Kidnap & Ransom Training

May 31, 2016By Richard C PendryAfghanistan, Information 6 Comments

Recent events in Afghanistan in which another NGO worker was kidnapped,  prompted me to write an article for organisations working in an environment with a K&R threat, on how best to protect themselves. Carrying on with this theme. I’ve enlisted the help of Blue Cole, a leading figure within the field of Kidnap & Ransom … Read More

Afghan Kidnap and Ransom

May 5, 2016By Richard C PendryAfghanistan, news 10 Comments

Australian kidnapped in Afganistan.  Katherine Jane Wilson a member of the Zardozi charity is another victim of Afghan Kidnap and Ransom. The 60 year old snatched from her villa in the eastern city of Jalalabad (J’bad) in the early hours of 28th April by armed men in uniforms. There is little information at present, but there … Read More

Iraq Chaos; Afghanistan to Follow?

September 14, 2014By Richard C PendryAfghanistan, Iraq No Comments

As Iraq is pushed closer to chaos by IS/ISIS forces, there is concern that Afghanistan – the other country invaded as a result of the policies undertaken after 9/11 – will follow, as troops from the NATO derivative ISAF, will be pulled out later this year. However before the Afghans can look at the scheduled pull … Read More

Terrorist or Thief?

September 7, 2014By Richard C PendryAfghanistan No Comments

Acts of violence need to have a political context in order for them to be officially classified as a terrorist attack, if not their just criminal.   However within a conflict or post conflict environment such as Afghanistan, the lines between the differing of categories of attacks can get so blurred that they often cease … Read More

Civil War Looms for Afghanistan

April 22, 2014By Richard C PendryAfghanistan 2 Comments

With counting reaching the half way mark in the Afghan elections, there appears to be clear a favourite.  Dr. Abdullah Abdullah – the runner up to President Karzai in the 2009 elections – is way ahead of his nearest rival, the ex warlord and technocrat Ashraf Ghani, with Rassul – the candidate favoured by the … Read More

13 Months in Helmand, Afghanistan

March 4, 2014By Richard C PendryAfghanistan 2 Comments

Afghanistan, ‘The Grave Yard of Empires’, – as it has become known – consists of 34 provinces, the most infamous of which – its name now synonymous with death and destruction – being Helmand.  The following is a short account of my involvement there during 2010 – 2011, and is written in respect and admiration … Read More