The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies launched the findings of its latest research “Power, Inequality, and Local Land Conflict in Afghanistan: A Study of Kabul’s Peri-Urban Areas" today (July 7th, 2019). The research on ‘Land Conflict’ in Afghanistan focuses on how power hierarchies and structural inequality are often associated with conflicts over land in Kabul’s peri-urban areas. Mr. Hadi Ayoobi, one of the AISS Researchers on the project, outlined how project identified different power hierarchies that feed inequality and land-related conflicts. Detailing how land grabbers stand largely outside the realm of accountability, he noted the prominence of corrupt government officials utilizing their position of authority to extract land benefits at the cost of ordinary people. Mr. Ayoobi also discussed new challenges that arise due to Afghan citizens returning from abroad, many of whom return to strangers residing on their land.
Mr. Sayad Ahmadi, Director of Land Conflict Resolution at Ministry of Urban Development and Land added detail about his department’s efforts toward land reform and settling land conflict. The ARAZI administration, he noted, has identified 18,000 land grabbers across the country, and plans are in place to have their cases brought to court. Mr. Shaoib Rahimi, Economic Analyst and University Lecturer, spoke about the economic factors associated with land conflict. He also discussed the challenges and provided reform recommendations for land administration in Afghanistan. Finally, Mr. Atiqullah Saket, Land Conflict Officer at UN Habitat, outlined joint government-UN Habitat projects to settle land related conflicts. He also discussed recent major reforms in ARAZI and Afghanistan’s Land Administration Authority.
The ceremony, after presenting the research, moved on to a panel discussion and a Q&A where Mr. Ayoobi, Mr. Ahmadi, Mr. Rahimi, and Mr. Saket answered questions from the floor, with Mr. Sediqullah Reshtya, Legal Advisor to Attorney General’s Office & United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as moderator.
You can find the full report of the research in both English and Farsi here:
English:
Farsi: