LAST 24 HOURS
RADIO BROADCAST CHIEF ARRESTED AND TORTURED – The Director of Takharistan Radio, Zabihullah Noori, says he was detained and claims he was tortured by Taliban security personnel in Takhar. Noori released a video statement about the incident and posted photos of injuries to his legs as evidence of the torture. The Taliban have rejected the claims and say he was arrested for possessing an unauthorized weapon. The arrest occurred on the 9th of December and it is unclear when he was released. He has called on international human rights and journalism organizations to hold the Taliban to account.
FUEL TANKER EXPLODES IN THE SALANG TUNNEL – A truck carrying fuel supplies caught fire and exploded while traversing the Salang tunnel on Friday. Several casualties have been reported but an accurate count has not yet been released. The tunnel was closed shortly after the incident and work crews are being sent to clear the wreckage.
TALIBAN CONTINUE TO TARGET FORMER ARMY AND INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL – Mujahid Barak, a former member of the National Directorate for Security was killed in southern Kandahar province. He disappeared on 8 December in the Fourth Police District of Kandahar City and his body was found yesterday morning in the Ninth Police District. It is not clear how he died but relatives claim the Taliban tortured and shot him.
CANADA RECEIVES 350 MORE AFGHAN NATIONALS – The Canadian Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Ministry announced that 350 Afghan refugees had arrived yesterday and were preparing for resettlement in the country.
A 4.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE REPORTED FRIDAY EVENING – Residents in Maidan Wardak reported an earthquake that shook their homes on Friday evening. The earthquake was moderate but was felt as far as Kabul. No damage or casualties are thought to have taken place.
NEARLY 100 CHINESE NATIONALS HAVE DEPARTED KABUL – A source at the Ministry of Defense says that most have left by commercial air flights out of Kabul but that an unspecified number had taken a land route to a neighboring country in order to leave. The source said the convoy chose not to travel through Badakhshan due to security threats in the Province, and their destination was unknown.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN CROSSING REOPENS – With extremely tight security in place, the Friendship Gate is expected to reopen for commercial and pedestrian traffic today. With large concentrations of Taliban and Pakistan military units in the area, there remains an elevated risk of further conflict. Rumors have circulated that an unannounced ceasefire agreement has been reached between the two countries but those rumors have yet to be confirmed.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Nuclear inspectors say Iran’s enrichment program has reached all-time highs for capacity.
Another high-profile Iranian actress (Taraneh Alidoosti) has been arrested by the regime for ‘spreading lies’ about the protests.
Protests continued across the country as Friday marked the start of the fourth month of the crisis. Despite the cold weather, people continue to meet nightly in public squares and face off with security personnel.
PAKISTAN
Former PM, Imran Khan, announced that he intends to dissolve two of Pakistan’s assemblies on 23 December. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa legislators plan to resign in protest to the current regime.
Pakistani Army units have established several firebases east of Chaman and have dug defensive positions around artillery pieces.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Islamic State Khorasan’s Transnational Capabilities Are Limited
By Franz Marty - Inkstick
On May 10, 2022, the US Defense Intelligence Agency director, Lieutenant General Scott D. Berrier, assessed that ISK might establish external attack capabilities within “probably a year [or] slightly longer.” He said he is “more concerned” about ISK than al-Qaida regarding Afghanistan. In October 2021, in his testimony to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl stated that it would take between six and 12 months for ISK to establish an external threat capability. And in March 2022, General Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of US Central Command, testified that the group could establish such capabilities in about 12 to 18 months. The basis for these assessments was not made public.
AFGHAN NEWS
Politicians in Exile Have No Right to Counsel Afghanistan: Minister
By TOLO News
The acting minister of higher education Neda Mohammad Nadim on Saturday said that those politicians who have left the country have no…
Nearly 15,000 children involved in hard labor in Baghlan
By Raz Mohammad Raz - Pajhwok Afghan News
According to a new survey, 14,865 children in northern Baghlan province are engaged in hard labor that has deprived them of education, the…
Qomi to Take Charge of Iran’s Embassy in Kabul
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh - TOLO News
“Mr. Kazemi Qomi has been appointed as the new head of the embassy. He will come to Afghanistan after completing administrative…
REGIONAL NEWS
Stanikzai calls on Uzbekistan to normalize electricity exports to Afghanistan
By Ariana News
In a phone call with Uzbekistan’s special envoy on Saturday, Stanikzai said that a decline in electricity imports has caused suffering in…
Iran’s ambassador to Kabul to return home after finishing tenure: Embassy
By Ariana News
The embassy said in a Twitter post on Saturday that Aminian’s return to Iran will take place under the normal diplomatic procedures and at…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Yeni Safak
“No one believes that by starving the people of Afghanistan we can achieve our aim of women's empowerment or any…
UN Highlights Afghanistan's Situation in Quarterly Report
By Mujeeb Stanikzai - TOLO News
The report says there is some progress regarding connectivity, trade and transit, including the signature on of a contract for…
THE DAILY WTF
Pakistan robbing cultural heritage of Afghanistan
By ANI
Pakistani agents are robbing Afghanistan of its cultural heritage by smuggling ancient idols and other artifacts from the war-torn country…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.38 AFN (as of 18 DEC 2022)