LAST 24 HOURS
LARGE SCALE POLICE SEARCHES REPORTED IN KABUL – Presumably, in an anti-ISIS operation, police and security forces were as active over the past twenty-four hours as they were when the attack on Loya Jirga took place in 2022. Searches were verified in PD 2 (Andarabi, Baharistan, Deh Afghana, Karte Ariana, Karte Parwan, Murad Khane, Shash Darak), PD 3 (Deh Bori, Deh Mazang, Deh Naw, Jamal Mina, Karte Char, Karte Mamorin, Karte Sakhi, Silo), PD4 (Karte Parwan, Kolola Pushta, Shahrara, Taimani), PD 10 (Bibi Mahro, Char Qala, Qala-e Fathullah, Qala-e Musa, Sherpur, Wazir Akbar Khan), PD 11 (Hazara-e Baghal, Khair Khana, Qala-e Najara). Taliban officials did not disclose any information regarding any results of the search efforts and we have yet to hear of any arrests other than a few minor criminals. As we understand the threat relayed to some in the diplomatic community five days ago: an ISIS-K vehicle with a large ammonium nitrate bomb is thought to be in the city. The bomb consists of at least two large fuel drums (dark in color) and may have silver metallic tape wrapped around them. It is believed that one of the drums was sealed improperly and there is reportedly a strong chemical smell near the vehicle. The type of vehicle transporting the bomb has not been identified.
SWEDISH NGO AID WORKERS REPORTEDLY KIDNAPPED – 2 Afghan employees of a Swedish-supported committee involved in humanitarian aid projects have been reported missing in the Spin Ghar District of Nangarhar. Some reports in pro-Resistance websites claim the men were taken by Taliban officials to an undisclosed location. The Taliban say the incident did not occur. Rumors persist that the men were targeted due to the recent burning of a Quran in Sweden by a far-right Danish politician. It is important to note that protests in Afghanistan against the act were widespread and involved many people not tied to the Taliban. If these 2 Afghans were taken, it could have been carried out by a plethora of actors. Details are murky and more information is being sought.
RUMORS OF ADDITIONAL FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC REDUCTIONS IN KABUL – Other embassies in Kabul appear to have scaled back operations and may have sent some of their personnel out of the country in response to the shuttering of the Saudi Arabian embassy over a purported terror threat. The embassies that have reputedly scaled back operations are Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar. These reports have yet to be confirmed.
FRENCH-AFGHAN JOURNALIST ARRESTED BY TALIBAN ON CHARGES OF SPYING AT THE CENTER OF NEW INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ACTION – Mortaza Behboudi had been in Kabul since 5 January while on assignment for a French news outlet. He was arrested when he attempted to apply for press accreditation and has remained in prison since 7 January. The international organization, Reporters Without Borders, decided to give the Taliban 30 days to release him and has since called on the Taliban to release him and has blasted his detention as unlawful and unwarranted. Taliban officials refused to comment on his case.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TALIBAN TO CONTINUE SECURITY SEARCHES – The Taliban appear to be taking the threat of an ISIS-K attack seriously. The searches over the past twenty-four hours were methodical and highly organized. Operations are expected to continue for the foreseeable future as the regime will want to calm fears among the few States who maintain a diplomatic footprint in the country.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The supreme leader has announced he has pardoned or reduced the sentences of tens of thousands of prisoners. Some of those pardoned are said to be protestors. The pardons/sentence reductions are conditional upon signing a pledge.
A prominent female journalist (Elnaz Mohammadi) was arrested by Iranian police when she went to appear before a court at Evin Prison on Sunday. She is the twin sister of Elahe Mohammadi who was one of the first reporters to cover the Masha Amini case.
PAKISTAN
After a national outcry, the Prime Minister ordered access to Wikipedia to be reinstated.
Markets and the national currency rallied after hopes of an IMF deal were communicated in some press outlets.
The body of former Pakistani leader, Pervez Musharraf arrived in Karachi. The ceremony of Last Rites is scheduled for today at 1345hrs PKT in Karachi.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
If the Afghan economy is improving, it’s no thanks to the Taliban
By Chris Fitzgerald - South China Morning Post
The World Bank recently released its Afghanistan Economic Monitor, painting a more optimistic outlook on the country’s economic situation. The report revealed that inflation had stabilised, the salaries of civil servants were now being paid and US$1.54 billion in revenue was collected last year.
AFGHAN NEWS
Persistent barriers to accessing health care in Afghanistan: An MSF report
By Doctors Without Borders
Since August 2021, the economic crisis in Afghanistan brought about by international sanctions, combined with development funding cuts and asset freezes overseas…
Afghanistan: Ex-soldiers in hiding as ‘general amnesty’ fails them
By AMU TV
Wazhma said her husband graduated from Kabul Police Academy in 2005 and worked in various departments of the former Afghan interior ministry until the Taliban takeover of the…
Higher Education Ministry' Working on Plan' for Female Education
By Mohammad Amin Pacha - TOLO News
The Ministry of Higher Education said it is working on a plan for the education of female students so that there will not be barriers to their…
REGIONAL NEWS
Fuel Prices May Increase if Railway to Hairatan Remains Closed: Traders
By TOLO News
The union of traders of petroleum and liquefied gas of Hairatan and Aqina ports said there is a reduction of oil…
Russia has no plans to close its embassy in Afghanistan, says envoy
By Ariana News
Earlier, the Al-Arabiya TV channel reported that the authorities of several Arab and Western countries decided to close their…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan on Agenda for Upcoming OIC Council in March
By TOLO News
In a preparatory meeting for the OIC conference of foreign ministers to be held in March, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said…
By RSF
We remained silent for 30 days about the detention of Mortaza Behboudi, a journalist with French and Afghan dual…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban Bureaucrats Hate Working Online All Day, ‘Miss the Days of Jihad’
By Matthew Gault - VICE
The Taliban may have won the war in Afghanistan, but the jihadists who once spent their days riding horses in the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.17 AFN (as of 7 FEB 2023)