LAST 24 HOURS
ONLINE CAMPAIGN TO BAN TALIBAN FROM TWITTER LAUNCHED – Several journalists, entertainers, academics, and ordinary people launched a campaign to urge Twitter to ban accounts of the Taliban across its platform. In a jointly signed declaration, the group claims Twitter is being misused by the Taliban to spread disinformation. Those interested in reading the petition and/or supporting the call can access it by clicking HERE. We urge those at-risk Afghans who reside in Afghanistan or the region to hide any information that could identify them if they choose to support the campaign.
PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LOOKING INTO CORRUPTION CHARGES IN VISA PROCESS FOR AFGHANS – The panel on Foreign Affairs in the National Assembly took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and the Federal Investigative Agency for failing to provide reports on possible corrupt practices in the Pakistan-Afghanistan visa issuance process. The chairman of the committee issued a statement on 14 July that failure to comply with the committee’s requests for information amounts to hiding corruption inherent in the system. The chairman gave the agencies an additional forty-eight hours to provide the requested reports. Based on reports from Kabul, the Pakistan visa process is completely mired in corruption and there are indications that some employees of the embassy are involved in the cash-for-visa scheme that began shortly after the Taliban rose to power. The Taliban have attempted to intervene in the scams being perpetrated on Afghans with regard to visas but do not appear to have done much more than condemn the criminality.
PAKISTAN’S MINISTER OF DEFENSE ISSUES WARNINGS OF POSSIBLE STRIKES – Defense Minister Khawaja Asif spoke at the Express-News show - Center Stage on Saturday and discussed the uptick in terrorist attacks carried out by the TTP. In his remarks, he regretted the government’s decisions to provide shelter to Afghan refugees and blamed the PTI regime for lax security measures which have caused problems for the counter-terrorism apparatus in Pakistan. He was mainly concerned with the ease at which the TTP could infiltrate across the border to carry out terror operations and then return to avoid prosecution by Pakistani forces. The Minister went on to accuse the IEA of failing to abide by its commitments and warned that Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its sovereignty and people.
NEXT 24 HOURS
HEAVY RAINS IN ISLAMABAD-RAWALPINDI SPUR ‘EMERGENCY’ DECLARATIONS – The rains that fell on Saturday in the twin cities forced local emergency managers to deploy emergency vehicles to help drain water that was pooling along roadways. Many of the low-lying neighborhoods in both cities had seen up to 12 inches of accumulated water and the levels could reach as high as 24 inches by the end of today. Emergency crews were working in several areas to help create drainages but are having difficulty due to the significant amount of rain that was dropped in such a short time.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Former Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif warns in a speech that relying on Russia as an ‘ally’ was a mistake and continued adherence to the anti-US stance was dangerous.
Recent court rulings are seen as a ‘secret’ judicial crackdown on women’s rights across the country.
A controversial Sunni cleric, Mowlavi Abdolhamid, has pushed back against accusations by the IRGC that over half of the Afghan students studying in his seminary are in the country illegally.
PAKISTAN
A clash between rival groups in Kashmore resulted in 4 deaths and 5 injuries as both groups from the Kosh tribe resorted to weapons after a minor disagreement turned serious on Saturday.
The bond market in Pakistan surged again as purchasers continue to buy bonds for the exceptionally high returns they have achieved over the last fourteen days. Analysts caution that the furor will subside by autumn and are urging clients to seek other investment opportunities.
Coordinated counter-narcotics operations staged across the country have resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of 127 kilograms of drugs (mainly hashish and opium).
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
From Land-grabbing to Haircuts: The decrees and edicts of the Taleban supreme leader
By Kate Clark - AAN
The decrees, edicts and instructions of Taleban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, from 2016, when he became leader, to May 2023, have been published. They make fascinating reading, tracing some of what the leadership felt was important to ban, make obligatory, organise or administer during the insurgency and since recapturing power. Some themes are repeated – land and land-grabbing, administrative corruption and treatment of prisoners, including using torture without a court order. Several orders enjoin Taleban fighters to good behaviour, such as not letting hair grow below the shoulders, not using profanities and avoiding cronyism and ethnocentrism. Alongside AAN’s English translation of the decrees, which can be found in the Resources section of our website, Kate Clark has been delving into their substance to see what they tell us about the Taleban’s leader and the Islamic Emirate.
AFGHAN NEWS
On Eve of Muharram, Residents Complain of Restrictions
By TOLO News
The Islamic Emirate's security agencies have verbally ordered that raising flags, placing refreshment stands by the side of the road, and…
IEA says 36 areas in Kabul identified as being contaminated with mines
By Ariana News
The CEO of UK-based HALO Trust, which works to clear landmines around the world, met with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials in Kabul on…
Afghans Fear Taliban's Ban On Swedish Aid Will Further Worsen Humanitarian Crisis
By Khatir Pardes - RFE
Shima runs a sewing course for several dozen women that is funded by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA), one of the largest aid…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iran Repeats Threats Against Taliban Over Water
By Iran International
As the Taliban continues to ignore the threats by the regime and its military authorities regarding Iran's water share, Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian once more…
IEA calls on Pakistan to send academic staff to Afghan university
By Ariana News
The ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Nadeem requested this in a meeting with Pakistani Ambassador Obaid ur Rehman Nizamani, where the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Japan recognizes record 114 people as refugees at one time
By The Mainichi
The Japanese government has newly recognized 114 Afghans as refugees, the largest groups to be granted refugee status by Japan at…
Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced To Allow Afghans To Apply For Permanent Legal Status In The US
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) has been re-introduced in both chambers of the 118th Congress, which believes that the legislation would meet urgent needs across the country for those…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghanistan: 2 more media outlets shut operations amid economic loss, restrictions on media in Balkh
By ANI
A radio station and a TV channel in the Balkh province of Afghanistan have stopped broadcast operations due to economic challenges and existing restrictions on…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.09 AFN (as of 16 JUL 2023)