Akram Gizabi
Akram Gizabi is a freelance writer based in the United States who specializes in Afghan political and military affairs.
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Articles by Akram Gizabi
UNCERTAINTY ON EVE OF NATO HANDOVER IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN
This week coalition forces in Afghanistan announced the end of the 45-day “Operation Mountain Thrust,” which killed more than 600 Taliban fighters. The operation took place in the volatile region...
WESTERN-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS DOMINATE NEW AFGHAN CABINET
On March 23 Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered his newly reconstituted cabinet to the new Afghan parliament for a vote of confidence. After days of wrangling, the parliament unanimously approved...
MONEY CAN’T ENTICE BIN LADEN ALLIES TO REVEAL HIS WHEREABOUTS
Yesterday, March 1, U.S. President George W. Bush visited Afghanistan amid increasing uncertainty about the future of U.S. involvement in the region. This was the first time in more than...
DONORS PLEDGE MORE AID, BUT WORRY HOW KABUL WILL SPEND IT
A two-day conference on Afghanistan wrapped up on February 1 with commitments by major donor countries for rebuilding Afghanistan. About 70 countries took part in the conference, and UN Secretary-General...
WAVE OF BOMBINGS IN AFGHANISTAN THREATENS WESTERN TROOP DEPLOYMENTS
As the deadliest bombings this year hit Afghanistan, there are doubts about the deployment of some NATO troops in southern parts of the country, raising concern in the government as...
Bajaur: Tribe and Custom Continue to Protect al-Qaeda
Early in the morning on January 12, suspected U.S. aircraft fired missiles at houses in the village of Damadola in the Bajaur Agency of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),...
QUESTIONS SURROUND CONTINUED U.S. PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, Afghans have been wary of the continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan. They remember bitterly the aftermath of the war against the...
FORMER RESISTANCE LEADER TO LEAD AFGHANISTAN’S NEW PARLIAMENT
Afghanistan's new parliament convened on December 19 in the presence of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney. Among the items on the opening agenda, the legislators had to select chairmen for each...
UPPER HOUSE OF AFGHAN PARLIAMENT BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
This week Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced his choices for 34 seats in the upper house of parliament (Mishrano Jirga), completing a process that began with the September 18 parliamentary...
ARE THE TALIBAN RECEIVING OUTSIDE HELP IN THEIR RESISTANCE EFFORTS?
As insurgent attacks increase in Afghanistan, observers have begun to wonder whether the anti-government forces are receiving foreign training and aid. Recent attacks by the Taliban, such as suicide and...
BOMBINGS FAIL TO CURB KABUL’S NEW ECONOMIC VITALITY
Despite bombings and the lingering Taliban insurgency, Afghanistan is showing signs of slowly integrating with regional as well as international economic organizations. This week has been one of Afghanistan's bloodiest,...
STILL NO OFFICIAL RESULTS FROM AFGHAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The long-overdue results of the September 18 Afghan parliamentary elections still have not been announced because of complaints and problems with the counting process. The UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body...
EDITOR OF AFGHAN WOMEN’S MAGAZINE ARRESTED FOR BLASPHEMY
Ali Mohaqqeq-Nasab, editor of the Kabul-based women's magazine Hoqooq-e-Zan (Women's Rights), was suddenly arrested on October 1. He was snatched on the street, without any warrant, summons, or prior notice...
PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE ASSASSINATED IN AFGHANISTAN
On Monday, September 27, Ashraf Ramazan, a prominent parliamentary candidate from Balkh, a northern province, was assassinated in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif in broad daylight. One of his bodyguards was...
LANDMARK AFGHAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION GOES SMOOTHLY
On September 18, Afghanistan completed the last stage of the Bonn Agreements. Parliamentary elections held that Sunday were hailed as a success. The Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) has announced...
ELECTION FEVER HITS AFGHANISTAN AHEAD OF PARLIAMENTARY VOTE
Afghanistan is set to hold parliamentary elections on Sunday, September 18. In the final days of the campaign, hopes and difficulties abound. The hopes stem from the fact that people...
AFGHAN ELECTIONS INSPIRE BOTH FEAR AND OPTIMISM
Preparations are underway for the Afghan parliamentary elections on September 18, amid continuing violence and intimidation. At the same time, there is optimism as the U.S.-led coalition forces prepare for...