Afghanistan: Information on whether civilian business partners who had joint commercial ventures with the Afghan government between 1990 and 1992 had to be members or loyalists of the communist party
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AFG28178.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Afghanistan: Information on whether civilian business partners who had joint commercial ventures with the Afghan government between 1990 and 1992 had to be members or loyalists of the communist party, 1 November 1997, AFG28178.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aca220.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 19 October 1997 telephone interview, the Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha stated that private citizens did not have to be communists or loyalists to have business ventures with the government between the 1989 withdrawal of the Russian forces and the end of Najibullah's rule in April 1992 as the communist government was "attempting to broaden its power base." The Director did not offer any further clarification.
The Director lived in Afghanistan from 1964-1974 where he worked as Director of the Fulbright Foundation. He travels regularly to Afghanistan and is a consultant to the UN and to the US State Department on issues relating to Afghanistan.
Corroborating and/or additional information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska. 19 October 1997. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Commission des recours de réfugiés. September 1994. P. Assumpcao, P. Afghanistan.
Rais, Rasul Bakhsh. 1994. War of Winners: Afghanistan's Uncertain Transition After the Cold War.
Rubin, Barnett A. 1995. The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System.
One oral source could not provide information on the requested subject.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact four other oral sources.