2020 in Afghanistan

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Events from the year 2020 in Afghanistan.

Incumbents[]

Events[]

January[]

  • 27 January – A United States Air Force Bombardier Global Express E-11A aircraft crashed in Afghanistan's Dih Yak District, Ghazni Province.[1]
  • 29 January – Afghan special forces raided a Taliban compound in Bala Murghab, Badghis Province, freeing 62 hostages.[2] A Taliban attack in Kunduz killed multiple Afghan security forces.[2]

February[]

  • 6 February – The CASA-1000 project was inaugurated, in a ceremony attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan.[3]
  • 7 February – Two senior members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan - Sheikh Khalid Haqqani and Qari Saif Younis - were found assassinated near the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul.[4][5]
  • 8 February – Two U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed, and six more were wounded, in an insider attack in Sherzad District, Nangarhar Province.[6][7]
  • 11 February – A suicide bomber killed at least six people near the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul.[8][9]
  • 15 February – U.S. negotiators and the Taliban agreed on a seven-day "reduction in violence" period, with the ultimate aim of reducing U.S. forces from 12,000 to 8,600 over coming months. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the period is "conditions-based" but would involve suspending a "significant part" of U.S. operations, though no start date has yet been selected. Consultations are scheduled for 21 February between Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani. The announcement follows an earlier Taliban ultimatum to reply to their proposal for such a reduction, though the Taliban still refuse to meet with Afghan government officials in any capacity but as private citizens.[10]
  • 18 February – President Ashraf Ghani was formally declared the winner of the 2019 Afghan presidential election, though Abdullah Abdullah disputed the results, and announced his intentions to form his own government.[11][12]
  • 19 February – President Ashraf Ghani and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad met to discuss U.S. peace negotiations with the Taliban.[13]
  • 29 February – The United States and the Taliban sign an agreement that may lead to the end of the war in Afghanistan.[14]

March[]

  • 6 March – Two ISIL insurgents shot 32 people dead in Kabul.[15]
  • 25 March – ISIL attack a gurdwara (Sikh house of worship) in Kabul, killing 25 people.[16]
  • 29 March – The Taliban kill six Afghan troops and police officers in Zabul province and five in Baghlan province.[17]
  • 30 March – A sticky bomb attached to a vehicle detonated Kabul, wounding four people. The Taliban are to send ten representatives to the U.S. Bagram Airfield, to oversee the release of 5,000 prisoners.[17] Reuters reports 27 security forces and 13 Taliban killed in fighting.[18]

May[]

May 2020 Afghanistan attacks

June[]

June 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 6 June – Eleven members of the security forces and four insurgents were killed in Badakhshan Province. Three police officers were killed in a gun battle in Guldara District, Kabul Province.[25]
  • 12 June – Four people were killed and another eight injured in a bombing at a Kabul mosque.[26]
  • 17 June – Twelve security forces members were killed and five were wounded during a Taliban attack in Aqcha District, Jowzjan Province. Four soldiers were taken hostage in the attack, and five Taliban militants killed.[27] Two security checkpoints in the Aqcha district were hit from different angles by the attackers, in an attempt to take over their control, a spokesman in the Jawzjan province confirmed.[28] However, the actual extent of casualties are yet to be ascertained, as the group behind the attack has not issued a statement yet.[29]
  • 29 June – At least 23 people were killed in rocket attacks on a cattle market in Sangin District, Helmand Province. Both the government and the Taliban blamed each other for the attack.[30]

July[]

