LAST 24 HOURS
KASHMIR TERROR ATTACK ON INDIAN ARMY IMPLICATES TALIBAN – A spokesman for the Indian Armed Forces said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group carried out the recent deadly attack in Jammu Kashmir. Documents reportedly recovered from those killed in Kashmir indicated that some of the group had received training in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. No date for the training was given but there have been rumors that the Taliban established a training group called ‘PANIPAT’ in Nangarhar which used a subtitle in its internal WhatsApp group titled “Battle of India”. The reference may refer to the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 when an Afghan army fought against the Maratha Confederacy and won a victory and reputedly slaughtered as many as 40,000 prisoners the day after the fighting concluded. If the Indian revelations prove to be true, it could call into question the Taliban’s repeated pledges to not ‘export terrorism’. There are also rumors that US-made weaponry was used in the attack but these have yet to be corroborated.
IRANIAN SECURITY FORCES SEIZE EU HUMANITARIAN AWARD GIVEN POSTHUMOUSLY TO MAHSA AMINI AT TEHRAN AIRPORT – The regime confiscated the prestigious ‘Sakharov Prize’ that had been awarded posthumously to the family of Mahsa Amini when the family’s lawyer (who had received the award on behalf of the family) returned to Iran from France. The lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, traveled to France on behalf of the family when their travel authorization was revoked after news of the prize broke. Mr. Nikbakht was reportedly interrogated and had his passport and cellular phone taken by Iranian security personnel as well.
RUSSIA EXTENDS ITS ‘DAMAGE CONTROL’ CAMPAIGN, CALLS TALIBAN A VIABLE NEGOTIATING PARTNER – Moscow has continued to try and assuage Kabul/Kandahar after several damaging remarks were made in November about the Taliban’s ability to maintain security in the country and after giving an invitation to the head of the National Resistance Front to attend talks in late November. The Russian Foreign Ministry attempted to ‘clarify’ its position regarding Kabul and said that Russia had faith in the Taliban and would continue relations. Russia maintains treaty obligations with many of Afghanistan’s neighbors and must walk a fine line in its dealings with Kabul due to concerns raised in Dushanbe and Tashkent.
NEXT 24 HOURS
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SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Overcoming A Clausewitz-Centric Mindset in Nontraditional Wars
By G. L. Lamborn - Foreign Policy Research Institute
As in previous wars, in both Vietnam and Afghanistan the US military faithfully applied Clausewitzian theory. The full weight of US firepower—from the air as well as the ground—was brought to bear. Yet, after years of attempting to apply firepower and high technology to these insurgencies, the end result was defeat despite trillions of dollars spent, thousands of lives lost, and the resulting overthrow of the regimes in Saigon and Kabul the United States tried to protect. Clausewitz had somehow failed us.
AFGHAN NEWS
Heratis struggle to make a living amid soaring fuel prices
By Binyamin Barez - Pajhwok Afghan News
Residents of western Herat province complain fuel prices have increased in the province while they are struggling with economic…
Concerns over air pollution increase in Kabul city
By Ariana News
The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) says over the past month, the air quality in Kabul city has deteriorated and…
Kabul residents worried about increasing crime
By ANI
Some Kabul residents are worried about the increasing crime in the Afghan capital…
REGIONAL NEWS
Spokesman: Islamic Emirate Attachés Active in 16 Countries
By Naweed Samadi - TOLO News
The Islamic Emirate said that in addition to the current government's embassies' operations in sixteen nations, their attachés are also active in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Payne reveals Biden’s move that devastates her daily in rare public appearance
By Latika Bourke - The Age
Former Foreign Minister Marise Payne has told an audience in the United States that the disastrous exit from Afghanistan is the…
THE DAILY WTF
UN calls on Taliban to stop children's recruitment in security forces
By ANI
The United Nations (UN) has called on the Taliban to recognise individuals under 18 years of age as children and prevent their recruitment into security…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 69.97 AFN (as of 24 DEC 2023)