LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN HEDGING IT’S BETS – While the political leaders of the country continue to promote dialogue with their Taliban counterparts, the Army is building up a sizable presence near Chaman. Photos and videos of several long convoys of heavy artillery, rocket systems, and trucks filled with infantry have been received since last Sunday’s exchange of fire. The military units were observed passing through Quetta on the way to positions near Chaman. Local sources estimate the garrisons around Chaman have received an additional 20,000 soldiers in the past 96 hours.
KARZAI POPS UP IN TURKEY FOR MEETINGS WITH FORMER OFFICIALS – The former President was photographed in Turkey with former leaders of the previous regime. An aide stated his intentions were to attempt to find a way of establishing a line of communication between the exiled leaders and the Taliban. His trip was planned to ostensibly seek medical care in Germany but his stops in the UAE and, now in Turkey, suggest politics was also a primary purpose. Some in Afghanistan had circulated rumors that he was carrying an olive branch from the IEA to the leaders in exile, but those rumors have not been substantiated and don’t appear to be realistic based on the actions of the Taliban leadership over the past two months.
RESISTANCE FORCES REPUTEDLY RECEIVING FINANCIAL SUPPORT – A source close to the NRF leadership has stated that significant financial support is expected to be turned over in January 2023. It is not clear who is providing the support and how much may have been raised but the source said that ‘realists’ now see the NRF as the only viable alternative for a potential power-sharing agreement. The source said his contacts within the Taliban government have been concerned after the ICC and others announced possible War Crimes investigations could go ahead. The source also mentioned that senior Taliban leaders see ISIS-K as the true enemy of Afghanistan and are interested in potentially working with the Resistance groups to eradicate the threat. The source concluded by saying that collaboration between the Resistance and Taliban to fight ISIS-K is ‘not grounded in reality at this time’. No further information was available.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN – We still do not know if the border crossing has reopened but talks were held between Taliban and Pakistan interlocuters which are thought to have averted further attacks in the near term. Pakistan military forces are known to have moved into support positions around Chaman but the Taliban seem to be content with the forces they have on hand. At-risk Afghans should avoid the area in the meantime.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Protests show no signs of slowing down. 32 cities reported protests last night and hundreds were arrested.
Rumors are circulating that the regime is planning to execute 26 of the condemned protestors soon.
PAKISTAN
Foreign Minister Bilawal reiterated the warning that Pakistan will not countenance cross-border terrorism threats.
The Government summoned the Afghan envoy to register complaints over the recent border problems.
TAJIKISTAN
Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of Swine Flu (H1N1/09) in the country and are urging citizens to remain calm while the government conducts a survey and registration effort.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
What Went Wrong: The 2021 collapse of Afghan National Security Forces
By Timor Sharan - AAN
On 15 August 2021, the Afghan government and large parts of the state, primarily the army and police, came tumbling down like a house of cards, leaving serious questions about the sudden melting away of Afghanistan’s security forces. Many factors contributed to the collapse of the security forces, including widespread corruption, lack of a combat strategy, poor war planning, the withdrawal of US-funded logistics and maintenance contractors and how the United States’ ‘peace’ strategy and then its decision to withdraw rapidly, completely and unconditionally had undermined morale. In this report, guest author Timor Sharan scrutinises the impact of domestic politics on the crumbling of the Afghanistan National Security Forces, particularly in the final months of Afghanistan’s ill-fated Republic. The report shines a light on how the politicisation and ethnicisation of the security forces by President Ashraf Ghani and his inner circle drove military failure and ultimately helped push the collapse of the ANSF and the Afghan state.
AFGHAN NEWS
The Azadi Briefing: Islamic State Targets Chinese Interests In Afghanistan
By Abubakar Siddique - RFE
The assault on the Kabul Longan Hotel was the first major attack on Chinese interests in Afghanistan since the…
Two Major Fires Broke Out in Kabul on Thursday Night
By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News
"The fire which took place due to an explosion of a gas balloon in the market burned four gold factories and the…
Parwan capital’s name changed from Charikar to Imam Azam
By Ariana News
mam Azam (The Great Imam) refers to Imam Abu Hanifa, who was a Muslim theologian and jurist who became the eponymous founder of the Hanafi school of…
REGIONAL NEWS
Letter: Protecting Afghans in Pakistan
By Amnesty International
Pakistan has hosted many Afghan refugees than any other country in the world…
Border clashes will not change Pakistan’s policy of engagement with IEA: Zardari
By Ariana News
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said on Thursday in New York that the recent border clashes between the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Nizamuddin Rezahi - Khaama Press
More of us flee from war, oppression, and famine today than at any other time in human…
Afghanistan: UN experts call on the Taliban to immediately halt public floggings and executions
By UNHCRR
UN experts are deeply aggrieved about a public execution and that flogging has resumed in Afghanistan and call on the de facto authorities to halt immediately all…
THE DAILY WTF
IEA Receives Any Constructive Criticism And Advice: Kabir
By Bakhtar News
The doors of the Islamic Emirate are open to all, this country is the common home of all Afghans…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.17 AFN (as of 17 DEC 2022)