LAST 24 HOURS
CRACKS APPEAR IN THE NRF – Unconfirmed rumors began circulating last week about possible dissatisfaction in the ranks with Ahmad Massoud’s leadership of the largest Resistance group. Some say he is subjected to constant criticism by many senior leaders from the previous regime who are living in exile over his youth and relative inexperience with strategy and tactics. Apparently, this criticism may have seeped into the NRF rank and file. It is not clear if these sentiments are widely shared or only held by those who may have loyalties to the exiled leaders. Regardless, several online news sources claim the group’s spokesperson, Sibghatullah Ahmadi, was asked to resign on Saturday and that he no longer represents the organization. We assess that the rumors concerning a potential loss of confidence in the leadership do not express the sentiment of the majority of the NRF fighters. However, based on the numerous posts of support that have emerged online, we do believe there are factions who do question the current status quo.
UNIFORM RULES RELEASED BY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FEED HOPES FOR FEMALE STUDENTS – The recently released draft that outlines the uniform requirements for students attending schools included dress codes for both boys and girls. Local news outlets say that sources familiar with the situation are confident that girls will be allowed to go to school eventually and that is why the codes were included. The report has been circulated widely on social media and is fueling hopes that a reversal of the bans could be in the works.
AFGHAN MAN BREAKS INTO THE PAKISTANI PM’S HOME, IS ARRESTED – Reputedly, an Afghan citizen has been arrested and turned over to the Counter Terrorism Directorate after being apprehended in Prime Minister Sharif’s residence on Saturday. Security officials responsible for protecting the Prime Minister were attempting to determine how the man gained entry to the premises. It is not clear what the man’s intentions were and he is currently being questioned in an undisclosed location.
2 PAKISTANI SOLDIERS KILLED IN IED BLAST IN KP – The incident occurred in the Bara Tehsil District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday. The IED was triggered as the patrol vehicle passed its location. A response team arrived shortly after the blast but no arrests were made and no group claimed credit for the attack.
NEXT 24 HOURS
COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS PLANNED FOR 2 PROVINCES IN PAKISTAN TODAY – Pakistan’s Security Forces are prepared to launch counter-terrorism operations in both North Waziristan and Baluchistan in the next twenty-four hours. Surveillance and intelligence sources have reputedly identified two houses in each Province that are suspected of housing militants of TTP (Waziristan) and BLM (Baluchistan). We assess the threat to at-risk Afghans in Pakistan from these templated operations to be low.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Police have begun installing cameras in public places to identify women who violate the hijab requirement.
A Saudi Arabian delegation arrived in Tehran to begin the process of reopening the Kingdom’s diplomatic facilities.
Talks between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Iran took place in an effort to de-escalate tensions between the two neighbors.
PAKISTAN
The High Court in Lahore set the hearing for Imran Khan’s petition against the Federal Election Commission for 12 April.
Several prominent critics of the regime have stated concerns that the new anti-terrorism plan that was announced will not be implemented and is only meant to calm the citizenry.
A joint Afghanistan/Pakistan meeting between traders on both sides of the border has identified several barriers that need to be reformed in order to promote better business opportunities. Customs personnel from both countries attended the meetings.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Don’t Normalize the Taliban’s Despotic Regime
By Annie Pforzheimer & Asila Wardak - The Diplomat
As former senior diplomats – from the United States and Afghanistan – we understand the power of recognition and legitimacy. As women, we see with great concern a dangerous trend of international normalizing of the Taliban’s despotic regime. International policymakers must firmly reject Taliban recognition and try harder to safeguard human rights, or else millions of Afghan women will continue to face desperate circumstances while terrorist groups populate Afghanistan.
AFGHAN NEWS
By Insider
Salim Pandikhell is a scrap collector who scours for unexploded mines, grenades, and ammunition in the Tangi…
Campaign to round up beggars launched in Mazar-e-Sharif
By Ariana News
Local officials in Balkh say that after Kabul and Kandahar, a campaign to round up beggars has started in the city of…
Afghan religious scholars criticize Taliban’s ban on education for girls, women
By PBS News Hour
Afghan religious scholars Saturday criticized a ban on female education, as a key Taliban minister warned clerics not to rebel against the government on the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan to Launch Comprehensive Operation Against Terrorism
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
On Friday, Pakistan’s top security body, in its 41st meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and participated by chiefs of the armed forces, intelligence…
Lavrov to attend regional meeting on Afghanistan in Samarkand
By Ariana News
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, due in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Kit Heren - LBC
The blood-stained editions are going on sale in a shop in Windsor on…
EU Reacts to Ban on Afghan Women Working For UN
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh - TOLO News
The European Union said that the ban on women working for UN organizations violates international law and that if aid to Afghanistan cannot be delivered…
THE DAILY WTF
Trump blasts ‘moron’ Biden after White House blames him for Afghanistan
By Ariana News
“These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of…
‘There is ample blame to pass around to everyone involved in this fiasco. Focus on the issues Afghans currently face.’ TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.63 AFN (as of 9 APR 2023)