Watan Group
Encyclopedia
Watan Group is a company based in Afghanistan
that provides telecommunications, logistics and security services. It is owned by the Popal brothers who are cousins of the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai
. The New York Times reported that according to Western officials, the largest shareholder in the company is Qayum Karzai, the brother of Hamid Karzai, but he stated after the report was published, that he has no financial interest in the company.
Their website states that they have seven subsidiaries: AMP Trading, Ehsaan Construction, Navia Design, Sino-Afghan Steel, Watan Telecom, Watan Risk Management and Watan Oil & Gas. Watan Risk Management's clientele includes: USAID-funded Delouite, Checchi, Jhpiego, State University of New York
(SUNY), American University of Afghanistan
(AUAF) and other projects under the British and American militaries.
and is described as a "private military arm". In 2007, their armoury of Kalashnikovs was seized by the police despite their documentation being in order, the company believed that the raid was orchestrated by competitors in the Ministry of Interior to seize parts of their business. A major part of their business is protecting convoys of trucks carrying supplies for the American Army between Kabul and Kandahar. An article in 2009, published in The Nation
accused the company of paying the Taliban so that their convoys are not attacked. An Afghan official commented that around 10% of the $360 million contract may be paid to the Taliban to protect the convoys. They control the highway between Kabul and Kandahar which all trucking companies must use to transport goods away from Kabul. They control the road because they have a pact with a local militia leader, Commander Ruhullah, who is thought to charge $1,500 for one truck to travel to Kandahar, a distance of 300 kilometers.
In response to the article published in The Nation and that was also published in other publications, including The Guardian
, the chairman of the group Ahmad Rateb Popal wrote a letter disputing the accuracy of the report. He stated that they have not received any business as a result of being related to Hamid Karzai and that they do not pay anybody to prevent convoys being attacked (in fact 50 guards die each month on average). He also suggested that the success of the companies meant that competitors where jealous and therefore told The Nation's reporter facts that were untrue. Afghan MP Nur-ul-haq Olomi told CBC News
that it was unlikely that a security company could function without bribing insurgents saying that if companies did not pay "the convoys were burned and that's it." Michael Semple
, an expert on the Taliban, also said that it was likely WRM pay to travel safely along stretches of highway.
WRM had been hired to protect the Canadians involved in building the Dahla Dam
near Kandahar. According to The Toronto Star in February 2010, a standoff occurred between employees of WRM and Canadian security officials which lead to the Canadians who were providing oversight over the Afghan security forces to flee the country.
In May 2010, WRM were banned from operating on one of the highway between Kabul and Kandahar after a guard working for the company shot and killed a civilian. The company was ordered to pay compensation to the family of the civilian by the Afghan interior ministry. The ban came into effect on May 14 but was overturned within two weeks after 1000 trucks were backlogged on the highway.
In December 2010, Watan Group were banned from all US Govt work.
and two North American companies, Cellular One
and GlobeCom. In 2005 it acquired a licence for $30 million to become a mobile telecoms service provider in Afghanistan, the licence will last until 2020, when it can be renewed for another ten years.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
that provides telecommunications, logistics and security services. It is owned by the Popal brothers who are cousins of the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
. The New York Times reported that according to Western officials, the largest shareholder in the company is Qayum Karzai, the brother of Hamid Karzai, but he stated after the report was published, that he has no financial interest in the company.
Their website states that they have seven subsidiaries: AMP Trading, Ehsaan Construction, Navia Design, Sino-Afghan Steel, Watan Telecom, Watan Risk Management and Watan Oil & Gas. Watan Risk Management's clientele includes: USAID-funded Delouite, Checchi, Jhpiego, State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
(SUNY), American University of Afghanistan
American University of Afghanistan
The American University of Afghanistan is Afghanistan’s first private, not-for-profit institution of higher education. Chartered in 2004, AUAF offers undergraduate degree programs as well as intensive English-language college preparatory courses and continuing education and professional...
(AUAF) and other projects under the British and American militaries.
Watan Risk Management
Watan Risk Management (WRM) was established in 2005 by the Popal brothers and a former member of the Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
and is described as a "private military arm". In 2007, their armoury of Kalashnikovs was seized by the police despite their documentation being in order, the company believed that the raid was orchestrated by competitors in the Ministry of Interior to seize parts of their business. A major part of their business is protecting convoys of trucks carrying supplies for the American Army between Kabul and Kandahar. An article in 2009, published in The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
accused the company of paying the Taliban so that their convoys are not attacked. An Afghan official commented that around 10% of the $360 million contract may be paid to the Taliban to protect the convoys. They control the highway between Kabul and Kandahar which all trucking companies must use to transport goods away from Kabul. They control the road because they have a pact with a local militia leader, Commander Ruhullah, who is thought to charge $1,500 for one truck to travel to Kandahar, a distance of 300 kilometers.
In response to the article published in The Nation and that was also published in other publications, including The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the chairman of the group Ahmad Rateb Popal wrote a letter disputing the accuracy of the report. He stated that they have not received any business as a result of being related to Hamid Karzai and that they do not pay anybody to prevent convoys being attacked (in fact 50 guards die each month on average). He also suggested that the success of the companies meant that competitors where jealous and therefore told The Nation's reporter facts that were untrue. Afghan MP Nur-ul-haq Olomi told CBC News
CBC News
CBC News is the department within the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on CBC television, radio and online services...
that it was unlikely that a security company could function without bribing insurgents saying that if companies did not pay "the convoys were burned and that's it." Michael Semple
Michael Semple
Michael Semple is an Irish expert on Afghanistan and Pakistan. From 2004 to 2007, he served as deputy to the European Union special representative for Afghanistan until being expelled by the Afghan government due to engaging in "unauthorised activities". Semple is a fluent Dari speaker, and has...
, an expert on the Taliban, also said that it was likely WRM pay to travel safely along stretches of highway.
WRM had been hired to protect the Canadians involved in building the Dahla Dam
Dahla Dam
The Dahla Dam is the largest dam in Kandahar Province, and the second largest in Afghanistan.The dam is 34 kilometers north of Kandahar City.The dam was first built between 1950 to 1952 during the reign of Zahir Shah, the last King of Afghanistan....
near Kandahar. According to The Toronto Star in February 2010, a standoff occurred between employees of WRM and Canadian security officials which lead to the Canadians who were providing oversight over the Afghan security forces to flee the country.
In May 2010, WRM were banned from operating on one of the highway between Kabul and Kandahar after a guard working for the company shot and killed a civilian. The company was ordered to pay compensation to the family of the civilian by the Afghan interior ministry. The ban came into effect on May 14 but was overturned within two weeks after 1000 trucks were backlogged on the highway.
In December 2010, Watan Group were banned from all US Govt work.
Watan Telecom
Watan Telecom is a consortium of Al Houbi Telecom of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and two North American companies, Cellular One
Cellular One
Cellular One is the trademarked brand name used by several cellular service providers in the United States and Bermuda. The brand was sold to Trilogy Partners by AT&T in 2008 shortly after AT&T had completed its acquisition of Dobson Communications...
and GlobeCom. In 2005 it acquired a licence for $30 million to become a mobile telecoms service provider in Afghanistan, the licence will last until 2020, when it can be renewed for another ten years.