LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE RIOTS AFTER FORMER PM KHAN ARRESTED AND SENTENCED – The former Prime Minister was arrested in Lahore on 5 August after a court ruled on his involvement in a corruption scandal. Leaders of the PTI party called for only peaceful protests but the response was limited on the evening of the 5th and observers have credited the lack of public disobedience to the government’s crackdown after the 9 May riots. Lawyers for the former Prime Minister say they are appealing the conviction. Still, other legal experts say the ruling is likely enough to keep Khan from campaigning for the upcoming elections. As a precaution, Pakistan has deployed several thousand police to keep an eye on any potential gatherings.
TORKHAM CLOSES FOR SHORT PERIOD YESTERDAY, DISPUTE BETWEEN BORDER GUARDS BLAMED FOR CLOSURE – A confrontation between Taliban and Pakistani border security forces forced the closure of the crossing for less than an hour on Saturday. The issue involved Afghan children who are often hired to carry products from one side of the border to the other. Local eyewitnesses say that Pakistani security personnel halted the children and the Taliban security personnel objected to the stoppage. The Taliban Commissioner for the border crossing announced later on Saturday that the gate had been reopened. In a separate report, Afghans who had recently traveled through Torkham complained to TOLO News that Pakistani police continue to demand bribes from Afghans in order to pass.
POLICE ROUNDUP IN KARACHI NETS SEVERAL AFGHAN NATIONALS – A moderate police operation was carried out in Karachi on Saturday and at least 8 Afghans were detained. Initial reports suggested the roundup was part of a counter-terrorism operation but we have had no additional confirmation that this was the case.
5.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES BADAKHSHAN, TREMORS FELT IN PAKISTAN AND INDIA – The earthquake struck on Saturday evening and its epicenter was calculated to be near Jurm, Badakhshan at a depth of 200km. While the quake was deep, it still could be felt across the region. No casualties or damage had yet been reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PROTEST THREAT TO CONTINUE IN PAKISTAN AFTER KHAN’S ARREST – Police have deployed anti-riot squads in most major cities to counter any potential protests by PTI party members in the wake of Khan’s arrest on 5 August. The former Prime Minister released a video calling for his followers to protest peacefully but to ‘not sit silently at home’. Gatherings in Punjab on the afternoon of 5 August were sparsely attended and no violence was reported. However, Pakistan’s security forces appear to be in no mood to countenance any domestic disturbances. The former PM is being held at Attock jail (Punjab Province) and locals say there is a massive security presence in Attock. A source in Islamabad said that a risk of major protests is not likely at this time but will materialize in the coming days as the National Assembly is dissolved and the possible announcement that elections could be delayed by as many as 3 months. At-risk Afghans in Pakistan are advised to exit any public areas where possible gatherings take place.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Wildfires that burned near Tehran’s Evin prison detonated several mines that had been emplaced around the perimeter of the high-security facility. No casualties have been reported.
The regime has responded to a US threat of placing armed personnel aboard merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf by putting drones and missiles on more of its maritime craft.
A rash of new scandalous videos has been released on several social media platforms that implicate leaders of the regime with homosexual acts and drug use. The regime has fired back and recently suggested that those who leaked the tapes are guilty of worse crimes than the perpetrators.
PAKISTAN
Results of the recent census say that Pakistan’s population grew by 35 million people over the last six years. The census results show Pakistan now has approximately 241 million citizens.
The Minister for Law raised the issue that elections may be delayed after the results of the digital census were released. Pakistan’s constitution allows for a delay that would allow local electoral offices to incorporate census information into their constituencies.
A train derailment between Karachi and Sialkot has paralyzed rail traffic on the line for the coming week. No injuries or deaths were reported but it will take some time to clear the wreckage.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
The US Has No Afghan Policy, And It Badly Needs One – Analysis
By Luke Coffee - EurAsia Review
The US does not recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, but it agreed to engage on specific issues. There was no shortage of those. The top issues were the growing humanitarian crisis, transnational terrorism, the poor economic situation, and the continued breakdown in women’s rights. After the meeting one thing became clear: the Biden administration has no coherent strategy to deal with Afghanistan.
AFGHAN NEWS
Acting Defense Minister Says Going to Fight Abroad 'Not Jihad'
By TOLO News
Yaqoob Mujahid said in a speech to the Ministry of Defense's commanders and Mujahideen that if the Amir prevents the Mujahideen from fighting but they still go to fight…
Afghanistan cannot develop without education: Stanikzai
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Stanekzai, speaking at an event in Kabul on Saturday, asked the higher education and education ministries to pay serious attention to the principle and…
Concerns Voiced Over Misuse of Aid Funds in Afghanistan
By Naweed Samadi - TOLO News
Haqqani said during a meeting to coordinate provincial local authorities and aid organizations that most of relief organizations only send 20% of their help to the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Photos: Pakistan’s Imran Khan arrested after court convicts him
By Al Jazeera
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested at his home in Lahore on Saturday after a court found him guilty of…
Both Sides Call for Security Coordination Between Kabul, Islamabad
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
Following the explosion at a gathering of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam members in Pakistan, the party's head in that country has urged the…
Charred remains of young migrant from Afghanistan found in Iran
By AMU TV
Iranian police are investigating the death of a 22-year-old man from Afghanistan, whose charred remains were found in Robat Karim, a town south of Tehran…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
UK aid cuts 59 per cent of funds for Afghanistan
By ANI
The humanitarian aid given to Afghanistan by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) has been reduced by 59 per cent, informed the UK…
Pressure of Intl Community, UN Critical in Afghanistan
By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News
In a press conference, Garnier said the UN and the international community's pressure on the current Afghan government is "critical" owing to the country's…
THE DAILY WTF
Government condemned for ‘shameful’ eviction of thousands of Afghan refugees from hotels
By Kate Devlin & Holly Bancroft - Yahoo News
All of the Afghans facing homelessness were evacuated by Britain during the fall of Kabul – many due to their heroic work with British forces during the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.19 AFN (as of 6 AUG 2023)