LAST 24 HOURS
THE US PLANS TO EXTEND TEMPORARY WORK PERMITS FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES IN THE US FOR AN ADDITIONAL 2 YEARS – The Department of Homeland Security has taken a decision supported by the administration to allow Afghans in the US to extend their work permits for an additional two years. The Department chose to make the rule changes based on the inability of Congress to find a solution to those Afghans who have reached the US. Eligible Afghans can submit an application online with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service for the renewal. The program is expected to launch sometime in June and five support centers will be established across the US to assist Afghans with their immigration cases. The announcement was met with enthusiasm by many of the Afghans who were nearing the end of their temporary work visas.
TURKISH FORCES CLAIM TO HAVE KILLED THE ISIS LEADER IN SYRIA – Abu Hussain al-Qurashi, the suspected leader of the global terrorist organization, was reportedly killed in an operation by Turkish Intelligence personnel on Saturday. Details were not readily available about his death and intelligence agencies in many countries were seeking confirmation of the death.
SWITZERLAND ASSUMES PRESIDENCY OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, LOOKS TO THE DOHA SUMMIT FOR A PATH FORWARD – Pascale Baeriswyl, the Swiss Ambassador to the UN, said in remarks after assuming the presidency of the council that Afghanistan represented a ‘very difficult dilemma’ and admitted it had no strategy in place to deal with the Taliban. Instead, he expressed hope that the ongoing summit in Doha would produce a durable and realistic strategy to carry things forward.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL AGREES TO ALLOW TALIBAN ENVOY TO MEET WITH CHINA AND PAKISTAN NEXT WEEK – The Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, will be cleared to travel to Pakistan for meetings with the Foreign Ministers of both Pakistan and China. The UN Mission in Pakistan requested a temporary reprieve from a long-standing travel ban to allow him to travel. Muttaqi has been allowed to travel under similar circumstances from time to time since the Taliban came to power.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO NEW THREATS RECEIVED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Youth protestors in Rasht reportedly attacked a Quds base (16th Division) in Rasht. Eyewitnesses reported a large explosion near the entrance of the facility and said ambulances were on the scene for several hours after the blast.
The regime announced it had rearrested several Iranians for ‘ties to French intelligence agents.’ Although it is not clear how many were arrested, at least 6 had recently been pardoned by the supreme leader.
Azerbaijani police have rounded up 16 men who stand accused of spying for Iran.
PAKISTAN
Ousted PM, Imran Khan, warned that his party would take to the streets should the regime defy a supreme court ruling that ordered the elections in Punjab to be held on 14 May.
A counter-terrorism operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 3 TTP members with 2 others wounded on Monday.
Flooding is expected in several of the Northern areas of Pakistan after heavy rains fell throughout Monday and saturated the ground.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
The Taliban Aim to Divide and Conquer
By Lynne O’Donnell - Foreign Policy
Afghanistan has become the world’s problem child, controlled by unruly and unpredictable religious fanatics and terrorists who throw their toys out of the stroller each time they’re chided for bad behavior yet keep getting their own way. As the United Nations prepares to host another meeting to discuss how to deal with the near-starvation of the Afghan population and the appalling toll of Taliban misogyny, the men in charge are again goading the world body: It’s our way or the highway.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban hands out university entrance exam forms to female students
By AMU TV
The Taliban has distributed university entrance examination forms in a number of provinces for girls who have graduated from 12th grade at school – in a move which some say is an attempt to draw…
China to resume issuing visas to Afghans
By Ariana News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) says that the process of issuing visas to…
Health Ministry, Intl Organizations Target Malaria in Afghanistan
By Hadia Ziaei - TOLO News
“The UN Development Program together with the Ministry of Public Health's national malaria program and partners have played a…
REGIONAL NEWS
Daesh leader killed in Syria by Turkish intelligence services: Erdogan
By Ariana News
“This individual was neutralized as part of an operation by the Turkish national intelligence organization in Syria yesterday,” Erdogan said in…
Pakistani Taliban Commander, Involved in Attacks on Polio Teams, Killed in Pakistan
By News 18
Pakistani security forces on Monday claimed to have killed a notorious Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander who was involved in multiple attacks on…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Doha Meeting on Afghanistan Begins
By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News
The meeting is aimed at reinvigorating international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward and…
UK Probing Alleged Afghan Murders by its Soldiers
By Phil Miller & Richard Norton-Taylor - Consortium News
An independent inquiry into allegations British troops unlawfully killed Afghan civilians is gathering pace, its chairman has…
THE DAILY WTF
UN meets envoys about Taliban but without Afghan women
By Yvonne Murray - RTE
"We urge you to ensure that diverse Afghan women - including women leaders, human rights defenders…
‘Lamentable decision.’ TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.51 AFN (as of 2 MAY 2023)