LAST 24 HOURS
Recent reporting suggests that fighting will escalate after the Eid al-Adha holiday concludes. Multiple Resistance groups are said to be planning coordinated attacks on Taliban positions across the country. Weapons, ammunition, and vehicles that have been commandeered are reputedly being moved around the country to support several efforts, and several shipments of ammunition have been received from across a “Northern border”. It is believed that Kabul or Kandahar will be targeted during this new round of fighting, and several of the Resistance leaders are advocating for direct assaults against Taliban command and control nodes. In the meantime, limited engagements will continue across the North as the Taliban are likely to continue their assaults on NRF strongholds in Panjshir.
Uzbekistan reported that five projectiles from Afghanistan landed in a neighborhood of Termez. The Uzbek government states that there were no injuries, but four homes were slightly damaged. No group has claimed responsibility for this supposed attack. Tensions are high. Currently, the Uzbek military is very active along the border, and many sorties by aircraft have been filmed on both sides of the border. In a previous incident, ISIS-K posted a video that they claimed showed them firing rockets into Uzbekistan. At the time, Uzbek officials denied the incident occurred.
The Nimroz province border crossings with Iran remain closed for a fourth day after two separate incidents involving shots fired between border forces. Talks are ongoing to reopen the border, but several hundred people remain stranded on both sides. Sources indicate the Taliban closed the Afghanistan side of the border first.
The Taliban posted several photos of weapons they claim to have seized during clearing operations in the Andarab district of Baghlan province. Resistance sources claimed the weapons were discarded because they could not be repaired and the ammunition was expired and unstable.
Self-proclaimed philosopher and social media star Anwar-ul-Haq Jabarkhel was found shot and beheaded near Habib Zazi Park in Arzan Qimat area of Kabul city. His family has confirmed his death. No group has claimed responsibility, but some believe he was targeted by the Taliban for his public promotion of controversial Islamic views.
NEXT 24 HOURS
More military activity is expected along the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan border. Air patrols are likely and artillery units may be brought up as a precaution to any further shelling incidents.
A commission will meet in Herat to discuss the land appropriation issues. The Taliban are said to have dispossessed several Hazara families of their property, but locals are also claiming that wealthy people have been steadily buying up the land over the past several years and the commission is a genuine attempt to address these grievances. Several cases are pending in the courts, and more are expected to be brought in the coming weeks.
The Central Bank intends to auction off another $11 million USD to bolster the Afghani.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Ankara’s interests in Afghanistan
By Tanya Goudsouzian & Murat Aslan – Le Monde
Earlier this year, reports of renewed resistance fighting in the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan undermined Taliban pronouncements of peace across the country. Relatively modest in size but fierce, these military operations have required thousands of Taliban troops to respond. Fighting continues and the question of external financial and military support has begun to emerge.
AFGHAN NEWS
Ex-Afghan president urges immediate return of girls to school to help economic future
By Tala Michel Issa & Sohaib Shrayer – al Arabiya
“The most important and pressing issue is the return of Afghan girls to school from grades 6 to 12,” Karzai said.
Taliban air force faces critical survivability issues
By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo - Shephard Media
In the years leading up to its undignified withdrawal in August 2021, the US escalated its substantial support to the Afghan Air Force (AAF), not only in…
Dead Body, Decomposing, Found Near Afghanistan-Turkmenistan Border
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
Local sources claim that the unidentifiable body of an unidentified man was found in the Faryab province of northern Afghanistan, not…
REGIONAL NEWS
Uzbekistan claims shelling near Afghanistan border
By EurasiaNet
The authorities in Uzbekistan have said that an area in the south of the country was shelled, presumedly from neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan approves imports in local currency from neighbouring Afghanistan
By Asif Shahzad – Reuters
Pakistan on Tuesday approved imports from neighbouring Afghanistan in exchange for local currency, a move mainly aimed at buying coal to help ease an energy shortage…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Marine who lost limbs in Afghan airport bombing returns home
By KMAX/KOVR
A Marine critically injured in a suicide bombing at Afghanistan’s Kabul airport received a hero’s welcome in his hometown after…
NATO launches membership process for Sweden, Finland
By RFI
"This is an historic day, for Finland, for Sweden, for NATO, and for Euro-Atlantic security," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said after protocols were signed launching the…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban’s Education Department Official Arrested in Central Afghanistan for Adultery
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
The source claims that this official of the Bamyan Department of Education initially promised a young girl a teaching position before making her engage in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.71 AFN (as of 06 JUL 2022)