LAST 24 HOURS
NEW TALIBAN ‘HIT LIST’ CIRCULATED – An unverified list containing 1,640 names of the Taliban’s ‘most wanted’ has been provided to select Afghanistan news outlets. The first third of the list is filled with those said to be members of Resistance groups such as the National Resistance Front and the Afghanistan Freedom Front. The names are listed by Province and, unsurprisingly, the majority reside in Northern Provinces. Approximately 40 of those suspected of involvement with Resistance activities were located outside of Afghanistan. The remaining two-thirds of those on the list are said to be members of ISIS-K and total over 1,000 people. The majority of those suspected of ISIS affiliations reside in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kabul Provinces. Another 80 names are said to be located in foreign countries. If the list is truly a Taliban document, it provides analysts with several interesting points to ponder. The fact that ISIS-K persons of interest are nearly double the number of Resistance affiliates could suggest several things:
ISIS-K has a far larger presence than the Taliban has previously admitted
The Resistance groups practice better operational security and the Taliban has gathered less information about its personnel
ISIS-K has been an active threat that pre-dates the Taliban's ascension to power and more information was available in the previous regime’s databases
The Taliban have successfully penetrated ISIS-K (long rumored to be true) and are working from information provided by under-cover operatives
Taliban counter-ISIS operations in 2022 and early 2023 netted significantly better troves of digital information about the organization
The full list is expected to be published soon on several social media platforms and could provide those at-risk Afghans who may be under suspicion prior warning that they are being sought after.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The trial of a Swedish citizen who had been detained in 2022 began yesterday in Tehran. The Swedish man faces charges of ‘spying’ and Swedish diplomatic officials have been barred from speaking on his behalf in the affair.
The family of the young woman whose death touched off nationwide protests has been barred by the government from traveling to France for an awards ceremony.
Narges Mohammadi, the jailed activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize announced that she would launch a new hunger strike to call attention to the treatment of those of the Baha’i faith in Iran.
PAKISTAN
Former PM Imran Khan has challenged a ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan over his ‘jail trial’. Khan is arguing that the ECP does not retain the authorities to charge him and has asked the Lahore High Court to dismiss the case.
Bibi Roshan, a mother of two young children is being hailed as a hero for shielding her family from gunmen during an attack on a bus in Gilgit-Baltisan last week. She took six bullets during the incident and her husband credits her for saving his life and the lives of their children.
Healthcare professionals in Punjab say they are facing a shortage of over 150 critical drugs needed to keep people alive. Pharmaceutical companies say that they cannot manufacture the needed drugs due to the cost of production.
SPOTLIGHT GENDER
Reporting and Sharing Women’s Stories in the Face of Taliban Oppression
By Laura Oliver - Global Investigative Journalism Network
Reporting on women’s experiences in Afghanistan and the impact of the Taliban on their lives and rights has never been harder. But motivated rather than deterred by the challenge, Afghan journalist and former reporter for the New York Times’ Afghanistan bureau Zahra Nader launched Zan Times a year after the Taliban’s takeover.
AFGHAN NEWS
The end of a dream and the start of forced isolation in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Six years ago, with small hands and a childlike curiosity, she picked up a pen and a book to learn the alphabet of…
Taliban vow to finish disputed canal at 'any cost'
By Khudai Noor Nasar - Nikkei Asia
A massive canal project in Afghanistan has alarmed the country's neighbors over fears it will drain a river key to their…
Few Professionals in Food and Drug sector in country: Omar
By Naveed Samedi - TOLO News
Abdul Bari Omar, acting head of the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA), expressed worry about the lack of professionals and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Nawaz Sharif wants to improve ties with India, Afghanistan
By The News
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif Saturday reiterated the need to improve relations with neighbours…
Over 13,000 Afghan nationals deported from Khorasan Razavi border
By Tehran Times
“In line with the policy to deal with illegal nationals in the country, they were identified over the past week,” IRNA quoted Majid Shoja, the commander of…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Calls Mount for Scrutiny of War Crimes in Afghanistan
By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News
Richard Bennett in a conference for “Accountability for Crimes Committed in Afghanistan” said that Afghanistan has been experiencing impunity of…
Doha hosts workshop to support International Conference on Afghan Women's Education
By The Gulf Times
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry hosted a workshop Saturday to support the International Conference on Afghan Women's Education under the theme…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban Criticize New US Human Rights Curbs Against Two Leaders
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
“Khalid Hanafi and Fariduddin Mahmood are complicit in serious human rights abuses against women and girls in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 69.23 AFN (as of 10 DEC 2023)