LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN EXTENDS DEADLINES FOR AFGHAN REFUGEE DEPORTATION – As expected, Pakistan announced it was pushing its self-imposed deadline to recommence deportations of Afghan refugees without proper documentation until 29 February. Many Pakistan observers felt that the recent visit by the US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Chief of Defenses visit to the US would provide an opportunity for the US to request a more moderated policy with regard to the Afghan refugees.
CHINA SAYS IT IS TIME TO REVISIT SANCTIONS ON TALIBAN – China’s delegate to the UN Security Council, Geng Shuang, spoke about his country’s hopes that some sanction relief for the Taliban regime could be discussed. His comments came after a vote to renew the mandate for the monitoring team that reports to the Afghanistan Sanctions Committee. China feels the situation on the ground in Afghanistan has changed substantially since sanctions were first imposed. China expressed a desire to reduce/remove some sanctions in order to use dialogue to attempt to discuss domestic policy changes more acceptable to the international community. Shuang said that travel exemptions for select officials from the regime should be granted immediately in order to increase opportunities for direct discussions.
PAKISTAN RELEASES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFGHANS WHO ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DERA ISMAIL KHAN BOMBING – Information was provided to select news outlets in Pakistan regarding two men who are said to be Afghan citizens that are suspected of having been involved in the terror attack. Qari Shakir from Helmand Province and Hafiz Umar from Khost were implicated in the attack. Pakistan has requested that Afghanistan hand over any other members of terrorist organizations involved in the attack.
IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS MUST GO – The Foreign Minister (Hossein Amir-Abdollahian) said that Afghans living in Iran are a drain on public resources and have crippled the health and education sector. He said that the only solution was repatriation to Afghanistan. There are reports that Iran has asked the United Nations to assist with a deportation operation.
PAKISTAN REDUCES OVERSTAY EXIT FINE FOR AFGHANS WHO DEPART TO A THIRD COUNTRY – Fines for Afghan nationals who had overstayed their visas but who had secured a resettlement destination in another country have been a constant impediment for many working on the evacuation mission. Fines had been doubled in 2023 to $800 but the Cabinet yesterday returned the penalty to $400.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Yesterday, female football fans were finally allowed to enter a stadium in Tehran to watch a men’s game. Women were forbidden from attending games for decades.
Tehran announced it was lifting visa restrictions for thirty-three countries. The majority of the countries that will no longer require visas to enter Iran are in the Gulf States.
The US and UK announced new sanctions against 7 Iranian officials over threats made against Israel.
PAKISTAN
Economists say that Istanbul will face pressures with its foreign exchange reserves over the next few months as several outstanding loans will come due.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced yesterday that all arrangements for the February 8th elections had been completed. The ECP had come under fire from PTI party leadership over the lack of preparedness for the upcoming elections.
In response to recent high-profile cases of human trafficking that have resulted in many deaths, the Federal Investigative Agency announced it was launching a reporting hotline.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Pakistan’s military and foreign policy under Gen. Asim Munir
By Naad-e-Ali Sulehria - Middle East Institute
Functioning as a security state, Pakistan has long formulated its foreign policy choices based on security needs and the aspiration to establish itself as a hard military power. This approach has allowed the military to play a leading role in shaping both domestic and foreign policy decisions, often overshadowing civilian institutions. However, with changing global dynamics, the current civil-military establishment is actively signaling a shift in Pakistan’s strategic culture and foreign policy interests.
AFGHAN NEWS
Kabul Residents Endure Hours-Long Queues in Severe Water Crisis
By Inter Press Service
According to United Nations statistics, nearly 80 percent of Afghan families lack access to sufficient water for their daily…
Rain and snow predicted across 18 provinces in Afghanistan
By Ariana News
The Meteorology Department of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has warned of the possibility of relatively heavy rain, snowfall and…
12-year-old Afghan girl’s last day in school
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The prohibition of educating girls in Afghanistan has created immense challenges for millions of girls, unlike anything seen anywhere else on…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan Extends Deadline For Afghans Seeking Third Country Resettlement
By RFE
Pakistan has extended a deadline to allow tens of thousands of Afghans waiting to be resettled in a third nation to stay in…
Complaints Persist of Afghan Refugees Mistreated by Pakistani Police
By TOLO News
“They are harassed a lot when they go out or want to do their work, some of them are harassed by the police, and ask for documents,” said Farhad, an Afghan…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Talks held with IEA over release of American prisoners: Miller
By Ariana News
Speaking at a press conference in Washington, the US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said that Thomas West, the country’s special…
US envoy meets Islamic Cooperation Officials to discuss Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Thomas West, the United States special envoy to Afghanistan, has announced that in his meeting with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation officials, he discussed issues such…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban imprisoning women for their own "protection from gender-based-violence," U.N. report says
By Ahmad Mukhtar - CBS News
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime has sent some women to prison to protect them from the threat of gender-based violence, a…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 69.62 AFN (as of 15 DEC 2023)