LAST 24 HOURS
INDIA ANNOUNCES IT WILL KEEP ITS EMBASSY IN KABUL BUT WITHOUT AN AMBASSADOR – The Minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, announced that India preferred the status quo for the time being with regard to its diplomatic footprint in Afghanistan. The Taliban have lobbied India and other countries to return their Ambassadors to Kabul and have promised increased security and protection, but recent events with the Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani diplomatic posts indicate that security remains lax and the Taliban have not been successful in eradicating ISIS-K or the TTP in the country. The Minister was careful to state that his country could change its mind if the situation improves.
AFGHANISTAN’S FROZEN FUNDS REPORT INTEREST EARNINGS IN EXCESS OF $100 MILLION DOLLARS – Members of the board who oversee the $3.5 billion fund in Switzerland announced that it had earned approximately $128 million dollars in interest to date. Several restrictions have been placed on what the fund can pay for and it is primarily meant to stabilize the Afghan currency. Upon hearing the news, the Taliban asked the US to release the fund directly.
AFGHAN THINK-TANK IN UK HONORS SEVERAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR WORK DURING THE EVACUATIONS – The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) hosted a recognition ceremony in London on Monday to highlight the work by IsraAID and HIAS+JCORE for their actions during evacuation operations in 2021. During the ceremony, several other Jewish organizations were recognized for their work in resettling Afghans in destination states. AISS was founded in 2012 in Kabul but was forced to relocate after the Taliban came to power in the country.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
News broke that the US envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, has been placed on leave while a security investigation was underway about his handling of classified materials. Apparently, the investigation has been ongoing since earlier this year.
Four countries, led by Canada, have announced their intention to continue the Flight PS752 case in the International Court of Justice after Iran failed to request intervention for international arbitration. Iran had previously challenged the case over issues of sovereignty.
Protests took place in Sistan and Baluchistan after security personnel reportedly fired on a civilian vehicle in the town of Sarbaz.
PAKISTAN
Sources in the Ministry of Finance announced that they expect a resolution on the coveted IMF deal within the next twenty-four hours.
Several Districts reported continued flooding in lower elevations across the country and some roads have been closed due to fears over safety.
A jailbreak in the Chaman District of Balochistan saw between 12 and 15 high-risk criminals escape. Inmates used crutches from disabled prisoners to beat guards and take their weapons. 1 Police officer was injured in the incident and the whereabouts of the escapees are unknown.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Why Sanctions Against the Taliban Aren’t Working
By Wazhma Sadat - Foreign Policy
Last month, several Republican senators introduced a bill to impose tougher sanctions on the Taliban. The Taliban Sanctions Act, introduced by Sen. Jim Risch, requires U.S. President Joe Biden to sanction the Taliban for their terrorist activities, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses. Although the bill correctly highlights the Taliban’s undeniable human rights violations, it is utterly misguided. Economic sanctions will only harm the people of Afghanistan, not the Taliban; instead of introducing new sanctions, existing ones should be lifted immediately.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghan women urges Taliban to remove ban on working in NGO
By ANI
Women who became unemployed after the Taliban’s decree banning women from working in non-governmental organizations (NGO) have called on the…
Afghanistan is not a threat to any country: Mujahid
By Ariana News
“There is no insecurity and instability in Afghanistan, nor are there any non-Afghan…
Afghanistan remains one of the ‘unhappiest’ countries in the world: Survey
By AMU TV
Afghanistan remained among the least happy countries in the world, according to Gallup’s latest annual global survey on the negative and positive experiences that…
REGIONAL NEWS
By Reid Standish - RFE
The station -- located in Shahritus, a town in southwestern Tajikistan near the meeting point of the country's borders with…
Afghanistan: Return migrants claim Pakistani police mistreated them
By AMU TV
A group of migrants who recently returned from Pakistan and resettled in Nangarhar province, in the eastern part of Afghanistan, have expressed their discontent over the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Philippines considering US request to host visa processing center for Afghans despite concerns
By Jim Gomez - AP
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday that a request for his country to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing…
By Fatima Olumee - ABC
When a judge found "substantial truth" in alleged war crimes committed by veteran Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan it brought a public reckoning for the…
THE DAILY WTF
IEA rejects Gallup survey suggesting Afghanistan is least positive country
By Ariana News
In the 2022 survey by Gallup – conducted one year after the IEA’s return to power and amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.03 AFN (as of 30 JUN 2023)