LAST 24 HOURS
CONFUSION OVER RECENT KABUL BOMBING – Taliban authorities casually dismissed the vehicle bombing in Police District 4 that occurred on Sunday. However, several independent media outlets have attributed the attack to the NRF and claimed those killed in the blast were members of the Taliban’s intelligence unit (GDI). Taliban police say the investigation is ongoing and have not provided additional information as of publication.
TALIBAN GOVERNOR TO PANJSHIR VISITS MASSOUD’S TOMB – Mohammad Mohsen Hashemi visited the tomb of the martyred leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud, on Monday in an attempt to disprove allegations that the tomb had been defiled by Taliban forces. However, the tomb was known to have been desecrated on at least two occasions. The Taliban claim the acts were done by Resistance elements to incite northerners while the Resistance claims it was done out of disrespect for the former leader.
POWER OUTAGES AND ‘BROWN OUTS’ IN KABUL – As a result of the Uzbek decision to lower power exports, outages have affected businesses and inhabitants alike. The decision was prompted by a technical issue and there has been no word on how long the situation may continue.
CHINA AND RUSSIA COURTING TAJIKISTAN – Over the past week, Tajikistan has entered into discussions with regional heavies China and Russia. The discussions were bilateral but the timing seemed to be coordinated and was likely meant as an alternative to a recent visit by a US-led delegation. The Government of Tajikistan discussed the following issues:
Chinese-Tajik military cooperation focused on countering terrorism.
The Russian intelligence chief proposed greater intelligence cooperation/sharing.
POSSIBLE TALIBAN RIVALRY RESULTS IN DEATH OF KUNAR OFFICIAL – The Taliban confirmed that the Agricultural Director of the Province, Mawlavi Ezzatullah Hedayat, died in his office on Tuesday from a heart attack. However, local sources say he was killed by gunmen and that a long-running dispute with an unidentified rival Taliban official in the Province was the cause for the attack.
PAKISTAN/TALIBAN COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS BORDER ISSUES IN PAKTIA FORMED – A purported road-building project has caused several clashes along a section of the Durand Line over the past week that has resulted in casualties on both sides of the border. Mimicking a strategy to defuse the Spin Boldak-Chaman situation, both sides agreed to establish a committee to attempt to de-escalate tensions along the border.
NEXT 24 HOURS
CENTRAL BANK TO AUCTION $17 MILLION DOLLARS TOMORROW – Recent fluctuations of the Afghani have spurred the Central Bank’s decision to increase the amounts put up for auction.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
In Herat, Taliban authorities met with Iranian delegates to discuss border issues. A proposed economic zone agreement was discussed.
Widespread internet/cellular outages have been reported across the country. Historically, these outages have occurred prior to major security operations.
The White House said it was concerned about the increased uranium enrichment activities taking place in Iran.
PAKISTAN
The former Prime Minister has renewed calls for early elections. In a previous statement, he had stated that he would be content to allow the general elections to proceed in accordance with the proposed timeline. Journalists have suggested the call is in response to his declining support for the Long March.
Concern was noted in Islamabad after an Indian General suggested the Indian Army would take back the Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir region if so ordered.
TAJIKISTAN
China and Tajikistan have announced plans to step-up military cooperation on counter-terrorism. While not specifically named, the operations are expected to take place along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Chinese border.
Russia dispatched its intelligence chief to Dushanbe to discuss more cooperative intelligence gathering/sharing efforts.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By Philiip Wasielewski - Eurasia Review
On November 15, 2022, the Foreign Policy Research Institute conducted an in-person and Zoom event titled, “The Future of Resistance in Afghanistan,” with Ali M. Nazary, the head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front (NRF). Nazary, an articulate spokesman for the NRF and the anti-Taliban cause in Afghanistan, presented one of the most comprehensive briefings to a general American audience to date of the NRF’s goals and strategy. This short essay will provide a brief description of those goals and strategy and assess what this may mean for U.S. foreign policy.
AFGHAN NEWS
2 killed in explosion in Afghan capital (+VIDEO)
By MEHR News Agency
The explosion hit a car in the Parwan 3 region in the 4th District of Kabul, spokesperson of the Taliban security command…
Balkh Residents Criticize Lack of Uniforms for Security Forces
By TOLO News
Mazar-e-Sharif residents expressed concerns about Islamic Emirate’s security forces members not wearing uniforms, saying that…
Students call on IEA to reopen girls’ schools
By Ariana News
With only 15 days left of this year’s academic year, emotional teenage girls spoke out about not having been able to attend school in…
REGIONAL NEWS
By 8am Media
Hundreds of Afghan refugees protested in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Islamabad after a report…
IEA in talks with Pakistan over Paktia border clashes
By Ariana News
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said Tuesday that a joint committee from Afghanistan and Pakistan met earlier in the day in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
‘It seems like refugees are divided into levels here. Ukrainians are first. Afghans are below them’
By Jade Wilson - The Irish Times
When Sakina Ganji (25) fled Afghanistan one year ago, she had “totally lost all confidence” in…
Afghan Trust Fund Discusses $3.5 Billion in Geneva
By Bibi Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
Mehrabi said that the Fund will “protect, preserve and make targeted disbursement of the 3.5 billion that belongs to Afghan people, to help benefit…
THE DAILY WTF
How Can a Bird Fly On Only One Wing? Afghan women speak about life under the Islamic Emirate
By Roxanna Shapour & Rama Mirzada - AAN
Fifteen months after the Taleban returned to power, Afghan women have seen their country and their lives dramatically alter, as jobs evaporated, restrictions were…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.47 AFN (as of 23 NOV 2022)