LAST 24 HOURS
RAID ON ISIS-K FACILITY IN POLICE DISTRICT 8 – Taliban security forces launched a raid on a reputed ISIS-K safehouse at approximately 1600hrs local yesterday. Gunfire and explosions were heard in the city and the fighting lasted approximately 3 hours. Taliban officials claimed to have killed 6-7 male ISIS-K terrorists and arrested 2-4 female ISIS-K members. In a separate operation, Taliban officials claim to have arrested 2 additional ISIS-K members in Nimroz Province.
IDENTITY OF KIDNAPPERS KILLED IN PLOT TO RANSOM BUSINESSMAN QUESTIONED – As previously reported, the identity cards found on the four men who attempted to kidnap a Kabul businessman indicated they were Taliban security personnel. One is reputed to have been the brother of a District Governor in Kabul. At least two of the dead kidnappers worked for the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry is claiming to have launched an investigation. A source in the Police said the Interior Ministry rebuked those who had allowed the photos of the dead kidnapper’s ID cards to be released. The source believed nothing would come of any investigation and claimed these incidents happen quite frequently.
US DISCUSSING CONSEQUENCES FOR TALIBAN WITH ALLIES – The US Government announced that it was in consultations with several international allies about what actions will be taken against the Taliban regime over the restrictions placed on women. While the US had initially condemned the Taliban’s decisions and made strong statements about eventual consequences, nothing had been publicly announced. It seems that Washington is now going to act and has the difficult job of striking a balance between punitive measures and the ability to continue humanitarian aid.
JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM DETENTION – Faizullah Faizbakhsh, a freelance journalist who had been imprisoned with an American journalist for filming the site of the US drone strike that killed the Al-Qaeda leader was released yesterday. One of the conditions of his release was a signed statement pledging loyalty to the Taliban regime.
TALIBAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TELLS FAMILIES OF AFGHANS DETAINED IN KARACHI NOT TO PAY FOR THEIR RELEASE – The Taliban MFA released a statement on Tuesday that warns family and friends of those currently being detained in Pakistan’s Sindh Province not to pay any fees for their release. The statement said any costs associated with their detention would be mitigated by the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad.
NEXT 24 HOURS
POSSIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL CLEARING OPERATIONS AFTER ISIS-K FIGHT – In previous instances where an ISIS-K facility was raided, intelligence collected from the site initiated raids on other ISIS-K locations. In at least three of these instances, the subsequent action took place within 48 hours of the raid. At-risk Afghans should be cautious of large concentrations of security forces and pay particular attention to security vehicles staging in convoys along roads. These are typically indicators that an action is in the works.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The regime vowed to respond ‘decisively’ to the controversial magazine, Charlie Hebdo’s decision to sponsor a cartoon competition of the Ayatollah.
Authorities released jailed actress Taraneh Alidoosti who had been detained for expressing support for the protests.
Another IRGC member was assassinated outside of his home in Tehran.
PAKISTAN
Counter-terrorism units arrest two terror suspects and seize weapons and explosives in Punjab.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a response to criticism that the visa process in Afghanistan is corrupt and slow.
1,800 Paratroopers deployed to Kashmir after terror attacks killed 6 people.
TAJIKISTAN
The Taliban have dispatched a new Ambassador to Dushanbe. The current Ambassador says he will not cede his position and does not recognize the Taliban.
UZBEKISTAN
The presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan discussed energy cooperation and bilateral relations.
Approximately 400 people were rescued from a mountain pass due to heavy snow.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Why Anti-Taliban Resistance Should be Supported
By Manish Rai - Ekurd
Recently the Taliban have ordered an indefinite ban on university education for the country’s women, the ministry of higher education said in a letter issued to all government and private universities. Before this drastic decision last year, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was dissolved. And the sinister Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has been re-established. This clearly illustrates that the Taliban will carry on with its medieval conservative interpretation of Islam they are nothing more than an extremist group that has grabbed power. In addition to that, the Taliban is still nurturing global jihadi elements they just outrightly lie that they don’t have any global ambitions. This was clearly illustrated when in August last year a U.S. drone killed al Qaeda’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a Kabul apartment reportedly owned by Taliban’s senior leader and interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover has become a haven for global and regional terror outfits like-Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which seeks the overthrow of the Pakistani state.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan recognized as most insecure country in the world, yet again: Report
By ANI
Afghanistan has been declared the most insecure country in the world as the country is under a grip of a reeling humanitarian crisis…
Taliban court to rule on future of 10 media outlets in Afghanistan
By AMU TV
Abdulhaq Hamad, who heads the Taliban’s directorate of monitoring media outlets under the ministry of information and culture, said the 10 media outlets publish propaganda against…
10 Educational Classes Set on Fire by Unidentified People in Uruzgan
By 8am News
A local source in Uruzgan said that ten educational classes were set on fire on Tuesday night, January 3, in Khas…
REGIONAL NEWS
TTP threatens to top Pakistan’s political figures
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
On Wednesday, the Tehrik –e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued a warning explicitly to the leaders of the two major political parties in the ruling…
Why the Taliban are mocking Pakistan and its army
By The Times of India
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan recently taunted the Pakistan government by sharing on Twitter a photo of Islamabad surrendering to India after the 1971…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Taliban 'unable or unwilling’ to fulfil commitments, Pakistan has right to defend itself: US
By WION
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: "We're aware of the recent statement by the Pakistani National Security…
THE DAILY WTF
Media: Taliban appoint their ambassador to Tajikistan
By Asia-Plus
The Independent Farsi news agency reported that Zohir Agbar was fired from his post as Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan on…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.15 AFN (as of 5 JAN 2023)