Skip to main content

 ⚠ 

    

Please note that this country guidance document has been replaced by a more recent one. The latest versions of country guidance documents are available at https://easo.europa.eu/country-guidance.

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last updated: December 2020

Panjshir is located in central Afghanistan and has a population of approximately 170 000. The main ethnic group is Tajik. The province is divided into eight districts, including one temporary district. It borders Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, Nuristan, Laghman, Kapisa and Parwan. Panjshir is isolated and difficult to access. The local population is known for their historical opposition to the Taliban. Many Panjshiris have been members of the Afghan political and military elite.

Panjshir province has been described as being among the provinces that are less affected by conflict-driven violence. A possible Taliban infiltration in Paryan district in August 2019 was identified. In response to this potential threat, dozens of former mujahideen fighters and members of public uprising forces were reportedly mobilising alongside the ANSF to defend the area. Sources also mentioned Panjshir as an area where ISKP has been recruiting for its Kabul cell. However, no security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP have been recorded in Panjshir province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 by ACLED.

LWJ considered all districts of the province under government control or undetermined.

ACLED collected data on six violent events in Panjshir in the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020 (average of 0.1 incidents per week), of which four were coded as ‘battles’, one as ‘explosions/remote violence’ and one as ‘violence against civilians’.

Example of incidents include clashes between Taliban militants and ANSF forces in 2019.

UNAMA documented no civilian casualties in 2019.

RS ranked Panjshir in the category of provinces where the number of civilian casualties was between 0 and 25 for the first quarter of 2020; between 0 and 25 civilian casualties were also recorded in the second quarter.

In the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, no displacement from the province of Panjshir was reported. In the same period, 1 057 persons were displaced to Panjshir from other provinces.

 
Looking at the indicators, it can be concluded that indiscriminate violence is taking place in the province of Panjshir at such a low level that in general there is no real risk for a civilian to be personally affected by reason of indiscriminate violence within the meaning of Article 15(c) QD. However, individual elements always need to be taken into account as they could put the applicant in risk-enhancing situations.

 

Main COI reference: Security situation 2020, 2.28