July 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 13 July – 11 people were killed and several others injured, as a result of a car bomb blast at a government facility in northern Afghanistan's Samangan Province.[31] According to the hospital chief of the province, most of the casualties of the attack were civilians, including children. The deputy governor of the province stated that the insurgents breached the intelligence complex agency after the blast, subsequently engaging in a struggle with the Afghan forces for hours. Officials added that the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.[32][33][34]
  • 23 July – Local officials disclosed that an Air strike was launched by the Afghan forces against Taliban fighters in the western Afghan province of Herat, killing at least 45 people, including civilians.[35] Witnesses claimed that the attack was carried out when several people came out in Herat's Adraskan district to welcome a Taliban fighter that was recently released from jail. Further claims suggest that at least 8 civilians lost their lives in the attack, with several others injured including children.[36][37] The Afghan defense ministry has assured that it would look into this lethal attack which resulted in civilian casualties.[38]
  • 28 July – The Taliban has declared a temporary ceasefire for three days in Afghanistan, ahead of Muslim's holiday for Eid.[39] According to the Washington Times, the Afghan government has accepted the deal, as they have urged their forces to uphold the truce.[40] President Ashraf Ghani has indicated that negotiations could begin next week, which would mark the commencement of the procrastinated peace talks.[40] However, spokesman of the Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid, has maintained that the Taliban would respond if attacked by Afghan forces, despite ordering their fighters to stand-down in order to observe Eid peacefully.[41]

August[]

August 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 2–3 August – The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISKP) group's suicide car bomber and gunmen attacked a prison in Jalalabad Nangarhar Province, in eastern Afghanistan. Beginning on August 2, the battle between soldiers went on for 20 hours. At least 29, including at least 8 ISIS attackers, were killed in the Jalalabad attack, while around 50 were injured. More than 25 prisoners escaped, while around 1,025 inmates, who tried to flee the compound, were recaptured.[42]
  • 26 August – Flash floods kill at least 72 people and destroy hundreds of homes in Parwan Province.[43]

September[]

September 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 9 September – Ten people are killed and 31 including First Vice-president Amrullah Saleh are injured in a bombing in Kabul. The Taliban deny responsibility for the attack.[44]
  • 12 September – Representatives of the government and the Taliban meet in Qatar to begin peace talks. U.S. Vice-president Mike Pence attends to inauguration in Doha.[45]
  • 16 September

October[]

October 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 18 October – A car bomb was placed outside a police headquarter in the western province of Ghor. The explosion left 13 civilians dead and more than 120 people wounded.[48]
  • 21 October
    • During an application for visas to Pakistan at Jalalabad Stadium, at least twelve women were killed in a human stampede.[49]
    • An Afghan Air Force airstrike against a mosque in Baharak District, Takhar reportedly killed 12 children, though the Ministry of Defense claimed all of those killed were Taliban militants.[50]

November[]

November 2020 Afghanistan attacks

  • 2 November – Three gunmen stormed the campus of Kabul University killing 32 people and wounding 50 others in the 2020 Kabul University attack.
  • 24 November – Around 70 countries and 30 international organizations participate in the United Nation's 2020 Afghanistan Conference, pledging US$3.3 billion to support the Afghani peace process.[51]

Deaths[]

See also[]

  • History of Afghanistan
  • Outline of Afghanistan
  • Politics of Afghanistan
  • Government of Afghanistan
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
  • 2020s
  • 2020s in political history

References[]

