LAST 24 HOURS
NEW HOUSE SEARCHES IN KABUL – Taliban security forces conducted house-to-house searches in the Makrorian neighborhood. While no information was provided about what spurred the searches, a source in the Police said the operation was launched to try and interdict an ISIS-K cell that was rumored to be staying in the area. Other sources said the security forces were tipped off about a possible weapons cache. There were no reports of arrests and many of those whose homes were searched said the Taliban security forces were more respectful and less threatening than in past operations. If information becomes available, we will report it.
PAKISTAN AND RUSSIA COOPERATING ON THE TALIBAN PROBLEM – Pakistan and Russia appear to have adopted a pragmatic approach to dealing with the Taliban. Diplomats from both countries held discussions in Pakistan to
FOREIGN AID NOT NEEDED ACCORDING TO TALIBAN SPOKESMAN – In another bizarre claim, the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid posted statements on his Twitter account that rejected a recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The report suggested that Afghanistan could collapse under economic strain without humanitarian and economic aid. It is unlikely such sentiments are universally shared among the citizens of Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Emirate has deep roots, it is not a system that relies on foreign aid to collapse due to economic problems…” Zabihullah Mujahid, IEA Spokesman
CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST FORMER AFGHAN SOLDIER WHO WAS DETAINED CROSSING THE US/MEXICO BORDER – In a case that drew fierce criticism from all political sectors in the United States, Abdul Wasi Safi, had charges against him dismissed after lawmakers and US veterans groups had beseeched law enforcement and justice officials to halt efforts to prosecute him for entering the US illegally.
NEXT 24 HOURS
ISLAMABAD - RAWALPINDI SECURITY CHECKS TO BEGIN – Possibly in a pre-coordinated move to coincide with the arrest of the inflammatory PTI party leader, Pakistani security forces will man all the security checkpoints in Islamabad and Rawalpindi starting today. Afghans in Pakistan are likely to see a sizable police/military presence on the streets and may face increased scrutiny as they move around the cities.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The head of the IAEA warned that Iran had amassed enough material for several nuclear weapons.
Iran condemned upcoming joint military exercises between U.S. and Israeli air forces to rehearse potential air strikes against Iranian targets.
Iran levied sanctions against the EU and UK in a riposte to earlier sanctions imposed by Europe. Reportedly, the sanctions restrict banking transactions and will affect visas.
A large panel of Ayatollah Khomeini that had been erected in a village where he stayed for some months before the revolution was vandalized. Police were investigating the matter.
PAKISTAN
The PTI party leader, Fawad Chaudhry was arrested on Wednesday for sedition in Lahore and transported to Islamabad to face charges. Former PM, Imran Khan may be targeted for house arrest in the coming days.
The UAE announced a possible massive economic aid package for Pakistan. While no details are currently known, PM Shehbaz’s visit to the country is already being heralded as a triumph by his supporters.
Several schoolgirls are now facing charges after a video surfaced online of them bullying some classmates at a private school in Lahore.
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan announced it would temporarily suspend the export of food as a result of inflation in the country. Authorities did not give a date on how long the ban would be in place.
Uzbekistan hosted the Council of ECO Foreign Ministers in Tashkent. The communique from the meeting is expected to be released in the next few days.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Wrestling with a Humanitarian Dilemma in Afghanistan
By William Byrd - USIP
Recent decrees by the Taliban barring Afghan women from attending university or working in NGOs are severely damaging the country both socially and economically, especially coming atop a ban on girls’ secondary education last year. The marginalization of half the population also highlights the “humanitarian dilemma” that aid donors and international agencies face: Afghanistan is highly dependent on humanitarian assistance, not only for saving lives and easing deprivation but also to stabilize its economy. The quandary for international donors is what to do when alleviating suffering benefits the Afghan economy and thereby the Taliban regime, even when that regime is harming its own people?
AFGHAN NEWS
New Banknotes Distributed to Commercial Banks
By Bibi Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
The Central Bank said in a statement that the first tranche of 100 million new banknotes--with denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100--were distributed to…
IEA building strong Islamic army: COAS
By Ariana News
The Chief of Army Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said on Tuesday efforts are…
IEA: Education is essential for every Afghan
By Ariana News
According to a statement, the ministry called on the world not to leave Afghanistan alone in the field of education and to…
Afghanistan: Taliban set up cleric councils to solve its ‘social problems’
By AMU TV
The Taliban has started forming councils of religious scholars across the country in a bid to find solutions to “social problems” and the issue of women’s presence in society, especially their right to work, based on…
REGIONAL NEWS
ECO Meeting Stressed Need for Engagement With Afghanistan
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
Participants at the 26th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization's Council of Ministers stressed the need for engagement with the…
Iran: Families of Detained and Killed Protesters Beaten, Threatened to Stay Silent
By Center for Human Rights
“In addition to hanging, shooting, and imprisoning Iranians to crush the protests, Islamic Republic authorities are attacking the family members of those they have killed and…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
UN Denies That WFP Plans to Comply with Recent Orders in Afghanistan
By Bibi Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
Earlier Foreign Policy reported that “sources in local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) told Foreign Policy that the…
Afghanistan: Taliban to set new rules on women's aid work, UN says
By Lyse Doucet - BBC
Taliban ministers have told a senior UN official they plan to draw up new guidelines to allow Afghan women to work in…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghan migrants held for ransom on Turkish-Iranian border
By Asia News
“Afghans aren’t familiar with the area, so they find themselves in tiny villages where they become easy prey for armed men,” Sami…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.89 AFN (as of 26 JAN 2023)