LAST 24 HOURS
SAMARKAND CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN UZBEKISTAN – The regional conference of 7 nations ended yesterday in Uzbekistan. The meeting is the fourth dialogue between the concerned nations since the Taliban rose to power in 2021. Unlike previous meetings, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister was allowed to participate in the discourse. Several statements at the conclusion indicated a rough general consensus over the topic of forming an inclusive government. However, Russia and China appeared to differ in their approaches in that, Russia stated the repeal of the gender bans was conditional for any recognition while China seemed to pull back from calling it a condition. Interestingly, there were multiple private bilateral and multi-lateral discussions that excluded the Taliban. Of primary concern to all parties was the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. While the Taliban Foreign Minister attempted to brush off the concerns, the other envoys were adamant they expected a report on what the Taliban has/will do to combat terrorism. The next conference is tentatively scheduled to convene in approximately 6 months.
RESIDENTS IN PARWAN REMAIN IN TALIBAN DETENTION AFTER CLASHES WITH RESISTANCE FORCES – Multiple arrests were reported after several fierce clashes with the Afghanistan Freedom Front took place last week. According to local sources between 80 and 110, people remain in custody in several different locations. The bulk of those imprisoned were picked up in the Salang District and most seem to be accused of harboring Resistance forces or, sympathizing with their cause.
GOVERNMENT RETIREES PROTEST OVER NON-PAYMENT OF PENSIONS – A group of protestors demonstrated on Thursday in Kabul over a lack of progress in re-establishing their pensions. Many said they have not received benefits for all of 2022 and 2023. A spokesman for the Taliban Finance Ministry said the funds have been set aside for the retirees but the authorization has not been given by the leadership of the regime. In total, it is believed that nearly 150,000 retirees across the country are facing this predicament.
THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS MORE WAR CRIMES CHARGES LIKELY – General Angus Campbell, Chief of Defense for Australia’s military spoke candidly about investigations of some of the soldiers who had deployed to Afghanistan and may be implicated in war crimes. In March, Australia charged a soldier with several crimes related to his service in Afghanistan where multiple allegations say the unit he was serving with commonly killed Afghans without cause or provocation. It is thought that General Campbell was referring to 25 members of a Special Forces team who are suspected of participating in unlawful killings.
SWISS-MANAGED AFGHAN TRUST FUND EARNS $100 MILLION IN INTEREST – A member of the board of the Swiss-managed fund, Shah Mohammad Mehrabi, said the fund had earned a significant amount of interest while on deposit and those funds would be used to stabilize the national currency. Upon hearing the news, the Taliban again called for the funds to be released. Most analysts agree the funds will remain in trust until the Taliban accept several conditions put in place by the US and others concerning anti-money laundering and financing terrorism. As the Taliban have not shown any signs they will agree to the conditions, the funds are expected to remain in trust for some time.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PARWAN HOUSE SEARCHES – The Taliban reinforcements that were sent to the Salang District in the wake of last week’s fighting are engaged in searches of private homes in an attempt to ferret out possible Afghanistan Freedom Front collaborators/sympathizers. Several families have reputedly departed from their homes for fear of being accused of collaboration. Three arrests were reported on Friday but sources later said the men were released by a Taliban Commander. We assess the searches and additional scrutiny applied to non-combatants in the District are focused on raising fears rather than any solid intelligence. The Taliban have used the tactic before and we believe they are hoping to frighten the local populace into turning in neighbors or friends. At-risk Afghans residing in the District should expect searches and also increased questioning and scrutiny at pedestrian/vehicular checkpoints for the next week.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Israel accused the Iranian Quds Force assisted with planning rocket attacks from Lebanon against Israel.
The regime has been accused of stirring up support for a potential war with Israel among allies in the Middle East. The Quds Force Commander has been on a round of visits with regional terror groups to prepare them for fresh attacks.
The Iranian President celebrated Quds Day by speaking to Palestinians and vocally supporting their cause. The marches were the first since the protests shook the country and early reports suggest the rallies were sparsely attended.
PAKISTAN
The Supreme Court continued to buck the regime by ordering the State Bank of Pakistan to release funding for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections. The case illustrates the struggles between the current regime and supporters of the previous regime. The Government has rejected the decision.
The United Arab Emirates told the IMF that it would provide $1 billion in support to Pakistan. The IMF is in talks with other countries sympathetic to Pakistan’s economic situation to help gather the external financing required to issue an IMF loan.
The Government has claimed recent security operations in Balochistan have improved general security across the Province. Officials say that much of the success has been derived from citizens who have called out terrorists in their communities.
SPOTLIGHT SANCTIONS
By Kambaiz Rafi - The Conversation
The economic and political isolation of Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 has worsened a humanitarian crisis in the country. The World Food Program has projected that between November 2022 and March 2023 the number of food-insecure Afghans would rise to 20 million – 3.2% of them under the age of five. Some 6 million people were classed in urgent need of assistance.
AFGHAN NEWS
Lady doctor gunned down in Takhar
By Pajhwok Afghan News
Hayatullah Amami, deputy head of the Provincial Hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Zakira Rahmani served as doctor in the…
Defense Forces to Get Uniforms Soon: Spokesman
By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News
Khwarazimi said that the process of uniform distribution to the forces will be kicked off after their production is…
Finance Ministry: About 3 billion afghanis ‘lost’ to aid agencies’ tax cuts
By Ariana News
The Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) says that last year (1401) it gave tax exemptions to all foreign…
REGIONAL NEWS
China, Pakistan Press Afghan Taliban Admin To Intensify Crackdown On Terror Groups
By Outlook India
Terrorism in Afghanistan has gone from "bad to worse" after the withdrawal of the US troops, China has said and asked the country's Taliban rulers to deliver on its pledge to,,,
Chinese Firm Said to Offer $10 Billion to Mine Afghanistan Lithium
By Arif Rafiq - Globely News
A Chinese company has expressed its interest in investing $10 billion to mine Afghanistan’s massive lithium reserves and build other infrastructure, the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
EU Parliament Member: Suffering of Afghans Forgotten
By Fatima Adib - TOLO News
A German member of the European Parliament, Cornelia Ernst, at a conference on Afghanistan said that with the war in Europe, the suffering of people from…
Women's rights very important, but not root cause of Afghan issue: China’s top diplomat
By Riyaz ul Khaliq - Anadolu Agency
“Only with a stable society, manageable safety and security and a growing economy, can women's rights and interests be fundamentally safeguarded,” he…
THE DAILY WTF
Over 3,000 Afghan Migrants Deported: Turkish Govt
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
The Turkish interior ministry in a statement said that in the first three months of 2023, more than ten thousand migrants including Afghans were…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.28 AFN (as of 14 APR 2023)