LAST 24 HOURS
BORDER CLASHES IN PAKTIA CONTINUE – Yesterday evening, fresh clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan border forces were reported in the Dand-e-Patan District of Afghanistan and the Barokai District of Pakistan. The fighting has so far been restricted to small-arms gunfire being traded across the border. While a firm count of casualties has yet to be reported, there are scattered reports of non-combatant injuries on the Pakistan side of the line. The fighting escalated even after the announcement of the reopening of the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing early on Sunday.
REINFORCEMENTS BEING SENT TO BADAKHSHAN – A Battlion-sized element of Taliban fighters has been ordered to reinforce Taliban outposts in the Wakhan Valley of the Province. A source within the Ministry of Defense said the move was meant to reassure both local leaders and China that the Taliban intend to keep the Province from falling into NRF hands. Source went on to claim the Chinese are primarily concerned with keeping ETIM and other terrorist groups from their shared border. It is not clear when the reinforcements will arrive in the Province and the source claimed that no preparations had been made to garrison the fighters there for the coming Winter. The Prime Minister is thought to have ordered a delegation of Taliban leaders to accompany the Battalion to hear grievances by local leaders.
THE IEA DIGS ITS HEELS IN – The senior leadership of the Taliban continues to ignore calls for a more modern model of governance. Even sympathetic regional States have had their demands for the formation of an inclusive government and access for women to education rebuffed. Seemingly, the thinking in Kandahar is that its strategic position as a crossroads will ultimately outweigh criticisms from the international community and they will be forced to relent and recognize the IEA. Thus, the edicts and proclamations from Kandahar continue to accelerate the IEA on its downward spiral towards ‘rogue nation’ status. Recent announcements concerning a return to the strictest form of Sharia law are serving to silence even nominal support for the regime. Such a state of isolation can be survived but with active resistance in the country that will likely get stronger as the economic situation worsens and a lack of expertise concerning domestic governance, the future looks bleak.
TALIBAN MILITARY SHAKEUP – The Hamid Khorasani camp in Khair Khana (Kabul) is said to have been the scene of an inter-Taliban dust-up. Sources in the Ministry of Defense confirmed that Taliban forces who were previously stationed at the base have been relieved of their duties and all weapons, vehicles, and equipment were collected and placed under the command of the Central Corps. Sources said the loyalties of the troops garrisoned at the camp had been questioned and the Ministry of Defense decided to disarm/dismiss them rather than attempt to rehabilitate the unit. Sources agreed the move would drive several of the disaffected troops directly into the arms of the Resistance or ISIS-K. No further information was available.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL REOPEN SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN GATE – The crossing had been closed since a deadly cross-border incident occurred. Pakistan made the announcement after receiving assurances the perpetrator would be brought to justice. One news outlet, The Khaama Press, reported that a man purported to be the instigator of the attack was transferred to Pakistani custody on Saturday night in Kandahar Province. This information has not yet been verified. The gate should open to all traffic today.
UNAMA HEAD TO MEET WITH UZBEKISTAN AND TAJIKISTAN IN DUSHANBE – Marks Potzel, UNAMA head, traveled to Dushanbe for a week of meetings with leaders of both countries to discuss the Afghanistan problem.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iranian security forces in Kurdistan have intensified their efforts to halt the popular protests. 4 protestors were allegedly shot dead by either police or military in Khuzestan Province.
Leaders in Tehran summoned the British envoy for an explanation of the attacks on its diplomatic facility in London.
Iran faces a heap of criticism at the World Cup as several nations plan actions to show solidarity with the Iranian people.
Iranian authorities arrested the popular actress, Hengameh Ghaziani for posting a video showing support for protestors on her social media feeds.
PAKISTAN
The Long Marchers have chosen Faizabad as the place where the anti-government protests will take place on 26 November. An application for the protest was delivered to the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner seeking permission to hold the rally there.
Police evacuated several police stations in the Northwest of Pakistan over fears of possible reprisal attacks by the TTP. Rumors circulating in Waziristan have alluded to Pakistani intelligence complicity in the deaths of two TTP Commanders in Afghanistan recently.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
#Stop Hazara Genocide: Afghanistan’s deadly oppression of the Hazara
By The Mancunion
On September 30 2022, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Kaaj Educational Centre in Dashte Barchi, a Hazara neighbourhood in Kabul, Afghanistan. Soon after Stop Hazara Genocide protests took off worldwide, condemning the heinous crimes against the Hazara.
AFGHAN NEWS
Many Afghan Children Out of School And Working on Street
By Hadia Ziaei - TOLO News
Fatima, 8, is an orphan, who is selling bread on a street in capital city of…
Islamic Emirate Downplays Need for National Dialogue
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh - TOLO News
Following calls by Afghan political figures as well as voices in the international community for a national dialogue, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said there are "no ethnic…
At least 8 killed, 41 injured after bus falls into river
By MEHR News Agency
The incident was also confirmed by local Taliban government officials, who added that the passenger bus was heading from Kabul, the capital of…
REGIONAL NEWS
China has no destructive plan nor political agenda in Afghanistan: Baradar
By Ariana News
Speaking in a video conference on Saturday, at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Exhibition of Economic Cooperation, Trade and Investment between China and…
Pakistan to Reopen Busy Afghan Border Crossing Shut Over Fatal Shooting
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
Pakistan has decided to reopen a key southwestern border crossing with landlocked Afghanistan for trade and pedestrian movements starting Monday, a week after…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
UN Special Rapporteur Demands Immediate Release of Woman Activist Still Held by Taliban
By Saqalain Eqbal - Khaama Press
On his Twitter handle, UN official Bennett stated on Saturday, November 19, that all Afghans have the right to freedom of expression and…
THE DAILY WTF
“Afghanistan more secure than ever”
By The Kabul Times
Some certain circles are still fueling misunderstandings between Afghanistan and the regional countries and want to disturb the public mind that…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.02 AFN (as of 21 NOV 2022)