LAST 24 HOURS
GIRLS’ SCHOOL CURRICULUM DRAFT SUBMITTED TO THE SUPREME LEADER FOR REVIEW – An unconfirmed report is being shared by a few Taliban officials that claim a draft of the curriculum has finally been presented to the Supreme Leader. The chief of the Taliban’s military medical forces, Mohammad Tahir Ahrar, was one of the Taliban officials to share the news on his personal Twitter account. As of publication, no official announcement has been made by the Taliban confirming this news. However, some indicators that the Taliban might be relenting on the hated ban have surfaced. For instance, some provinces have encouraged female students to fill out applications for college entrance exams and have done so openly. For many, the announcement does little to lower concerns as many believe any new curriculum will continue to ban women/girls from studying disciplines like engineering and business. Some rights organizations have already begun planning protest campaigns that will seek to open all fields to all genders.
INDIA SAYS AMMUNITION AND ARMS USED IN THE POONCH TERROR ATTACK CAME FROM AFGHANISTAN – Investigators from the Indian Armed Forces announced some preliminary findings in the Poonch terror attack case. Of note, Indian officials say that the ammunition and weapons recovered at the scene and in follow-up searches came from Afghanistan. Previous reports in 2022 coming out of India showed that US weapons stocks were showing up in a few cities. Indian officials are concerned about a potential terror attack during the upcoming G20 meetings scheduled for 22-25 May. Currently, Jammu security forces are activated and an alert has been issued for an ‘impending terrorist action’. Several Indian politicians have continued to contend that Pakistan aided the terrorists who planned and carried out the Poonch attacks.
UNITED NATIONS TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN – The Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres stated that the UN will stay in Afghanistan, even with the restrictions on its female staff members. However, the Secretary-General warned that donor states had not fulfilled their pledge obligations and announced that less than 7% of the $4.6 billion requested had been made available.
POTENTIAL PAKISTAN FLASH POINT ON THE RADAR – The talks between the government and the party of the former PM (PTI) have concluded without a resolution on the election dates. The deposed former PM, Imran Khan, has warned of country-wide demonstrations if the elections in Punjab do not take place on 14 May. With only ten days left, a lack of funding, and virtually no prior preparation it is unlikely the elections will be held. The country may need to brace itself for sizable civil disobedience displays. The situation bears monitoring as it could easily turn violent and the former PM has shown little restraint in using any pretext to criticize/attack the regime.
58$ BILLION CHINA-PAKISTAN RAILROAD PLAN, IS ONLY A PLAN – Several articles appeared at the end of April warning of a massive infrastructure investment plan that would culminate in a 3,000-kilometer railway linking Xinjiang, China, to the Gwadar Port. Investigative journalists have since poured cold water on the story and traced its origins back to a simple ‘feasibility analysis’ that focused on the hypothetical financing models that could be employed, should the project receive a green light. The bottom line is, there is no current plan to commence work on the project and engineers have not solved the problems associated with the difficult terrain in the Karakoram region.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO NEW THREATS RECEIVED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The Iranian Navy seized a second oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and escorted it to an Iranian port. Tensions in the Gulf remain high and ship owners are planning to implement different tactics/routes to avoid further Iranian interdictions.
Cyberattacks traced back to Iran are on the rise in 2023. Tech companies are reporting attempted hacks on an unprecedented scale. The US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia appear to be the nations targeted the most.
A corruption probe in the government has found that dozens of members of parliament had been promised gifts of cars and that nearly 100 had been sold to MPs at the factory price and were not subject to the country’s ‘lottery’ program.
PAKISTAN
The High Court has warned deposed PM, Imran Khan, that he must appear in court today. In response, Khan released a letter from his doctors urging him to rest. As of publication, it is not clear if the court had accepted his medical excuse.
Talks between the regime and the PTI have concluded with no resolution on the state of upcoming elections. Former PM Khan has threatened mass demonstrations if the Punjab elections are not held on 14 May. It is unlikely the elections could be organized in time.
Indian Army officials say they have killed 2 militants who attempted to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into Kashmir from Pakistan. Indian troops along the LoC have remained in a high state of alert since the deadly Poonch terror attacks and the situation has been described as extremely dangerous.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Can the European Union Tackle Afghanistan’s Crises?
By Rahimullah Kakar - The Diplomat
After the U.S.-led coalition, in which the EU was a significant partner, withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the country entered another political vacuum. The currently fragile state of affairs in Afghanistan is likely to drive the country to another crisis, which will have negative consequences for the region and beyond. Having played a significant role over the last two decades in Afghanistan, the EU has the capability to take a proactive diplomatic and political stance in managing the impending preventable socioeconomic and politico-security crises.
AFGHAN NEWS
Future of Afghanistan’s Media in the balance as world marks World Press Freedom Day
By UNAMA
On World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations expresses serious concern for the future of Afghanistan’s media, with journalists forced to work in climate of…
Importers of low-quality goods will be introduced as national traitors: Hanafi
By Ariana News
In a trip to Kandahar province, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister, has warned traders that…
Taliban Commander Allegedly Commits Sexual Assault in Panjshir Province: Sources
By 8AM Media
According to local sources, Mawlawi Muttaqi, the commander of the Taliban’s security command for Panjshir province, forcibly entered…
Earthquake of 5.2 Magnitude Hits Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The tremor was felt in the capital city of Kabul and several other…
REGIONAL NEWS
Taliban Link to Poonch Attack? Agencies Fear the Worst as Ammunition Traced to Afghanistan
By Ankur Sharma - News 18
In a lead that can become a major worry for security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, central Intelligence agencies have found that the arms and…
China’s Investment in Afghan Lithium Sector : Broad Geo-Economic
By Noman Hussaini - Khaama Press
The recent offer by China-based Gochin Company to invest USD 10 billion in Afghanistan’s lithium mining sector, estimated to be worth more than…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Secretary-General's statement following two-day meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan
BY United Nations
UN Secretary-General’s media stakeout in the Qatari capital, Doha, following two-day meeting of special envoys on…
Edinburgh MP Joanna Cherry appeals to Rishi Sunak to save women threatened with death in Afghanistan
By Ian Swanson - Edinburgh News
Ms Cherry met the Prime Minister in his office in the House of Commons on Wednesday to press him for…
THE DAILY WTF
Karimi Dismisses Concerns Voiced in Doha Meeting of Terrorist Presence
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
“These remarks and allegations are baseless. No side should be worried about the security in Afghanistan,” Karimi…
‘Apparently, the strategy here is to repeat a lie until it is no longer a lie.’ TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.22 AFN (as of 4 MAY 2023)