afghanistan, in Balkh and Kunduz. Partner organizations run health, women’s leadership and food security programs. Ahmad Salim is Food Security Coordinator for Cordaid in Afghanistan.
“Cordaid works with 3 local partner organizations in Kunduz and supports 14 farmer cooperatives in total", Ahmed says. "Fortunately, our partners are operating in the districts that are not badly hit by the recent offensive. But still, they are worried what will happen the coming weeks. Back in April, when the offensive started, all 3 partner organizations suspended their activities for a couple of days. But when the situation calmed down, they immediately returned to their field offices and resumed work.”
Farmer cooperatives in Balkh province are supported by partner organization NPO/RRAA. Dr. Sattar Sayeed is head of the organization’s office in Mazar-E Sharif. “We really hope the situation will not get worse the coming weeks. In some areas, our staff cannot easily visit the far-away cooperatives anymore. It is too dangerous for them. But other districts are still calm and our staff travels frequently and our activities are going on smoothly.”