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LAST 24 HOURS
6 DEAD, 1 INJURED IN KABUL MOSQUE SHOOTING – A man entered the Hazrat Bilal Mosque in Kabul’s ninth Police District on Wednesday morning and opened fire on the congregants who had gathered for prayer. Taliban security forces say the man killed 6 worshippers and wounded another in the attack. Security officials said the attack may have been motivated by a private dispute. The gunman remained at large and security forces were actively canvassing the area to find the shooter. No further information was available.
TALIBAN REQUESTS AFGHANS SHELTERING IN PAKISTAN AND IRAN TO AVOID PROTESTS – The Minister of Refugees and Repatriation made a public call for Afghans in the two neighboring countries to not join in protests (both planned and ongoing). While he stated the Taliban was concerned for citizens’ safety, both Ambassadors from the neighboring countries are thought to have asked for Taliban assistance with controlling domestic issues.
SIM CARDS REPORTEDLY BEING DENIED TO WOMEN IN SOME PROVINCES – We are attempting to confirm reports that select provinces have issued directives to deny the sale of SIM cards to women. Uruzgan Province was the first to report the restrictions and there are rumors that shopkeepers in Panjshir and Takhar are also being pressured to halt sales. There is already a flourishing black market for SIM cards in the country that the Taliban have unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt but the recent edicts will likely inflate prices significantly.
UNHCR ANNOUNCES SEASONAL FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO 400,000 AFGHANS – The program was announced on Tuesday the 22nd and involves a door-to-door assessment program to identify families most in need. We will publish more details on the program as the information is provided.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN TO PROVIDE UPDATE ON FATE OF AFGHAN REFUGEES SHELTERING IN THE COUNTRY – The Minister of State for Frontiers is expected to elaborate on a possible extension of the amnesty period for Afghan refugees currently staying in Pakistan.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The US announced additional sanctions on more Iranian officials for their part in the crackdown on protests.
72 people were reportedly killed over the last week in the protests. The majority of the deaths occurred in Kurdish areas.
Revolutionary Guard military detachments were dispatched to the Kurdish areas to confront protestors.
PAKISTAN
Ousted PM Imran Khan declared the demonstration in Rawalpindi on 26 November will be the largest in Pakistan’s history. Vowed it will be peaceful.
The appointment of the new Army Commander is delayed while negotiations take place behind the scenes. Imran Khan claims the current PM has invited his input on the matter.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Six reasons the Afghan government utterly collapsed during US withdrawal
By Responsible Statecraft
Last week, the official Afghanistan reconstruction watchdog released a report assessing why the Afghan government…
AFGHAN NEWS
Attack on Worshippers Kills Father and 4 Sons in Afghan Capital
By Saqalain Eqbal - Khaama Press
The incident took place on Wednesday morning, November 23, in the Hazrat Bilal Mosque in Kabul’s police district 9, according to Khalid Zadran…
Now, 400 loudspeakers in Kabul as Taliban encourages worshippers to pray more
By The Hindustan Times
The ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice said that hundreds of empty shops and other buildings that were not in…
Taliban confirm first floggings in Afghanistan since supreme leader’s edict
By Al Arabiya
Three women and 11 men were flogged Wednesday on the orders of an Afghan court after they were found guilty of…
REGIONAL NEWS
By Business Recorder
A letter addressed to PTI Secretary General Asad Umar stated that the interior ministry has been sharing threat alerts generated by…
US’s Blinken Visits Afghan Refugees Awaiting Resettlement to US in Qatar
By Saqalain Eqbal - Khaama Press
The US official wrote on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, November 23, that he visited and spoke with Afghan refugees in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Court rules Dutch bombing in Afghanistan was a war crime
By War is Boring
The Hague — A bomb attack by the Dutch army on a residential building in Afghanistan in 2007 that killed 20 people…
World will eventually recognize IEA: Muttaqi
By Ariana News
The international community will eventually recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Foreign Minister Amir Khan…
THE DAILY WTF
US no longer prioritizing Afghanistan: Khalilzad
By Ariana News
Former US special representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said he thinks it’s unlikely that the country will ever return to…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.50 AFN (as of 24 NOV 2022)