LAST 24 HOURS:
A series of bombings took place across the country over the last twenty-four hours. Information behind each incident is slowly coming in. Refer to the Conflict Tracker below for more information.
The Taliban announced their intention to ban TikTok and a role-playing game. Sources in the Ministry of the Interior claim more sweeping bans are coming. Please refer to Whispers 003 for more information about the threat of a digital crackdown.
Taliban security forces interdicted a smuggling operation on the Iranian border where a group was attempting to sell a surveillance airship to someone in Iran. One suspect is currently in custody and the equipment has been recovered.
As previously reported in our Spotlight Analysis on 17 April, the ISIS-K rockets that were directed toward Uzbekistan fell short of the border. Taliban spokesman Enamulla Samangani confirmed the incident took place but said the rockets fell on abandoned buildings inside of Afghanistan’s border. He also claimed three people had been arrested over the incident but provided no additional information. Clearly, the increased security activities observed on the Uzbek side of the border illustrates the concern Tashkent has over the Taliban’s ability to control rogue elements in the country.
NEXT 24 HOURS:
The NRF is expected to launch more operations in Badakhshan over the next 24 hours. As many of the recent reinforcements sent to the region are called back to Kabul and elsewhere, sources state that local NRFcommanders now see some opportunities to engage with the Taliban.
The Iranian envoy to Kabul is expected to meet with Taliban leadership to ask for assurances about safeguards for the Shiite community in Afghanistan. Sources state the relationship between the two countries is seriously strained at the moment, and the Palace believes recent remarks made by the Iranian President over not recognizing the Taliban diplomatically represent a veiled threat to pull support.
ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT:
Tracking Disorder During Taliban Rule in Afghanistan
By ACLED and APW
INTRODUCTION:
After the 15 August 2021 fall of Kabul to Taliban forces, violence towards civilians has persisted in Afghanistan. As a result of the heightened risk of violence targeting civilians under Taliban rule, Afghanistan is included in ACLED’s 10 conflicts to worry about in 2022, in part due to the particularly high level of violence targeting women in politics, specifically women who aim to prevent the erosion of the rights of women and girls. Amid ongoing concerns over civilian targeting and an increasingly repressive context for reporting, acquiring information on risks has been severely impacted. Organizations tracking political violence and protests have thus had to adapt to the changing environment to adequately capture trends on the ground.
Download the full report in ENGLISH PASHTO DARI
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.09 AFN (as of 22 APR 2022)
AFGHAN NEWS
Deadly attacks target Shiites in Afghanistan, IS group claims mosque blast
By France 24
A series of explosions across Afghanistan on Thursday killed at least 16 people and wounded scores more, according to police…
Roadside bomb explosion in western Kabul wounds two children
By al Arabiya via the AP
A roadside bomb wounded at least two children Thursday in the Afghan capital of Kabul, a police…
4 killed, 18 wounded in Blast in Kunduz
By TOLO News
According to officials, the casualties included women and…
REGIONAL NEWS
IS fired missiles into Uzbekistan that did not reach target - Taliban representative
By AKI Press
Reports were spread across social networks on Monday in Uzbekistan about missile attack of the…
China Calls for Truce as Pakistan, Afghan Taliban Ties Turn Violent
By News 18
A worried China on Thursday called on Pakistan and the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan to resolve their “concerns” through…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US-based Afghans to get consular services out of Canadian Embassy
Afghan Embassy in Canada via Twitter
Announcement on the provision of consular services to the Afghan community in the United States by the Afghan Embassy and Consulates in Canada.




‘Bleak outlook’: Aid groups warn they cannot prop up Afghanistan's crumbling health system
By Ben Farmer – The Telegraph
Humanitarian aid agencies have warned they cannot prop up Afghanistan's collapsing health sector, after…
THE DAILY WTF
As Blasts Kill Afghans, the Taliban Ban TikTok
By Catherine Putz – The Diplomat
Afghans have far bigger problems than quibbling over the morality of TikTok videos, like deepening poverty, hunger, and…