LAST 24 HOURS
UNITED NATIONS LEVIES A DEADLINE ON THE TALIBAN – In remarks made by the head of the UN’s Development Program, the UN is prepared to pull out all support from Afghanistan if the Taliban don’t relent on their bans against women humanitarian workers. While a specific date was not mentioned, the UNDP Chief mentioned the month of May as a potential deadline. In a clearly choreographed effort, the UN released economic data on Tuesday which suggests the economy would be reduced by 30% without this aid. The United Nations employs nearly 3,300 Afghans with a gender ratio of 2,700 men to 600 women. The workers have been ordered to ‘work from home’ for now and are still receiving pay. It is unclear if they would lose their positions should the UN be forced to quit the country.
RAIN AND FLOODING KILL 2 AT TORKHAM, DRIVERS STRANDED ACROSS MANY PROVINCES – A landslide caused by saturated ground near Torkham on Tuesday has overturned at least 14 large trucks, and at least 2 people are dead with many more unaccounted for. Rescue crews, army soldiers, and locals were desperately trying to dig people out of the mud and stone. Officials have said the death toll is expected to climb as scores of names have been reported as missing. A military engineering team that was sent to assess the damage is concerned that more slides or, a larger slide could take place due to unstable conditions and steep grades of the hillsides near the roads.
RESISTANCE OVERTURES TO PAKISTAN – An official from the National Resistance Front indicated in a press conference that overtures had been made to the Government of Pakistan seeking potential cooperation in their fight against the TTP. We do not assess the Government of Pakistan would support official relations with the NRF but may explore secret collaboration based on mutually supportive priorities.
IMRAN KHAN FEARS ARREST PLANNED FOR EID UL FITR IN LAHORE – The deposed Prime Minister has voiced concerns that he will be arrested during the upcoming holiday at his Zaman Park home. Charges have continued to be filed against the former PM by Police and some believe Khan may have conjured the threat up to try and rally supporters. A Pakistani police spokesman said there were currently no plans to serve the former PM at his home in the near future, much less arrest him.
KAZAKHSTAN ACCREDITS TALIBAN DIPLOMATS – Aibek Smadiyarov, a spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry has stated that letters of accreditation have been granted to some Taliban diplomats in Astana. He stressed that his government does not yet recognize the Taliban regime.
NEXT 24 HOURS
THREAT OF FLOODING TO PERSIST ANOTHER 18-24 HOURS – While floodwaters have receded in some Provinces, water continued to pose a hazard in other areas as heavy rains combined with mountain snowmelt to cause rivers and streams to overflow their banks. Several casualties have been reported and a rough count suggests that as many as 1,000 travelers remain stranded due to washed-out roads. The flooding threat is expected to diminish tomorrow morning in most areas and travel is strongly discouraged in affected areas.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Israel launched new attacks against Iranian-backed militias in Syria. Artillery strikes targeted positions of templated Hezbollah and Iranian militia forces in the Golan Heights.
The supreme leader said that citizens aren’t competent enough to make decisions and dismissed any possibility of referendums being held in the country.
Cracks have reportedly appeared among the Iranian diaspora over a number of issues in recent months. While the majority remain opposed to the regime and wish to see it deposed, there is significant discord about the direction a ‘new’ Iran must take.
PAKISTAN
The Chinese national that was arrested on blasphemy charges on Sunday was arraigned in front of a court and has been remanded to a two-week jail term. Chinese officials are looking into the incident.
An early morning earthquake struck Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province with a 4.3 magnitude. The epicenter was near Kohat and there are reports of a few roof collapse but no casualties as a result of the trembling.
Rescue crews were working feverishly to save people who were buried in a landslide at Torkham Gate on Tuesday. Nearly 300 rescuers have been involved in the effort.
SPOTLIGHT HISTORY
Soviet-Afghan War Veteran Uses U.S. Stinger Missiles Against Russian Jets In Ukraine
By Yezvhenia Nazarova - RFE
During the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan in 1979-1989, Serhiy Titunov's job as a soldier was finding and seizing U.S.-made Stinger missiles that were being used by Afghan mujahedin resistance. The then-new technology was wreaking havoc against Soviet aircraft. Now Titunov is fighting on the side of Ukraine, using his experience with shoulder-fired rockets to target Russian aircraft himself. A volunteer for Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, he is training a new generation in using the Stingers effectively.
AFGHAN NEWS
UN ‘ready’ to leave next month if ban on female staff continues
By AMU TV
UN officials are negotiating with the Afghan government in the hope that it will make exceptions to an edict this month barring local women from working for the organization, UNDP Administrator…
Southern Afghan City Becomes De Facto Capital As Taliban Chief Tightens Grip On Power
By Ikramullah Ikram & Abubakar Siddique - RFE
Several officials have recently been transferred from the capital, Kabul, to…
IEA’s supreme leader issues Eid ul-Fitr message
By Ariana News
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s supreme leader Mawlavi Hibatullah Akhundzada on Tuesday released an Eid ul-Fitr statement and said the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Muttaqi to Pakistan: Bring transparency in the visa process
By Javed Ahmad Kakar - Pajhwok Afghan News
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, wrote on his Twitter page on Tuesday that Pakistani Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ObaidurRahman Nizamani called on…
Two Dead After Landslide At Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Crossing
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
At least two people were killed, and eight others were injured in a landslide during a thunder and lightning storm on the main road from northwest Pakistan to…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Meeting to discuss Taliban recognition in next two weeks: Top UN Official
By Javed Ahmad Kakar - Pajhwok Afghan News
The United Nations deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed said Monday that the organization plans to arrange a conference in the coming days to discuss…
Canadian MPs criticize ‘slow’ process of exempting Afghanistan aid groups from terror laws
By AMU TV
Opposition MPs from Canada’s parliament on Monday said that the federal government’s approach to aid in Afghanistan will only delay…
THE DAILY WTF
Indian Govt Upset with Afghan Envoy for 'Trying to Create Rift with Taliban': Sources | Exclusive
By Manoj Gupta - News 18
The Indian government is upset with Afghanistan’s ambassador to New Delhi, Farid Mamundzay, sources told CNN-News18 on…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.10 AFN (as of 19 APR 2023)