LAST 24 HOURS
LEAKED DOCUMENT PURPORTEDLY SHOWS US INVOLVEMENT IN FORMER PM KHAN’S OUSTER – The document was published by The Intercept and is said to have been leaked from Pakistan by an anonymous source in the Pakistani military. The document details a meeting between two State Department officials and Pakistan’s (then) Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan that took place on 7 March 2022. One of the State Department officials at the meeting was said to be Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. The information appears to substantiate previous reports published in some Indian news outlets as well as in Dawn, a respected Pakistani publication. Ultimately, the report contends that the idea for a ‘vote of no confidence’ was proposed by Lu and that several penalties were discussed should Khan be allowed to lead the country. For his part, the former PM has consistently referred to the report as proof the US was behind his ouster. A State Department spokesman dismissed the report and said the comments did not provide proof the US Government had interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
TALIBAN REJECT PAKISTAN’S CLAIMS THAT AFGHANS PARTICIPATED IN RECENT TERROR ATTACKS – The Taliban took exception to many in Pakistan’s Government who have claimed that Afghans had been involved in the recent attacks. The Taliban’s chief spokesman read out a statement detailing the number of Pakistanis who had been killed in counter-ISIS operations and said that dozens more were being imprisoned for suspected terrorism-related charges. The Taliban then said that Pakistan should stop blaming them for their own internal security issues. Throughout the course of all these traded accusations, very little proof has been provided to substantiate either side’s claims.
MINISTRY OF VICE AND VIRTURE FORBIDS MAGIC AND SPELL CASTING – The Ministry has instructed officials in Provinces and Districts to check on the sorcerers and witches (colloquially known as Jadugars) operating in their jurisdictions and to prosecute those whose practices run contra to Sharia Law.
RETIRED GOVERNMENT WORKERS DEMONSTRATE AGAIN IN KABUL – Despite an announcement earlier in the year, it appears that many retired personnel still are not receiving their pensions. A group gathered at the Pension Department in Kabul to state their case and attempt to draw attention to the economic problems they face daily. It is not clear where the regime stands on paying these former employees. There are rumors that anyone who served under the former regime was being scrutinized and, depending on their former roles, may not be authorized their retirement. There are also reports that women and specific ethnic groups are receiving similar scrutiny.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The newly reopened Saudi Arabian Embassy was opened on Sunday and has been operating normally with full consular support services.
The Foreign Minister called the British charge d’affaires on the carpet for comments he made related to press freedoms on the Day of the Journalist.
Three Iranians have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
PAKISTAN
The Islamabad High Court kept the former PM in jail after refusing to consider his lawyer’s appeal for his conviction. The court said it needed to hear from Government witnesses before making a decision.
Parliament was dissolved yesterday evening and the acting PM said he would begin meeting with opposition party leaders to choose a caretaker PM.
The Border Security Force announced it was launching OPERATION ALERT on 11 August to tighten security along the India-Pakistan border. The operation will target infiltrators and smuggling operations.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
How the Taliban Guard Afghanistan’s Border (and What It Says About Their Regime)
By Franz J. Marty - The Diplomat
While the Taliban are serious about protecting the country’s borders, border guards face many problems and see completely different threats than the international community.
AFGHAN NEWS
Passport Dept Chief Says 3 New Centers to Open in Kabul
By Fatema Adeeb - TOLO News
Abdul Karim Hasib, the director of the General Directorate of Passports, said in a special interview with TOLOnews that three passport distribution centers will be…
Decoding the Taliban’s Anti-Persianism
By Javeed Anwar - The Diplomat
The Taliban’s anti-Persian stance is rooted in their educational and cultural background, but also reflects a longstanding desire by…
Central Bank Says Inflation Has Been Managed Over Past Year
By Habib Rahman Qooyash - TOLO News
Afghanistan Central Bank officials said that a significant portion of the newly printed banknotes worth 100 billion Afghanis have been received and are being regularly distributed through…
REGIONAL NEWS
Taliban rejects Pakistan’s accusations, says 18 Pakistani fighters killed last year
By AMU TV
In response to Islamabad’s allegations, the Taliban has taken an unprecedented step, acknowledging the deaths of 18 Pakistani fighters linked to Daesh and the apprehension of numerous other…
Taliban And Kazakhstan Strengthen Trade Ties With $200 Million Deal
By EurAsiaNet
In the hope of advancing its agenda of boosting grain exports to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan is pressing for timely construction of a grain terminal on…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
NHS Muslim imam in ‘propaganda’ storm after pro-Taliban interview
By Charlie Peters - GBN
In an interview with the Taliban’s state-owned TV channel RTA, Suliman Gani, an imam from South London who works at the St George’s hospital in Tooting, said…
How one Afghan family made the perilous journey across the U.S.-Mexico border
By Tom Bowman & Walter Ray Watson - NPR
Shafi Amani holds his 3-year-old daughter Yousra outside the Casey Clinic in Alexandria, Va., where they go every couple of weeks for…
By Jake Smith - Daily Caller
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller defended the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan during a press…
THE DAILY WTF
Home Office ‘knew Afghan murderer was terror threat’ year before he killed aspiring Marine
By Alex Barton - Yahoo News
The Home Office had been aware an Afghan asylum seeker was a possible terror threat a year before he murdered a young man in a…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 84.65 AFN (as of 10 AUG 2023)