NEW: Evac Corner
Up-to-date information and tips on evacuations from our experts..
THIS WEEK: Updates and Tips for Afghan SIV/P1/P2 Visa Applicants
“The National Visa Center (NVC) is currently working on SIV cases submitted prior to August 25, 2021. All SIV applicants who applied prior to this date should… “
Read more here. (Dari and Pashto translations coming soon.)
LAST 24 HOURS
Additional claims of impending chemical weapons attacks are circulating on social media, including some claims that the Haqqani Network has carried out testing on animals in Paktia. The Afghan Digest has been unable to verify this information at this time.
According to multiple sources, the appointment of Mohammad Nasim Noori, a high ranking Pashtun Taliban leader from Helmand, as the new governor for Panjshir province has incensed the local population, which is primarily Tajik. It is believed that Noori was appointed to inspire the Taliban forces currently serving in the province. However, the new governor is said to have poor relations with several of the local Taliban commanders. Many see his appointment as a sign that Kandahar will begin replacing commanders in the northern provinces with southern loyalists due to frustration with the stalemate that has set in with Resistance forces and a lack of confidence in northern Taliban commanders’ loyalty.
An unnamed Pashtun leader claiming to represent al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has reputedly sent a letter to affiliates calling for suicide attacks to be carried out in India, specifically Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Our analysis indicates that al-Qaeda currently has limited assets in India, and the letter may have been leaked or possibly even fabricated to stop the Indian government from reestablishing a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. It is unclear who leaked the document.
Ministry of the Interior agents have arrested four social media personalities for “insulting Islamic sacred values”. The four were forced to give confessions that were released on the Taliban intelligence agency’s Twitter feed.
The TTP’s demands in ongoing peace negotiations with Pakistan were made public. The Afghan Digest will publish analysis of the provisions and the government’s likely response soon. Our initial impressions from the released provisions are that Islamabad will find it difficult to accept the terms in their current form.
Another threat against Chinese nationals residing in Afghanistan has been published online by an unknown group, warning that they intend to attack Chinese nationals over the coming months. Several of similar threats have been received over the last two months, but it seems more likely they are staged, intended to drive a wedge between the Taliban and China. Such maneuvers would serve the interests of several factions currently residing in Afghanistan (Resistance groups, Ansarullah militants, TIM, etc).
NEXT 24 HOURS
The newly appointed Governor of Panjshir has called for a meeting of Taliban commanders to discuss a new strategy for the province. According to sources with access to the new governor’s office, a few of the commanders serving locally will not be invited to the meeting, and their replacements have already arrived from Kabul. It is currently unclear if any Tajik and Uzbek Taliban commanders have been invited to the meeting. A source with intimate knowledge of the situation claimed the governor is under intense pressure from Kandahar to achieve results early in his tenure.
Tajik border security forces are expected to announce the identities of several people they intercepted at the border over the last 48 hours who are currently under arrest. It is believed many in the group are Afghans.
AFGHAN NEWS
Inside the Taliban’s secret war in the Panjshir Valley
By Susannah George and Aziz Tassal – Washington Post
Taliban forces have been locked for months in a shadowy on-again, off-again battle with opposition fighters based in the Panjshir Valley…
Afghan Taliban unveils new uniforms for reconstituted police force
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar – Reuters
Taliban authorities on Wednesday introduced new uniforms for its reconstituted Afghan police force, as the de facto government…
Over 7,000 Vacancies Announced for School Teachers
By TOLOnews
The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced more than 7,000 vacancies for teachers. More than 2,000 of the vacancies are allotted for female teachers…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iran Hands Over the Military Equipment of the Previous Government to the Taliban
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
According to the Taliban-controlled media, the Iranian government has handed over to local Taliban forces all the military equipment transferred to Iran during…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Biden admin relies on Taliban-controlled airline to help Afghans flee Afghanistan
By By Dan De Luce and Courtney Kube – NBC News
The U.S. government indirectly pays an airline controlled by the Taliban regime to ferry Afghan refugees out of Kabul, four people familiar with the matter told NBC News…
Should We Work with the Taliban or Allow People To Starve?
By Susanne Koelbl – Der Spiegel
The Taliban are ruling ever more harshly, oppressing women and running moral police patrols in…
Greece reduces sentence for Afghan teenagers involved in Moria blaze
By InfoMigrants
A Greek appeals court has sentenced two asylum seekers from Afghanistan to four years in prison for starting a fire which burned down the Moria camp on the…
THE DAILY WTF
Govt supports women’s rights, says deputy PM
By Khawaja Nasir Ahmad Sidiqi – Pajhwok News
Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir says the caretaker government, treating all Afghans as equal citizens, is deadest…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.79 AFN (as of 9 JUN 2022)