LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN AND TALIBAN TO HOLD TALKS TODAY IN KABUL – Asif Durrani, the new special representative on Afghanistan has traveled to Kabul for talks with the Taliban regime over joint economic and security cooperation issues. While trade will certainly be on the agenda, he is expected to try and calm the recent tensions created by accusations coming out of Kabul and Islamabad over terror groups. A source in Kabul said that Pakistan intelligence and military attaches have traveled with him and are expected to take part in the discussions with their counterparts.
SUICIDE BOMBING IN PESHAWAR KILLS 2, WOUNDS 8 PAKISTANI SOLDIERS – A vehicle carrying Pakistani military soldiers was targeted by a suicide bomber in Peshawar’s Hayatabad region. The vehicle was completely destroyed and the attack resulted in the loss of 2 soldiers with another 8 wounded. Pakistan has been dealing with a rash of increased terror activity over the course of 2023. It was not immediately known which terror group carried out the latest attack.
ITALY ANNOUNCED IT WILL WELCOME ANOTHER 22 AFGHAN REFUGEES UTILIZING ITS HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR APPROACH – The extremely successful program has helped evacuate thousands of Afghan refugees and the community of St. Egidio will be the latest to host the incoming refugees. The highly successful program is a grass-roots approach that is supported by both secular and religious leaders to legally and safely bring people to the country. The program is remarkable and is supported by both Protestant and Catholic churches in the country and is officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has been working to assist vulnerable people since 2013 and was formalized after the tragic shipwreck off of Lampedusa that killed 300 migrants. The refugees will arrive from Islamabad on Thursday.
AFGHAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM WINS HOPE CUP IN AUSTRALIA – The exiled Afghan Women’s Team (AWT) played a match against Football Empowerment for the first-ever Hope Cup in Melbourne, Australia. The Football Empowerment team was comprised of female footballers from other refugee communities in Australia. The match was played two days before the start of the Women’s World Cup. FIFA has recognized the Afghan men’s team but has not yet recognized the Women’s team.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The famous Iranian actress, Leila Bolukat, has been sentenced to a 1-year prison term and has been banned from acting for 2 years for defying the headscarf rule.
A report from a state agency has pointed out some glaring problems with Iran’s internet infrastructure. The surprisingly critical report places Iran just ahead of Myanmar for the most disrupted national network, and second only to China as the most limited.
As predicted demonstrators are returning to the streets to protest the Hijab crackdown. Thousands have taken to the streets and some clashes with police have already been reported.
PAKISTAN
An anti-terrorism court in Gujrat has summoned the Interior Minister to appear in a case about threats to sitting judges. The police have been ordered to compel his appearance.
The IMF urged Pakistan to continue tightening its monetary policy and sources say there are concerns the government is planning on a spending spree.
A US Congressman is calling for a prisoner exchange with Pakistan to swap a Pakistani national who is serving a prison term in the US for attempting to kill a US soldier in Afghanistan for Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped track down Osama bin Laden and who is serving a 10-year sentence in Pakistan.
SPOTLIGHT CHILDREN
Children are the main victims of unexploded and abandoned weapons
By ICRC
Seven-year-old Omar’s daily routine used to involve going with his brother and some friends to the fields near their home in Kabul’s Khake Jabar district and gathering fodder for their cattle. He knew the chore well and could quite easily find his way around those familiar fields. But everything changed for him on 4 May 2023.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghan Girls Request Inclusion in University Exam
By TOLO News
Female students who have completed the twelfth grade say they want to participate in the kankor…
Taliban bar women from taking key medical school exam
By Simon Druker - UPI
The ruling Taliban government has barred women in Afghanistan from taking a key exam needed to practice medicine, according to a report…
IEA welcomes British MP’s call to reopen UK’s embassy in Kabul
By Ariana News
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday welcomed UK MP Tobias Ellwood’s call for the reopening of Britain’s embassy in Kabul and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Detention of Afghan Citizens in Pakistan Continues: Consul
By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News
The consul of the Islamic Emirate in Karachi, Pakistan told TOLOnews that 136 Afghan citizens have been arrested in Pakistan in the last one and…
Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan sign tripartite railway link project
By Aamir Latif - Anadolu Agency
Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday signed a tripartite agreement to connect the three countries…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US warns Afghan Taliban of failure to contain militants from attacking Pakistan
By Islam Uddin - Anadolu Agency
The US has urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent Afghanistan's soil from being used as a "safe haven" for…
US ‘grateful’ to Pakistan over ‘generosity’ to Afghan refugees
By SAMAA
US National Security Coordinator John Kirby has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for helping Afghan refugees…
THE DAILY WTF
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood says Islamic Emirate has totally transformed Afghanistan
By 5 Pillars
The prominent Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has praised the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for transforming the nation and has urged the…
“Well. He’s not technically wrong. Just ask an Afghan woman or minority.” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.99 AFN (as of 19 JUL 2023)