LAST 24 HOURS
The Loya Jirga began in Kabul with nearly 3,500 in attendance, including non-Taliban local leaders and scholars from across the country. Women are not allowed to take part and are being represented by men. Although many are hoping that elections and some form of power-sharing arrangement will be reached, most analysts believe discussions will not be substantive. The conference is expected to end on July 2. Some highlights include:
Shiite scholar Sayed Nasrullah Waezi raised the issue of girl’s education, but there was no resolution on forthcoming policy.
One representative, Mawlawi Mujeeb Rahman Ansari, recommended that the Ulema issue a fatwa (a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law) stating that whoever opposes the Taliban’s regime would be beheaded.
Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid called for formulating a foreign policy that would encourage international recognition, especially from Islamic countries.
We have not received confirmation that Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is attending the Loya Jirga, although rumors are flying that he is expected.
Fighting broke out in Police District 5 near the site of the Loya Jirga on the first day of the meetings, reportedly resulting in the deaths of 3 Taliban and 2 assailants. One source claimed that Abdul Hakim Haqqani, a member of the Supreme Court, was killed in the clash, but we have yet to substantiate the claim. Sustained light and heavy gunfire was reported, as well as several explosions. The National Liberation Front of Afghanistan immediately took credit for the attack. However, other reports have emerged that an ISIS-K cell rented an apartment across from the Loya Jirga tent in Karta Mamorin 2 months ago and waited for the event to begin, then launched an attack today as a group of Taliban gathered. The NLF and ISIS-K have previously both claimed the same attack when a bomb exploded at a high profile event in Kabul honoring Mullah Mansour on 22 May 2022. There is much debate over who actually carried out the attack at the Loya Jirga.
More evidence has surfaced of the Taliban’s indiscriminate killings during combat operations in Sar-e-Pol province. Several international human rights organizations have now confirmed the atrocities and are calling for swift and punitive action, further hurting the Taliban’s chances of international recognition. One source privy to recent government talks stated that the Taliban plan to announce possible education reforms for female students to blunt international criticism of their actions in Balkhab. It is unlikely such subterfuge will have much of an effect, especially if the killings gain more publicity in coming days.
Reports have come out of Pakistan about a new initiative to ease visa restrictions for Afghans who want to travel to the country. These reports suggest Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs to develop a policy that would provide “free” visas to Afghans. No further information was available.
NEXT 24 HOURS
The second day of the Loya Jirga is expected to focus on economic issues and development priorities. It is not clear if today’s attack will change the agenda, but security has tripled in Police District 5 and accusations have been flying between the Ministries of the Interior and Defense over who failed to prevent today’s attack.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Psychic Wounds Shared by Veterans of Vietnam, Afghanistan
By Gretchen Klingler – Coffee or Die Magazine
As I watched the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, I realized that my own generation of service members is not the first to experience the anguish of witnessing our military efforts fall into chaos. Vietnam veterans, upon returning home, watched the North Vietnamese sweep through the very land where they had lost so many of their comrades — the people who served alongside them and died for the same just cause as my own: freedom and democracy.
AFGHAN NEWS
Explosion, sound of gunfires heard in Afghan capital (+VIDEO)
By MEHR News Agency
Clashes with light and heavy weapons began around a place where Afghan scholars were gathering for a…
Afghan Human Rights Commission confirms reports of civilian shooting in Balkhab
By ANI
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission confirmed the reports of civilian shootings in Balkhab, adding that the Taliban killed the public and prisoners during…
Issue of girls’ education raised at gathering of religious scholars in Kabul
By Ariana News
“They will learn and will be a good guide for their children in society,” said Sayed Nasrullah Waizi, from central Bamiyan province, as he called on…
REGIONAL NEWS
Taliban smuggling weapons to Pakistan
By ANI
Taliban forces are selling the weapons of former security members at an arms market in Afghanistan’s Zabul province and smuggled most of them to Pakistan…
Iran calls on Afghanistan to punish perpetrators of assassination of Iranian border guard
By IRNA
The spokesman also called for preemptive measures to ensure that such incidents will not happen in the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Nigeria’s Islamist militants, Iran’s leader, Afghanistan’s Taliban top persecutors of Christians
By Mark Kellner – The Washington Times
International Christian Concern (ICC) reported Wednesday that persecution in Afghanistan is at “its highest levels since the Taliban’s first…
US Argues Against 'Pure Isolation' to Advancing Interests in Afghanistan
By Ayaz Gul – VOA
The United States has defended revival of its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, saying…
THE DAILY WTF
'We respect women a lot': Taliban holds 3,000-delegate men-only summit
By Joshua Askew – EuroNews
"Women are our mothers, sisters. We respect them a lot," said Taliban Acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.75 AFN (as of 01 JUL 2022)