LAST 24 HOURS:
Several reports have been coming in from Panjshir stating that the Taliban reprisals against non-combatants have continued. In addition to the 8 confirmed Tajik non-combatants who were executed in Panjshir approximately 48 hours ago, 10 additional non-combatants have reportedly been executed in the Deh Salah area of Andarab, Baghlan after accusing them of aiding Resistance forces in an attack in the Qassan Valley. We have not yet confirmed these accounts.
The NRF is said to have killed nearly 100 Taliban fighters who were trying to enter Dara Abdullah Khail district from Sar-e-Hawz (Hesarak). After the Afghan Digest received reports of this incident from the ground, several other similar reports were posted to various social media accounts. Based on the photos received from our sources, many Taliban appear to be killed, but exact figures could not be verified.
The Taliban claim to have taken approximately 50 Resistance prisoners during the fighting in Panjshir and say a few other fighters fled the province. Official channels state that the Taliban have put down the insurrection. However, this statement can be considered propaganda since fighting is continuing widely across several provinces.
The Taliban reported that one of the electricity towers that was damaged during last month’s attack has been repaired. Work is continuing on the second damaged tower, but it may be two weeks before power is restored completely. Sources have stated the repair workers received sniper fire over the duration of the repairs, but no arrests could be made.
Sources state that Haji Malik Khan Darah has been named as the Commander of NRF forces in what it is now calling the Panjshir War.
Sources state that General Abdul Matin Suleimankhel has been named the Commander of the Afghanistan Liberation Movement.
Taliban ally Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (AKA the Butcher of Kabul) made incendiary public statements about Tajikistan that may impact Taliban-Tajik relations. Among other things he said Tajikistan’s sheltering of Afghan Resistance groups and desire for them to have 40% of parliamentary seats was effectively declaring war on the Taliban. In response to Tajikistan’s “hostile, unilateral, baseless policy”, Hekmatyar said the Taliban “will be forced to provide asylum to the Tajik armed opposition” before mocking Tajikistan as “weak and small”. Tajik officials have yet to respond to the statements.
NEXT 24 HOURS:
If the reports about the large number of Taliban casualties inflicted in fighting across the North are true, we believe more revenge killings against non-combatants will take place. Men and boys of Tajik ethnicity are especially at risk.
A strong diplomatic response is expected over yesterday’s inflammatory rhetoric from Gulbuddin Hekmatyar about Tajikistan providing shelter and support for the Resistance.
Yesterday Taliban leadership in Kandahar ordered more reinforcements to Takhar, Andarab, and Panjshir. The forces will be drawn from Southern provinces and garrisons along the Durand Line.
ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT:
The Taliban’s Many Problematic Borders
By Catherine Putz – The Diplomat
The Taliban are beset on all sides by difficult borders, and the group’s inability to bring them under control may serve to complicate relations with regional neighbors.
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.24 AFN (as of 11 MAY 2022)
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