  1. ^ Abdul Qadir Sediqi (January 27, 2020). "Aircraft crashes in central Afghan province". Reuters.
  2. ^ a b Hassan, Sharif; George, Susannah; Salahuddin, Sayed (January 29, 2020). "Afghan forces rescue more than 60 hostages from Taliban prison in night raid". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020.
  3. ^ Gul, Ayaz (February 6, 2020). "Afghan Leader Inaugurates Construction of Key Regional Energy Project". Voice of America.
  4. ^ Kermani, Secunder; Yousafzai, Sami; Mehsud, Ishtiaq (February 7, 2020). "Kabul Taliban: Spies, militants and a mysterious assassination". BBC News.
  5. ^ Fitsanakis, Joseph (February 10, 2020). "Pakistani Taliban leaders found dead in Kabul hotel, culprits unknown". intelNews.
  6. ^ George, Susannah; Hassan, Sharif (February 9, 2020). "The gunfire lasted just minutes but left two U.S. soldiers in eastern Afghanistan dead". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020.
  7. ^ Mashal, Mujib; Ghazi, Zabihullah; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Jakes, Lara (February 9, 2020). "Two American Soldiers Killed in Shootout With Afghan Forces". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Six other American service members were wounded, Colonel Leggett said in a statement early Sunday. He said an investigation was underway and that the motive for the attack was unclear. The two soldiers killed, part of the Seventh Special Forces Group, were Staff Sgt. Javier J. Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio and Staff Sgt. Antonio R. Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, N.M., according to a Pentagon statement released Sunday.
  8. ^ Agence France-Presse (February 11, 2020). "At least five dead in suicide attack on Kabul military academy". The Guardian.
  9. ^ Sediqi, Abdul Qadir; Ahmed, Jibran; Peshimam, Gibran Naiyyar; Greenfield, Charlotte (February 11, 2020). Jain, Rupam; Fernandez, Clarence; Graff, Peter (eds.). "Six killed in suicide blast in Kabul, Taliban deny attack". Reuters. “Six people including two civilians and four military personnel were killed,” interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told Reuters, adding that 12 people were wounded, five of them civilians.
  10. ^ Wamsley, Laurel (February 15, 2020). "U.S. Reaches 'Reduction In Violence' Deal With Taliban In Afghanistan". NPR.
  11. ^ Mashal, Mujib (February 18, 2020). "After 5-Month Delay, Ashraf Ghani Is Named Winner of Afghan Election". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday was declared the winner of Afghanistan’s presidential vote after months of delayed results and bitter dispute. [...] Fazel Ahmad Manawi, a senior member of Mr. Abdullah’s team, had said hours before the announcement that “neither the institution called independent election commission has legitimacy in our eyes, nor the result they might announce.”
  12. ^ Graham-Harrison, Emma (February 18, 2020). "Ghani declared winner of Afghan election - but opponent rejects result". The Guardian. Five months after Afghans went to the polls to choose a new president, election authorities have declared the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani, the winner, but his main opponent has rejected the result and said he will form his own “inclusive government”.
  13. ^ Sediqi, Abdul Qadir; Peshimam, Gibran (February 19, 2020). Osterman, Cynthia (ed.). "U.S. special envoy discusses Taliban deal with re-elected Afghan president". Reuters. U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday discussed a U.S. deal with Taliban militants on a weeklong reduction in violence, meeting the day after Ghani was declared a winner of a disputed presidential poll. [...] Khalilzad, who has led talks with the Taliban on a U.S. troop withdrawal agreement, briefed Ghani on the steps that will be taken after the reduction in violence agreement comes into force, the presidential palace statement said.
  14. ^ U.S.-Taliban sign landmark agreement in bid to end America's longest war NBC News, 29 Feb 2020
  15. ^ "Kabul attack: Abdullah Abdullah escapes deadly attack". BBC News. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  16. ^ Bomb disrupts funeral for 25 Sikhs killed in Afghan capital By TAMEEM AKHGAR, AP, 26 Mar 2020
  17. ^ a b Afghan officials say Taliban attacks kill 11 troops, police By RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press/ABC News, 30 Mar 2020
  18. ^ At least 27 Afghan security personnel killed in Taliban assaults By Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Reuters, 30 Mar 2020
  19. ^ "Exclusive: Afghan lawmakers say 45 migrants drowned after Iranian guards forced them into river". REUTERS. May 7, 2020.
  20. ^ Press, Europa. "AMP3.- Afganistán.- Al menos 24 muertos en un atentado de Estado Islámico en el funeral de un policía en Nangarhar". Publimetro México (in Spanish). Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  21. ^ "'Sheer evil' maternity ward attack toll rises to 24". BBC News. 13 May 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  22. ^ Sultan, Ahmad; Sediqi, Abdul Qadir (May 14, 2020). Gopalakrishnan, Raju (ed.). "Truck bomb in eastern Afghan city kills five, Taliban claim responsibility". Reuters. A truck packed with explosives blew up near a court in the eastern Afghan city of Gardez on Thursday, killing at least five people in an attack claimed by Taliban insurgents. [...] “A car bomb explosion took place near a military court in Gardez city, which is a populated area. Dozens of civilians are feared to be dead and wounded,” said Tariq Arian, an interior ministry spokesman.
