LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN SAYS MILITANTS ATTACKED AN ARMY POST FROM AFGHANISTAN, 3 SOLDIERS DEAD – The attack was reported on Thursday in the Kurram border district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Local residents said the fighting began before daybreak and the fighting lasted for more than an hour. Pakistan claimed to have killed two of the militants and was attempting to identify the men. They say they were carrying Afghan currency on them. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
INTERNAL DIVISIONS CONTINUE TO BUILD WITHIN THE TALIBAN – The standoff between Haibatullah Akhundzada and a cabal of his Ministers led by Mohammad Yaqoob and Sirajuddin Haqqani has continued. After the Supreme Leader spurned talks with his two most powerful Ministers, both sides have begun rallying loyalists to their sides. A source in a neighboring country who has enjoyed access to both camps said that Yaqoob and Haqqani hold a significant tactical edge over Akhundzada and have taken to calling the Supreme Leader’s forces, “The Militia of Kandahar”. The source went on to say that Kandahar is an island on an inner sea that would fall in days should the Kabul clique decide to remove Akhundzada. Another source in Kabul said any campaign to remove the Supreme Leader would be a protracted affair and said he holds significant sway with the older warlords who would likely come to his aid.
HACKING GROUP ANONYMOUS SHARES TALIBAN MEMBERS’ PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAILS PUBLICLY – The hacking collective began posting the information on Twitter and are expected to continue leaking the information in a coordinated campaign that will see Afghan diaspora activist groups deluge the Taliban members with emails, texts, and phone calls over the next few months. Supporters of the campaign hope they will be able to change some opinions of those fighting for the group. The Taliban initially planned a press release about the situation but canceled it at the last minute.
OFFICIALS IN KARACHI COME UNDER FIRE AFTER PHOTOS OF AFGHAN CHILDREN IN A PRISON ARE RELEASED – The UNHCR has asked for information about the Afghan people who have been arrested in Sindh Province. Authorities in the Province say they have rounded up approximately 1,400 Afghans, 400 Nigerians, and several hundred other foreigners since August of 2022. The officials say they have been detained in three detention facilities while their cases are reviewed and decisions are made about what to do with them. The photos have been shared widely on social media and will likely elicit further criticism from other organizations and governments.
INDIAN DRUG MANUFACTURER ACCUSED OF KILLING 18 UZBEK CHILDREN FORCED TO HALT OPERATIONS – Marion Biotech, the firm that makes Dok1 Max, a children’s cough suppressant, was forced to halt production on Thursday night after irregularities and deviations were discovered. Indian authorities had already launched an investigation but were now trying to determine where the cough syrup may have been exported over the past year. There is concern that some of the cough syrup may have been sold in Balkh Province after being delivered by a supplier from Uzbekistan.
NEXT 24 HOURS
WOMEN’S PROTEST EXPECTED IN KABUL – After the Taliban doubled down on the ban on women working in humanitarian aid programs, several women leaders were planning protests in Kabul. The Taliban security forces failed to show restraint while putting down earlier demonstrations and will likely react in a similar fashion should the protests go ahead in Kabul.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Opposition leader, Maryam Rajavi, released a statement predicting the regime would fall in early 2023.
The 106th day of the uprising was marked by more protests across the country and in Baluchistan in particular. After Friday prayers, protestors took to the streets in Baluchistan to denounce the recent appointment of Mohammad Karami as the new Governor.
PAKISTAN
The President has called for a consensus approach to energy conservation measures that will be needed over the remainder of the winter months.
The National Security Council held its first meeting on the heightened terrorist threat in the country.
Imran Khan’s party is expected to announce a series of new protests after New Year’s day.
The medical manufacturer of a children’s cough suppressant that may have killed 18 children in Uzbekistan has halted production.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
America Must Understand the Taliban to Change It
By Qamar-ul Huda - The National Interest
While in Kabul recently, I sipped a ginger chai at the Safi Landmark Hotel as I waited for Zabiullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s deputy minister of information and culture, to arrive for an interview. In the mall, customers were hustling for sales support at wedding shops, and mobile phone stores had lines of customers outside while mostly men perused store windows. Mujahid only took a few sips of his chai, but he was attentive to my questions about Taliban governance and the global community’s isolation of Afghanistan. “Listen,” he firmly said, “this country has a long way before a renaissance [occurs], but it will happen in front of the whole world. You’ll see.”
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban Hold Firm to Ban on Afghan Female Aid Workers
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan remained unmoved Friday by relentless global calls to remove a ban on…
Taliban divisions inflamed by sweeping restrictions on women
By The Straits Times
Sources said a group of Taliban leaders is pushing back against Mullah Akhundzada, led by Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of the…
Women in Afghanistan at forefront of resistance to Taliban
By France 24
Fawzia Koofi, a former vice-president of the Afghan parliament, said the Taliban is trying to erase women from public life in…
REGIONAL NEWS
Security Remains at Top of China's Afghanistan Policy
By Roshan Noorzai - VOA
China has stepped in and engaged with the new Taliban government, promising trade and…
Imprisoning Afghans in Pakistan will undermine bilateral ties: Kabul
By Ariana News
In a statement, the foreign ministry said: “Imprisoning and torturing Afghans residing in Pakistan or traveling to this country, especially women…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
UN keeps aid flow to Afghanistan despite ban on women in NGOs
By The New Arab
"Let me make it very clear that the United Nations and humanitarian partners are very committed to the delivery of life-saving services to…
OIC Asks IIFA to Unify Clerics' Stance on Girls' Education in Afghanistan
By Hadia Ziaei - TOLO News
Following the reactions of Islamic countries to banning women and girls from education, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a statement on…
THE DAILY WTF
Norwegian Refugee Council head urges the West to engage with Afghanistan
By ANI
Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), urged the West to engage with Afghanistan…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.21 AFN (as of 31 DEC 2022)