LAST 24 HOURS
CLASH BETWEEN IRANIAN AND TALIBAN BORDER SECURITY FORCES – Iranian officials confirmed that 1 Iranian border guard was killed in a clash with Taliban border security forces. Iranian news sites said the fighting involved ‘bandits’ from Afghanistan but Afghan sources were adamant the scuffle involved both country’s border forces.
US REITERATES IT WILL INTERVENE IF TERROR GROUPS OPERATE IN AFGHANISTAN – In a blunt warning to the regime, a US spokesman said that President Biden will not hesitate to take action if terror groups seek safe haven in the country. He went on to say that the overall objective would be to halt terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
UPDATE ABOUT NRF TARGETED ATTACK IN TAKHAR – The ambush of a Taliban intelligence chief in Rostaq succeeded in wounding Qari Abdullah and 1 of his bodyguards was killed. A second report has alleged that Abdullah was also killed in the attack but confirmation has not yet been received.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR CLAIMS TO HAVE ARRESTED 5 ISIS-K MEMBERS – The 5 detainees were allegedly involved in the killing of Rahimullah Haqqani. GDI agents released videos of the men’s confessions on their social media accounts.
PUBLIC FLOGGINGS INCREASE – As expected, Provinces around the country have begun to announce public spectacles of Sharia punishments. In the wake of the recent public execution, several Provinces scheduled events around the country. Parwan publicly flogged 27 people (10 of which were women) and released a video of the punishments being carried out.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO CURRENT THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The sister of the Supreme Leader has called her brother a ‘despot’ and is urging the IRGC to lay down their arms and let him be removed from office.
Protests have intensified as groups call for the regime to be overthrown. Some desertions among police and military units were reported.
National reform party leaders have reportedly rebuffed requests from the current regime to meet and discuss a way out of the political crisis.
The regime has executed the first of the prisoners it convicted for involvement in the protests.
PAKISTAN
Former PM Imran Khan now says the assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtuhkhwa will be dissolved before the end of the month. It may happen in a few days and create another political crisis in the country.
Rumors have been circulating among long-time Pakistan observers there is discord among senior leaders in the Army and many are pointing to significant anti-Army traffic on social media as a sign its power may be on the wane.
UZBEKISTAN
In another sign that Russia’s influence in Central Asia has taken a hit after the invasion of Ukraine, the Uzbek government put the brakes on a Russian proposal to form a ‘gas union’ for shipping oil to China.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Forever Wars Weaken Great Power Crisis Response
By Christopher Mott - The National Interest
The dismal end of two decades of failed nation-building in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 came with howls of protest in the press and a resurrection of Bush Era-style rhetoric that vigilant interventionism was needed lest the U.S. order collapse everywhere. If we don’t fight every fight, the logic goes, we cannot be expected to respond to the wars of choice of others. We must, we are told, “do something.” With the Russian invasion of Ukraine coming barely more than six months after the Afghanistan withdrawal, there is a tendency to conflate these issues as the United States showing weakness in one country somehow leading to a crisis in another, unrelated country.
AFGHAN NEWS
Are Afghanistan's Taliban 'slowly slipping back' to ways of the 1990s?
By The National News
Afghanistan’s Taliban government publicly lashed nine women and three men accused of adultery and theft last month at a…
Banned from schools, Afghan girls fear for their future
By Al Jazeera
Afghanistan’s new rulers initially promised women’s rights but gradually expanded restrictions on…
Former Farah MP: Taliban Convicted Taj Mir Without Investigation and Based on Allegations
By 8 AM Media
Mr. Hussaini said in a video, that went viral on social media on Wednesday evening (December 7th), the Taliban did not adhere to human rights, but…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan Could Take Its Fight Against the TTP to Sanctuaries in Afghanistan
By Umair Jamal - The Diplomat
On November 28, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended the months-long ceasefire with the Pakistani government and ordered its fighters to…
FMIC, AKU to train Afghan doctors
By The Express Tribune
In the face of a serious shortage of specialised healthcare workers in Afghanistan, the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) has…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Syrians, Afghans, North Koreans, and Iranians may enlist in Russian military, Tsyganok Says
Paul Gobel - EuroMaidan Press
In an effort to replenish the dwindling ranks of the Russian army fighting in Ukraine, Moscow is making it easier for persons with dual…
US envoy warns Taliban that women’s rights are key to stability at rare meeting
By The National News
A US State Department official told The National that the meeting came about as "West’s visit to the UAE overlapped with a…
THE DAILY WTF
Iran Executes Prisoner of Anti-Government Protests
By Saqalain Eqbal - Khaama Press
Iran hanged a man who was convicted by a revolutionary court of “waging war against God” in accordance with Sharia law…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.61 AFN (as of 9 DEC 2022)
