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Strengthening the GovernmentPresident Karzai visits United States Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai wraps up his visit to the US today. President Karzai arrived Saturday, May 21, and spent the weekend in Boston, where he delivered the commencement address to Boston University graduates. Monday, President Karzai arrived in Washington where President Bush welcomed him as the "first democratically elected leader in the 5,000-year history of Afghanistan.“ The Presidents last met in September 2004 in New York during the opening of the U.N. General Assembly. During their visit, Karzai thanked Bush for helping to put his country on the path to democracy. “I've got great faith in the future in Afghanistan," Bush said, "First, I've got great faith in the ability of democracy to provide hope. And I've got faith in this man as a leader. He has shown tremendous courage in the face of difficult odds." Tuesday morning, President Karzai, GOA Cabinet members, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalizad met with USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios and the National Security Council’s Afghanistan Director. Among topics discussed were the power sector, GOA capacity building, the recent NGO law, alternative livelihood programs. Before flying back to Kabul today, Karzai is visiting the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he’ll receive an honorary degree. Database developed for Government of Afghanistan USAID is creating a Management Information System, GeoBase, for the Government of Afghanistan (GOA) that will store and manage NGO and donor program information. This database will not only help with reporting and evaluation, but also increase the transparency of donor assistance and allow for the GOA to better coordinate reconstruction programs. The database is being populated with USAID project and financial information, with all data expected to be entered by June 1. To meet this deadline, USAID has hired 14 Cisco Academy graduates who are being supervised and assisted by USAID’s Geobase team. The Cisco Academy is a $4 million alliance to train Afghans to install and maintain modern computer networks and related information technology. The alliance consists of Cisco Systems, Inc., USAID, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and operates three academies with approximately 400 students total. Security Incidents
Security incidents have sharply increased in the past several months (see graph), with several major events in the past few weeks including the rape and death of three female NGO staff, the kidnapping of a CARE International employee, and nation-wide demonstrations. The demonstrations, spanning 15 provinces (see map), are connected with Newsweek’s May 9 article – since retracted – noting that Guantanamo Bay soldiers desecrated the Koran. Though the demonstrations received much press, other security incidents also increased sharply across the country. Below is a snapshot of the major incidents since this newsletter’s last security report on April 20. Incidents are noted by province. Kabul: Two days of peaceful demonstrations; 1 CARE International staff kidnapped; rocket attack resulted in hospital fire; 3 Afghans, 1 with UNOPS, killed from suicide bombing at internet café; 2 rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attacks; attempted kidnapping of 3 World Bank staff. Nangarhar: Two days of violent and publicized demonstrations; 2 detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one of which targeted a Coalition Forces (CF) vehicle and resulted in 1 death. Khost: Peaceful demonstration; 2 detonated IEDs, one of which destroyed a clinic; 1 rocket attack; school burned. Logar: Violent protests; rocket attack on highway police and another on a telecommunications tower along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway. Wardak: Violent demonstration; 3 demining vehicles burned; IED targeting CF detonated. Kunar: One IED detonated killing 3 Ministry of Interior staff serving as counter-narcotics police, 2 others killed later that day while retrieving the bodies; IED targeting CF detonated. Ghazni: Violent demonstration left 4 dead and 8 injured, including Chief of Police; IED targeting CF detonated; parliamentary candidate killed. Laghman: Rocket attack on district administration office. Baghlan: Violent demonstrations; 3 women NGO staff raped and killed; ammunition depot exploded killing 70. 
Helmand: Five local Afghan Alternative Livelihood program staff shot and killed; 2 attacks on Kajaki dam security force, resulting in 1 death. Kandahar: Two peaceful demonstrations; 9 IED or RPG attacks; shooting death in school funding dispute; attack on school and road construction staff; school vandalized. Zabul: Five attacks on vehicle convoys resulting in 5 deaths and 9 injuries; 2 local Afghans working for Alternative Livelihood programs, 2 drivers and 2 family members killed while returning the bodies from Helmand attack to Pakistan. Paktia: Violent demonstrations; 1 IED; 1 RPG attack; Village elder kidnapped and another injured in route to NGO training; mob attacks UN compound; rocket attacks on telecommunications tower. Jawzjan: Dispute over flooding led to demonstration. Faryab: Peaceful demonstration over Newsweek article; violent demonstration related to reintegration of former provincial leader; 2 deminers injured while working. Badghis: Two large explosions targeted NGO guesthouse. Farah: IED detonated killing 3 UN deminers working on the Kandahar-Herat highway; other road workers under fire. Badakhshan: Violent demonstrations resulted in attacks on 3 NGOs and 4 casualties. Kapisa, Kunduz, Herat, Ghor: Peaceful demonstrations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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