LAST 24 HOURS
ISIS-K CLAIMS CREDIT FOR TUESDAY BOMBING – ISIS-K was responsible for the IED attack carried out on Tuesday in Kabul that claimed the lives of at least 3 non-combatants and wounded 4 others. The Taliban said they had arrested an individual in the area under suspicion of being involved but have not shared any information yet.
PASSPORT DIRECTORATE OFFICES IN KABUL REOPEN, CHAOS ENSUES – Multiple videos of a mass of people attempting to get into the passport directorate offices yesterday in Kabul are being shared online. Even with a heavy Taliban security presence, the crowd became unruly and there were reports of several injuries as some people were trampled and several fights broke out.
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN KABUL HOLD A MEETING ABOUT SECURITY SITUATION – A source in Kabul said a meeting took place yesterday afternoon between several members of the foreign diplomatic community to discuss the new threats posed by a resurgent ISIS-K. At least four nations were represented at the meeting but the source was unable to identify which four nations attended. After the meeting, it was decided that a jointly-signed diplomatic note would be sent to the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that security precautions be taken to safeguard the diplomats serving in the country. Earlier reporting had indicated that some embassies in Kabul had discussed evacuating personnel in the wake of the Kerman bombings in Iran.
PUBLISHER ARRESTED IN KABUL – Naser Maqsoodi, the Director of Maqsoodi Publications was said to have been arrested by Taliban personnel yesterday near Pol Red Bridge and he has not been heard from by his friends/family. His publishing house was under extreme financial duress and had ceased some of its activity in 2023. A source in Kabul said that Maqsoodi’s ethnicity may have played a role in his arrest but did not know what charges had been leveled against him.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
A policeman was killed in an attack yesterday night in the city of Rask (Sistan-Baluchistan). The attack reportedly continued for approximately 3 hours. Jaish ul Adl claimed responsibility for the attack.
Even moderates are questioning the ‘candidate disqualifications’ that are taking place ahead of parliamentary elections. Several loyalist candidates (hardliners) have found themselves removed from the ballot for no reason.
An Iranian wrestler withdrew from a competition in Croatia because he did not want to face an Israeli opponent.
PAKISTAN
The Islamabad High Court ruled yesterday that leaders of the intelligence services could soon find themselves prosecuted in the cases of the ‘disappeared’ that spurred the recent protest march by citizens of Balochistan.
Embattled national carrier, Pakistani International Airlines received an Airbus A320 yesterday after a payment issue forced Malaysian authorities to detain the plane until payment could be made.
The Peshawar High Court ruled yesterday that the PTI party would be allowed to use its ‘bat’ symbol in the upcoming elections. The cricket bat logo had previously been revoked by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
Afghanistan’s Education Crisis: A Plea for Global Policy Measures Against Taliban Indoctrination
By Jurist
Upon seizing the capital in 2021, the Taliban promptly set about barring girls and women from attending school. Initially, they said these students would be able to return to school in early 2022, but here we are in early 2024, and their return has yet to materialize. Despite the hopeful anticipation of millions of female students across Afghanistan, the Taliban ultimately reversed their decision, opting instead to keep half of Afghanistan’s population essentially imprisoned in their own homes.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban official confirm arrests of women for dress code violations in Kabul
By AMU TV
“We have detained a number of women and girls for lack of hijab with the help of female police,” Saqib stated, describing the detainees as those “totally without hijab,” wearing items like…
Ministry: Air Arabia Resumes Flights to Kabul
By Bibi Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) said that airline Air Arabia has resumed flights to Kabul after two and half years of…
Hand grenade explosion wounds four in Herat, sources say
By AMU TV
An explosion from a hand grenade wounded at least four people in the city of Herat on Wednesday afternoon, according to…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistani politician meets with Taliban chief in Kandahar
By Islamuddin Sajid - Anadolu Agency
A key religiopolitical party leader in Pakistan Maulana Fazlur Rehman has met with Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mawlawi…
Iran, Taliban plan regional summit for Afghanistan
By AMU TV
The Taliban’s foreign ministry has announced plans for a regional summit on Afghanistan in Kabul after discussions with Iranian Ambassador Hassan…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Senate border talks broaden to include Afghan evacuees, migrant work permits and high-skilled visas
By Camilo Montoya-Galvez & Margaret Brennan - CBS News
While focused on plans to deter illegal border crossings, the ongoing immigration negotiations in the Senate have also included conversations about Afghan…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban detain and lash young girls for violating hijab rules
By WION
Taliban regime in Afghanistan reportedly detained and lashed girls as young as 16 for violating hijab…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 70.54 AFN (as of 11 JAN 2024)