LAST 24 HOURS
WOMEN’S PROTEST IN HERAT DISPERSED VIOLENTLY – Women who had assembled to protest the Taliban decision on women’s educational paths were set upon by Taliban thugs and many were beaten with whips and rifles. Water cannons were also brought to bear on the crowd. The protest had just gotten underway in Herat when security goons descended on the crowd and broke the gathering up. There were rumors of arrests being made but no confirmation has yet been provided.
THE MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY BANS FEMALE NGO STAFF – Sources state the order to ban women employees came from Kandahar directly and Kabul was intentionally left out of the decision. The new decree has already drawn considerable criticism from the international community.
EDUCATION OFFICIAL AND BROTHER GUNNED DOWN IN BADGHIS – Police had confirmed that a senior Provincial education official and his brother had been killed by unidentified gunmen in the Qadis District on Saturday. No group has yet claimed responsibility and there are conflicting reports concerning whether the official supported the Taliban’s decision to bar women from Universities or if he opposed it.
AL QAEDA RELEASES A VIDEO PURPORTEDLY NARRATED BY THEIR SLAIN LEADER, AL-ZAWAHIRI – The thirty-five-minute video contained no information about when it had been recorded. Some conspiracy theories continue to state that al-Zawahiri was not harmed in the drone strike on his residence and continues to lead the terrorist organization from an undisclosed location. Most analysts and observers believe he was killed in the strike.
MALE STUDENTS OPTED NOT TO TAKE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS IN KANDAHAR, FIRED UPON AND BEATEN – Students walked out of the testing center at Mirwais Nika University in Kandahar and were fired at as they exited the building at approximately 1700hrs local on Saturday. Taliban goons then moved in and beat several of the male students. The students say they were not protesting the Taliban’s decision to ban women on campuses but simply wanted to go home.
MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND INTERIOR CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE SUPREME LEADER AND HIS LAPDOGS – Sources familiar with the situation say the two Ministers have formed a pact to try and get the old guard in Kandahar to reverse the education bans. They have either traveled to Kandahar in a bid to meet with him or, they have sent emissaries to plead their case. Sources in Kandahar say the Supreme Leader, fearing a coup, has refused to see them or their agents.
IN A BIZARRE MOVE, IRAN INVITES AFGHAN FEMALE STUDENTS TO STUDY – Two sources in Iran say the invitation issued by the Foreign Ministry in a tweet on Saturday was simply a ploy to take the focus off of its own internal issues. Both sources made the point of asking where would these students go to school as most campuses in Iran have been closed due to nationwide protests. The government’s suggestion of allowing them to study online was met with laughter by the sources and they related that it is a standing joke in Iran to see how long a website can stay active on the internet before it is attacked by hackers. Neither believed the offer was serious.
NEXT 24 HOURS
STANDOFF BETWEEN TALIBAN OLD GUARD AND ‘MODERATES’ CONTINUES – The latest ban on women working with NGOs to distribute humanitarian aid has likely ratcheted up existing tensions between Hibatullah and his two most powerful Ministers (Yaqoub and Haqqani). While the information about the Supreme Leader refusing to meet with his two ministers could easily be a rumor, there is clearly a disagreement between Kabul and Kandahar and rumors can carry as much weight as truth in such situations. Even if a solution to the impasse is found, it may only be temporary. Localized violence is still possible in Kandahar and may even spread to select areas of Kabul if either of the two factions decides to make a move.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The regime has announced several curbs on the authorities of the ‘morality police’ in an effort to make a concession to protestors. It is not clear if it will have any effect.
Iran’s highest court has accepted an appeal in the death sentence case for Iranian rapper Yasin.
Heavy flooding and snowstorms have affected most of the country. Protests continued despite the poor conditions.
PAKISTAN
The Government confirmed protections for minorities across the country under the constitution in its message to Christians who are celebrating Christmas.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
When Insecurity becomes Security
By Andleeb Abbas - The Daily Times
Armed attack. Daylight terror. Hostages. Killings. Blasts in Quetta, Wana and Bannu. This is not 2012 but 2022. They are back. They are threatening. They are spreading. Islamabad-based institute PIPS (Pakistan institute of Peace studies) has published a paper that claims that a 51 per cent increase in terrorism has occurred in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban took over the government in Kabul. Details specify that 433 people were killed and 719 wounded in 250 terrorist attacks in Pakistan between 15 August 2021 and 14 August 2022. In the corresponding year between 15 August 2020 and 14 August 2021, the country witnessed 165 attacks that killed 294 people and injured 598 others. But the recent ingression in taking the CTD officers hostage in Bannu and Laki Marwat etc is serious and needs utmost and immediate attention.
AFGHAN NEWS
By ABC
Afghanistan's Taliban have ordered all local and foreign non-government organisations (NGO) to stop female employees from coming to work, according to…
Key cities in Afghanistan ‘militarized’ as Taliban takes stand against protestors
By Bilal Khdadad - AMU TV
The Taliban have deployed additional security personnel and increased checkpoints in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, and Baghlan provinces, amid protests following their decision to…
Earthquakes hit Paktika’s Gayan district thrice, no casualties
By Saeed Raz - Pajhwok Afghan News
Earthquakes struck the Gayan district of southeastern Paktika province thrice since yesterday, collapsing walls of homes, but…
Afghanistan: Women ‘beaten by Taliban’ as they hold protest in Herat
By AMU TV
A number of women, including female students from universities, held a protest in the city of Herat on Saturday morning, but were met with “violence” by the Taliban who…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iran ready to provide education facilities for Afghan women
By The Tehran Times
Writing on his official Twitter account, Rasoul Mousavi stated that Iran is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure, including online platforms, for…
Turkmenistan to extend electricity supplies to Afghanistan
By News AM
In particular, the state electricity corporation Turkmenenergo is allowed to conclude an agreement to extend the contracts concluded with the Afghan company…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US, UN warn Taliban ban on female NGO staff could disrupt aid delivery
By TRT World
Top US diplomat Blinken says Taliban decision could be "devastating for the Afghan people" while UN says most of its activities are carried out by…
THE DAILY WTF
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IEA Committed Creating Job Opportunities for Country’s Citizens: Hanafi
By Bakhtar News Agency
He asked the officials of the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to addressing the mentioned problems, primarily creating job opportunities for the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.48 AFN (as of 25 DEC 2022)