LAST 24 HOURS
SUICIDE BOMBING JUST OVER PAKISTAN’S BORDER – A military convoy appears to have been targeted by a suicide bomber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, very near the Afghanistan border. A suicide bomber, riding on a motorcycle drove into the lead vehicle of the convoy and detonated the device. The blast killed 1 non-combatant and wounded an additional 14. It was not clear if the bomber had come from Afghanistan and Police were trying to piece together fragments of documents thought to have been on the motorcycle to determine who may have owned the vehicle or, where it may have come from. No group has yet claimed credit for the attack.
TALIBAN UNHAPPY WITH CHINA’S DECISION TO EVACUATE NATIONALS – A source within the Taliban said that the Taliban is furious with China’s decision to publicly urge their nationals to leave the country. An unidentified senior advisor to the Minister of the Interior said the announcement makes the Taliban look ‘impotent’ and will damage the credibility of the IEA administration. The source went on to say that China had informed the Taliban leadership of their intention to send their nationals home but that nobody in the leadership thought it would use a public announcement to do so. He finished by saying that it caught everyone ‘flat-footed’. There are rumors that other countries are quietly sending non-essential diplomatic and commercial personnel home. However, these rumors could be misattributing foreigners leaving with normal New Year holiday travel.
IRAN MAY BE SIGNALLING INCREASED DEPORTATIONS ARE COMING – A meeting on the status of Afghan refugees in Iran concluded yesterday. The meetings took place over the course of two days (12-13 December) and included representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and the United Nations. A senior Iranian refugee official was quoted as saying, “In this meeting, it was decided that Afghanistan should provide the necessary preparations and conditions for the voluntary return of Afghan refugees to this country.” A source who attended the conference said that discussions in the hallways were focused on a scalable deportation program that would alleviate pressures on the Iranian regime. Specifics of any forthcoming plan were not available.
TALIBAN FLOGS MORE PEOPLE IN HELMAND AND ZABUL – A total of 27 people were publicly flogged in both Helmand and Zabul for offenses ranging from pre-marital sex to robbery. A source who was present for the floggings in Helmand said that very few residents attended the public display and that Taliban fighters were pushing people into the stadium before the punishments were administered.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO KNOWN THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iran was removed from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Iran’s expulsion was attributed to the regime’s heavy-handed crackdown on protests.
A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to arrive in Tehran today to discuss the stalled nuclear talks.
China’s Ambassador attempted to conduct damage control with the regime after Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia drew criticism.
PAKISTAN
A second hand-grenade attack occurred at the home of Haji Mohammad Javed, an influential businessman. The first attack occurred a day prior and also involved a hand grenade. No casualties have been reported and no group has claimed credit.
Local eyewitnesses say that Chinese nationals have been seen leaving the country. Many had terminated leases unexpectedly before taking flights back to China. It is not known if a threat may have been received among Chinese expatriates living in the country.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By Dr. Ameena Tanvir - The Nation
Less than 48 hours before the newly appointed COAS General Asim Munir assumed charge, TTP announced the end of an indefinite ceasefire agreed with the federal government in June 2022. The hardliner militant group urged its fighters to relaunch attacks nationwide. The announcement also came a day before a visit of a Pakistani delegation, led by foreign affairs state minister Hina Rabbani Khan, to Kabul.
AFGHAN NEWS
Islamic Emirate Member Mutasim Agha Jan Returns to Afghanistan
By TOLO News
Agha Jan returned with acting Minister of Defense Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who was on an official visit to…
IEA assures foreigners of their safety in Afghanistan
By Ariana News
This comes a day after China’s foreign ministry asked its citizens in Afghanistan to leave the country “as soon as possible”, following an…
'Majority of Displaced Populations in Afghanistan' Are Women: UN
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
“Women and girls are affected by negative coping mechanisms due to lack of food. Women are forced to sell their assets to buy food, or, in most…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistani soldier killed, five wounded by a suicide bomber near the border with Afghanistan
By War is Boring
A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden motorbike into a vehicle carrying Pakistani soldiers in the volatile north-west of the country near the Afghan border on…
Volunteer repatriation of Afghan refugees discussed in Iran meeting: MoRR
By Abdullah Azizi - Pajhwok Afghan News
Tansim News quoted him as saying: “In this meeting, it was decided that Afghanistan should provide the necessary preparations and conditions for the…
Pakistan Minister Claims Clashes At Durand Line Afghans 'Fault'
By Asma Saayin - TOLO News
"This is not the first time; a solution and a new approach are needed for this, and the committee that was appointed and the officials of…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Furniture given to Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in Bristol in £1.5m council scheme
By Alex Seabrook - Bristol World
About 45 homes will be furnished each year in a bid to make refugees feel welcome as they arrive in the…
THE DAILY WTF
Contracts to Hunt Rare Birds Granted by Ministry
By Asma Saayin - TOLO News
The Ministry of Information and Culture said it has signed contracts with a foreign organization to license the hunting of…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.65 AFN (as of 15 DEC 2022)