LAST 24 HOURS
DOHA DEAL ANNIVERSARY PASSES WITH MUCH FINGERPOINTING – The anniversary of the much-maligned ‘Doha Deal’ arrived with a sharp exchange of barbs between the Taliban and the US. The Taliban claim they have met all the requirements included in the deal and used the date to call for recognition and an unfreezing of assets they claim to belong to them. The US used the date to remind the Taliban they had fallen short in several areas and an ill-timed announcement from the Taliban concerning the reopening of Universities to MALE STUDENTS ONLY undercut the Taliban’s pleas and there are very few who believe that Afghanistan is secure and does not pose a terror threat to other states.
PASSPORT DIRECTORATE REOPENS NATIONWIDE – The head of the Passport Directorate announced the resumption of the process across the country. He said that online passport registration had been opened for all Afghans and the goal was to reach an eventual daily distribution rate of 10,000 per day. He did say that some technical difficulties were still being worked out and many who have been waiting for months are skeptical the announcement will bear fruit.
MORE ARRESTS OF FORMER ARMY SOLDIERS IN PANJSHIR – Possibly in an attempt to damage Resistance forces in the Province, the Taliban have arrested an additional 20 former soldiers of the previous regime. No charges were announced, but the men were taken to a central holding facility and presumably will face interrogation. Local eyewitnesses say the men had not taken up arms against the Taliban and many thought the arrests were meant as a message to others in the Province who may be considering joining the NRF or other Resistance groups.
PAKISTAN’S SENIOR ENVOY TO AFGHANISTAN RESIGNS – Mohammad Sadiq, announced his resignation on Twitter and said that after three years, it was time for him to focus on family and other matters. The search for a new envoy has begun and the list of candidates who are considered to possess the bona fides to take on the difficult mission is reputedly a short one.
TALIBAN ASK ICRC TO ASSIST WITH RECOVERING BODIES FROM ITALIAN SHIPWRECK – The Foreign Minister called on ICRC to assist with returning the approximately 80 bodies to Afghanistan. It was not clear if the ICRC or other NGO’s would answer the Minister’s calls as many of their female employees in Afghanistan are barred from continuing the organization’s mission.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TALIBAN KEY LEADERS RECALLED TO KANDAHAR – It is possible a significant announcement will be made regarding current policies in place by the Taliban after sources revealed that most of the most important Ministers and Department Chiefs were called to Kandahar. While no information concerning the reason for the high-level conference has been received, it is the first mass gathering of its kind since the Fall of 2022. We are waiting to confirm if the Ministers of Defense and the Interior have made the trip.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
After a delay, the Supreme Leader has finally ordered an inquest into the rumors of a poisoning campaign against female students.
Iran forced 2 German diplomats to leave the country in what is widely seen as a reciprocal move for German criticism of the death sentence imposed on a dual citizen.
IAEA Chief to meet with President Raisa on Saturday to try and kickstart the nuclear talks.
PAKISTAN
Pakistani police have made significant headway in dealing with criminal gangs and street crime. Success has been attributed to the additional scrutiny and policing in response to terror threats.
An arrest warrant has been issued to the Islamabad Police, ordering them to produce the former Prime Minister on 7 March to answer questions related to the Toshakhana corruption case.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
ISIS-K Is Waging a New War in Afghanistan—This Time Against China
By Gavin Butler - VICE News
By the time the bombs went off inside the Kabul Longan Hotel on the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2022, the armed insurgents had already filmed their last words. Cradling pistols and posing beside a lounge chair heaped with ammunition, grenades, and explosives, two young militants, dressed inconspicuously in a hooded sweatshirt and a brown sherpa jacket, pointed to the sky and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan Resumes Passport Distribution After Five-Month Break
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
According to Mawlavi Abdul Haseeb Karim, General Director of the passport Department, the technical problems have been resolved, and…
Afghanistan remains ‘world’s worst humanitarian crisis’
By AMU TV
The UN Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said on Tuesday that Afghanistan remains the world’s largest…
3rd anniversary of Doha Deal: Baradar calls for engagement with all countries
By Ariana News
Baradar emphasized that the IEA has implemented all the articles of the Doha Agreement, adding security prevails across Afghanistan and its…
REGIONAL NEWS
Blinken Meets Central Asian Leaders Amid Russia-Ukraine War
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan on Tuesday for a series of meeting with top leaders of…
India funded warlords instead of Afghan govt, say US documents
By Sanjib Kr Baruah - The Week Magazine
Instead of funding the President Ashraf Ghani-led Afghanistan government, India funded Afghan militia leaders, which, among other reasons, contributed to the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Afghans ‘fleeing the Taliban’ allowed into South Africa as asylum seekers
By Shonisani Tshikalange - The Times
A Pretoria high court order to grant 22 Afghans fleeing the Taliban access to South Africa on asylum transit visas…
Kabul, Washington Blame Each Other for Doha Deal Violations
By TOLO News
Three years have passed since the signing of the Doha agreement between the US and the Islamic Emirate, and neither Kabul nor Washington is pleased with the way…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban Announce Reopening of Universities, but Only for Male Students
By Akmal Dawi - VOA
“According to a decision by the Supreme Council for Higher Education,” reads a short statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, “studies of the male students at…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.90 AFN (as of 2 MAR 2023)