  23. ^ "Afghan Taliban announce three-day Eid ceasefire". BBC News. 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  24. ^ "Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Afghanistan". United Nations Secretary-General. 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  25. ^ "Separate attacks kill 14 Afghan forces in Kabul, northeast". AP NEWS. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  26. ^ "Official: Bomb explodes in Kabul mosque, at least 4 killed". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  27. ^ "Afghans Say Taliban Attacks Kill At Least 17 Military Personnel In Northern Provinces". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. June 17, 2020. Afghan officials say Taliban fighters have attacked a checkpoint in the northern province of Jawzjan, killing 12 security force members. Abdul Marouf Azar, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said on June 17 that five others were wounded in the attack that occurred at dawn in the Aqcha district.
  28. ^ "Latest Taliban Attacks Kill 17 Afghan Forces". www.voanews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-21.
  29. ^ "Afghanistan: Taliban attack security forces checkpoints in Aqcha (Jowzjan province) June 17". www.garda.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29.
  30. ^ "Blast kills at least 23 at cattle market in southern Afghanistan". Reuters. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  31. ^ "Taliban car bomb attack on Afghan intelligence compound kills 11". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13.
  32. ^ "Taliban kill 11 in assault on Afghan intelligence compound". abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13.
  33. ^ "Taliban Stage a Major Attack, as Violence Intensifies in Northern Afghanistan". www.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13.
  34. ^ "Taliban Car Bomb Attack on Afghan Intel Office Kills 11". www.thedefensepost.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-14.
  35. ^ "Civilians among 45 killed in Afghan air raids against Taliban". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-22.
  36. ^ "Afghan airstrike allegedly hits civilians welcoming freed Taliban prisoner back home". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-23.
  37. ^ "Afghan Officials Say Taliban, Not Civilians, Killed in Air Strike". www.voanews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-24.
  38. ^ "Afghanistan investigating deadly air strike in Herat". www.trtworld.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-24.
  39. ^ "Taliban agree Eid ceasefire in boost for Afghanistan peace process". www.theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30.
  40. ^ a b "Taliban declares cease-fire in Afghanistan for Eid, as pressure builds for peace talks". www.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28.
  41. ^ "Taliban announce three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan for Eid al-Adha, starting Friday". www.reuters.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-29.
  42. ^ "Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attack on Afghan Prison". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  43. ^ "Inundaciones repentinas dejan más de 70 muertos en Afganistán". www.msn.com (in Spanish). 24 Horas. Retrieved August 26, 2020. "Inundaciones repentinas dejan más de 70 muertos en Afganistán". www.msn.com (in Spanish). Reuters. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  44. ^ FAIEZ, RAHIM (9 September 2020). "Afghan officials: Kabul bomb targets VP, kills 10 civilians". AP NEWS. AP NEWS. Retrieved Sep 12, 2020.
  45. ^ "El Talibán inicia "históricas" conversaciones de paz con el gobierno de Afganistán". www.msn.com. BBC World News. September 12, 2020. Retrieved Sep 12, 2020.
  46. ^ "2 Killed, 12 Wounded in Takhar Blast". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  47. ^ "NDS Colonel Murdered in Kabul, Public Demands Better Security". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  48. ^ "Suicide car bombing kills several, wounds dozens in western Afghanistan". TRTWorld. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  49. ^ TOLOnews. "Jalalabad: 12 Women Killed in Stampede for Pakistani Visas". Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. At least 12 women were trampled to death--and 9 women and 3 men were injured-- during a stampede occurring among those seeking Pakistani visas in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar province on Wednesday, local officials said.
  50. ^ Radio Free Afghanistan (October 22, 2020). "Local Officials, Kabul Clash Over Whether Children Were Killed In Mosque Air Strike". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Officials in the northern Afghan province of Takhar say 12 children were killed in an air strike on a mosque, but the government in Kabul disputes the account, claiming all those killed were Taliban fighters. The strike occurred on October 21 in Baharak district, some 15 kilometers from the regional capital, Taloqan, where Taliban fighters had killed dozens of Afghan security forces in the early morning, provincial councilor Mohammad Azam Afzali said.
  51. ^ "Strong support for Afghanistan at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference". UNAMA. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  52. ^ Abed, Fahim (6 May 2020). "Munir Mangal, Afghan General and Police Commander, Dies at 70". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  53. ^ "Veteran Afghan Actor Faqeer Nabi, 67, Dies of COVID-19". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  54. ^ "Afghanistan Batsman Najeeb Tarakai Loses Life in Road Accident, Board Mourns Death". CNN-News18. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
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