LAST 24 HOURS
TALIBAN/PAKISTAN BORDER CLASH, 7 REPUTEDLY KILLED – The Taliban clashed with Pakistan’s border security forces Sunday night in the Barmal District of Paktia Province. The clashes reportedly continued until mid-afternoon on Monday (although, sporadically). Local sources said that 2 Taliban security forces members were killed and another 4 were injured. 5 Pakistani border security forces members were said to have been killed in the clashes. Several accounts of the fighting are circulating on social media, no official confirmation has been given.
HACKING GROUP IN IRAN RELEASES LATEST TROVE OF DOCUMENTS AFTER 4TH MAJOR INTRUSION – GhyamSarnegouni, considered to be the most hardcore anti-regime hacking operation has claimed to have penetrated the government’s servers and has released multiple documents from senior Iranian leaders and gathered from sensitive government departments. While many hacking groups are operating both for and against Tehran, GhyamSarnegouni is considered the most dangerous and has demonstrated a level of access that likely makes intelligence agencies jealous. The group announced its formation in January of 2022 and has successfully hacked national broadcasts, the national CCTV camera system and defaced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites. Many have suspected the group is tied to the anti-regime MEK group in Albania and point to the raid on the MEK refugee camp earlier this month as proof positive the hackers are working with the exiled critics. As the talks with the US over the nuclear program continue, many are concerned that the group will release damaging information that could derail an agreement.
TAJIKISTAN EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER CONCENTRATED TERROR GROUPS IN AFGHANISTAN AT MOST RECENT SCO MEETING – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization met on 21 June and Afghanistan played a central role in the discussions. However, member state Tajikistan reputedly told the other delegates that it had never witnessed as large a concentration of terror groups on any of its borders in its history. The Tajikistani envoy listed 6 terrorist organizations who, he said, pose a cross-border threat to SCO members.
GDI AGENTS RESCUE KIDNAPPING VICTIM AND ARREST 3 KIDNAPPERS IN KABUL – The General Directorate of Intelligence announced that its agents had successfully apprehended 3 kidnappers belonging to an organized criminal network in Kabul. The agents had freed a victim who the kidnappers had been holding for ransom. The GDI and Taliban police have been effective in dealing with many of the kidnapping crimes in the country and appear to have made a priority of stamping out the crime.
NEXT 24 HOURS
DEPENDING ON PAKISTAN’S RESPONSE TO THE RECENT BORDER SKIRMISH, THERE COULD BE MORE CLASHES ALONG THE DURAND LINE – Not enough information is available to draw any conclusions about a possible recurrence of fighting between border security elements in Paktia. However, we felt it prudent to warn at-risk Afghans who may be in the area to be watchful and avoid prolonged contact with Taliban elements. Historically, these flare-ups have often resulted in a second exchange of fire.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iran has called on Kurdish officials in Iraq to disclose details about the recent arms agreement with the United States. Iran also called on Iraqi authorities to keep the border area secure.
The regime announced its support for its new ally, Russia, in a storm of press briefings and statements after the Wagner uprising.
Several judicial officials have been sanctioned by the European Union over their roles in prosecuting protestors.
PAKISTAN
The government took another positive step towards securing the coveted IMF bailout loan by raising the official interest rate to 22%.
A purge is continuing among the military as several senior and mid-level officers have been found to have planned the attacks against military installations after the 9 May riots. Many have been relieved and some are expected to face trials for their suspected participation.
The PTI continues to lose support and 21 candidates and leaders announced they were cutting ties with the party in Punjab on Monday.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By Kim Cragin - Lawfare
When the U.S. military pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, lawmakers and experts alike expressed concern that this would hinder the United States’ ability to counter al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other foreign terrorist adversaries. But the Biden administration rejected the idea that the military could protect the U.S. homeland only from permanent, forward-deployed, bases in the Middle East and elsewhere. Instead, President Biden stated, and the National Security Strategy reiterated, that the United States has “developed counterterrorism over-the-horizon capability that will allow us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on any direct threats to the United States in the region and to act quickly and decisively if needed.”
AFGHAN NEWS
Educated But Unemployed Youth Say They Will Need to Leave the Country
By TOLO News
Youth say they are concerned about the lack of work in the country and called on the Islamic Emirate to…
Afghanistan: Paktia University graduates call on Taliban to reopen schools, universities for girls
By ANI
Graduates of a medical school in Afghanistan’s Paktia University on their graduation day called on the Taliban to…
Taliban Flaunts Terrorism Commitments by Appointing al-Qaida-Affiliated Governors
By Roshan Noorzai - VOA
For more than 15 years, Qari Baryal has been on a special list of Washington’s “most-wanted” Taliban and al-Qaida leaders in Afghanistan, accused of carrying out…
REGIONAL NEWS
Tehran Expects Kabul to Keep Pledges Regarding Border Issues: Iran Minister
By TOLO News
Since the Islamic Emirate came to power there have been many border clashes between Iran and Afghanistan—with the two sides blaming each other…
IEA ‘values its ties’ with Pakistan and hope to expand relations
By Ariana News
In response to recent statements by Pakistan’s foreign minister, Mujahid emphasized Islamabad’s support for peace and stability in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Muhammad Imran - EurAsia Review
The ongoing instability in Afghanistan has far-reaching implications not only for its neighboring countries but also for the global…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghanistan Produced 80% of the World’s Opium in 2022: UN Report
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that Afghanistan produced the majority of global illicit opium production in 2022, which makes 80%, despite the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.85 AFN (as of 27 JUN 2023)