LAST 24 HOURS:
The Taliban reportedly fired several employees at Kabul Airport. Among those dismissed were 12 members of the anti-drug trafficking unit, 15 employees of the passport control section, and 20 security guards. The employees held their positions under the previous regime, and the Taliban are said to have replaced them with loyalists.
Additional Taliban leadership has been sent to Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Parwan provinces to deal with the armed resistance that has grown there. Among those currently known to be on site are Maulvi Amanuddin Mansour (Air Force Chief), Mullah Fazel Mazlum (Deputy Chief of the Minister of Defense), Haji Mali Khan (Deputy to the Chief of Staff). Reports indicate there is deep concern over the scale and scope of the resistance attacks, and the Taliban are desperate to restore calm. Morale among the Taliban forces is reported to be low, and many junior commanders have complained of the lack of a plan.
Civilian communications have reportedly been cut by the Taliban in Khost and Farang (Baghlan). The Taliban are said to be repositioning their forces for an offensive and have expressed frustration that “villagers” are informing the resistance of their every move.
The former head of the Special Operations Directorate of the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Interior, Qasem Qaeem Andarabi, was reportedly lured back to his pre-Taliban post with the promise of full reinstatement but has since been arrested and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
NEXT 24 HOURS:
An internal police memo was received claiming to have received intelligence about ISIS planning to infiltrate Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan from a large base in Darzab and Qosh Tappeh districts. Approximately 800 ISIS fighters (150 of whom are said to be foreigners) are based there. The Taliban have ordered all military and police units to neutralize this threat and prevent any actions against Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Among those observed at the base is Hussain Qahraman, son of Tahir Yildash (founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan). Local Taliban commanders are reportedly loath to actively search for ISIS members and have complained to Kabul the local communities are openly hostile to them and would assist ISIS.
Scattered reports have come in claiming that Asia Bank plans to shutter its operations soon over concerns about a lack of cash reserves. No further information is available at this time.
The Taliban will continue forcing local men into military service in Takhar. Recruitment officers under the direction of Deputy Defense Minister Mullah Fazel Mazlum are going door to door. Local commanders are said to be untrusting of the new recruits and are reluctant to arm them. Those who have been forced to join have had their cell phones confiscated.
House to house searches in Farkhar are expected to continue with recovering communications equipment as a stated top priority for the Taliban.
ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT:
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