LAST 24 HOURS
SCHOOL STUDENTS FEARED POISONED IN KANDAHAR – Over 20 students reputedly fell ill after eating breakfast food that had been brought to a religious school in the 12th District of Kandahar City. At this point, it is not clear if the poisoning was intentional or simply caused by contamination in the delivered food. Other cases in Afghanistan and Iran have involved deliberate efforts to poison students (primarily girls) but this case does not currently appear to be politically or terrorism-related.
TALIBAN MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF HUAWEI CORPORATION - WANTS NATIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY – While the Taliban have installed some camera coverage across some of the cities in Afghanistan, sources in Kabul say the systems are prone to outages and are not particularly effective. The Ministry of the Interior held a meeting with representatives of Huawei Corporation (China) to discuss a project to install a nationwide system of cameras across the country.
CHINA CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN, BUT ISSUE WARNING TO TALIBAN – A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry used the anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal to call on the international community to increase support for the country and to work with the Taliban on counter-terrorism matters. However, China also spoke bluntly and warned the Taliban that it must take active steps in areas such as women’s rights. From the start, China has been concerned about possible terror threats from groups like the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement crossing into the volatile Xinjiang Ughyur autonomous region.
PAKISTANI CUSTOMS INVESTIGATORS RAID TORKHAM AGENCIES – At least four customs clearing agencies were forcibly closed after a raid of their offices confirmed the businesses were cheating the government out of import/export duties and pocketing the money. Investigators found stacks of forged documents inside the offices and multiple investigations are currently proceeding to hold the owners accountable. It is estimated the fraud has resulted in a loss of over 9 million rupees to the government.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian has quashed suggestions that an interim deal could be negotiated with the US over its nuclear program.
Shahab Dalili, a US permanent resident imprisoned in Iran over charges of ‘aiding a foreign country’ will begin a hunger strike to protest not being included in the controversial prisoner exchange deal.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken affirmed that
PAKISTAN
Insiders say that the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif is planning his return to Pakistan in the middle of September. His return would mark the end of four years of living in exile.
The anti-corruption tribunal in Lahore has given investigators permission to interview Pervez Elahi, the President of the PTI party. Elahi was expected to campaign for the ousted PM’s release from prison and some see political machinations behind the court’s decision.
Pakistan has halted further imports of Russian oil over concerns that the grades being provided are extremely poor and necessitate significantly more refining than Arab crude.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Let me explain, my dear son, why I left you in Afghanistan. Hang in there, I have not given up
By Shadi Khan Saif - Yahoo News
Dear Walo,
It is time to confess that two dreadful long years ago when I left you, aged five, to “fetch some new flower trees” for our back yard, I lied – as you have rightly realised by now and hence stopped talking to me.
AFGHAN NEWS
Two Years Under the Taliban: Is Afghanistan a Terrorist Safe Haven Once Again?
By Asfandyar Mir - USIP
Two years into Taliban rule, the question of whether Afghanistan would once again become a safe haven for international terrorism…
Afghanistan: Intensified support critical amid deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation
By ICRC
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) calls for continued humanitarian support to Afghanistan, coupled with investment in long-term…
5 Ways The Taliban Have Curbed Women's Freedoms – And 5 Consequences For Afghanistan As A Whole
By Kate Nicholson - Huffpost
Although there were some fleeting hopes that the militant group would be more modern than it has been in the past, over the last 24 months, it has chipped…
REGIONAL NEWS
Afghans in Pakistan struggle to access health care
By Jamila Achakzai - Deutsche Welle
Faridullah Jan Khan commissioner at the office of the chief commissioner for Afghan refugees in Islamabad told DW that there's no formal government healthcare policy for…
Christian youths released after clash with Pakistan police
By Kamran Chaudhry - UCA News
Six Christian youths have been released and a case against them was dropped after they clashed with police during a Minorities Day rally in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
“Cry, Scream, But Be Strong”: Stories of Afghans in Exile
By Gaisu Yari - Open Society Foundations
It is August 15. A day that, in 2021, the people of Afghanistan did not expect to see again. Two years on from the fall of…
Two Years On, A Dangerous Temptation To Recognize The Taliban
By Stefan Wolff - WorldCrunch
The chaos of the western withdrawal that surrounded the return of the Taliban represented a sad endpoint of two decades of failed US-led…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban says they are in Afghanistan to stay as they mark 3 years in power
By PBS News Hour
The Taliban view their rule of Afghanistan as open-ended, drawing legitimacy from Islamic law and facing no significant threat, their chief spokesman said in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 84.30 AFN (as of 16 AUG 2023)