LAST 24 HOURS
DEPORTATIONS HALTED AT TORKHAM ON FRIDAY, TALIBAN FORCE THE HALT – In a move that has befuddled policymakers in Islamabad, the Taliban refused to accept people being deported from Pakistan by mandating they all must be cleared by the Consul General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A source in Islamabad said the maneuver caught members of the Foreign Ministry by surprise and that a special team had been assembled to examine the legality of the Taliban’s new rule. The Taliban’s main contention for invoking the screening is that many Pakistani citizens have been found among the Afghans who have so far been deported back to Afghanistan. A human rights lawyer in Islamabad said the maneuver was ‘brilliant’ on the part of the Taliban and offered the opinion the rule would be hard to argue as Pakistan had used similar arguments in a previous case involving Afghans in the early 2000s. Eyewitnesses say that no deportees were sent through Torkham on Friday as a result and that trucks carrying those who faced expulsion were left at the border to try again today.
TALIBAN MINISTRY HIT BY NEW CYBER-ATTACK – An unidentified Ministry in Afghanistan fell victim to the ‘HrServ’ attack. Analysts say the attack inserted the web shell into the Ministry’s server and that the HrServ is a weaponized malware that can allow hackers to steal data, monitor servers, and perform limited functions across the server. The hack is being characterized as an Advanced Persistent Attack (APA). The web shell is capable of launching a file that erases any trail it may leave. Analysts say those responsible for the hack are likely not native English speakers due to the high number of typos in the source code. Ultimately, it is believed those behind HrServ were planning a financial crime of some sort.
RETIRED INDIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF RECOGNIZING THE TALIBAN – Talmiz Ahmad, a retired Indian senior diplomat said that the recent circus that has played out in the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is a sign his government intends to begin bilateral relations with the defacto leaders in Kabul. Ahmad characterizes the step as ‘inevitable’ and is hopeful that bilateral relations would result in favorable trade agreements and the potential for discussions about the Taliban’s internal policies.
PAKISTAN’S SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AGAINST FORCED DEPORTATIONS ON 1 DECEMBER – After a possible politically motivated delay, the Supreme Court said it would constitute a three-member bench to hear the plea on behalf of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and are considered to be ‘birthright citizens’ under Section 4 of the Citizenship Act (1951). If the plea is affirmed by the Supreme Court, it could potentially provide a legal basis for halting the deportations as the plaintiffs argue illustrates the Government of Pakistan’s inability to differentiate between those considered lawful ‘birthright citizens’ and those deemed ‘illegal migrants’. Political analysts say that even if the Supreme Court accepts the plea, it is unlikely to halt deportations but could provide ammunition to the international community to bring more pressure to bear on Islamabad over the universally condemned policy.
BADAKHSHAN HEADACHES CONTINUE FOR TALIBAN – Reports of a widening rift continue to come in from Badakhshan Province. The most recent indicates that the District Governor is thought to have ordered the transfer of both heavy and light weapons to Kandahar. A senior Taliban official, Qari Fasihuddin, was asked to postpone a trip to the restive Province by senior agents from the GDI. A source in Kabul said that senior leaders are recommending a ‘stronger hand’ is needed to lead the Province.
NEXT 24 HOURS
POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF TALIBAN TO BADAKHSHAN – Several sources in both Kabul and Kandahar say that a warning order has been issued to select units of the Ministry of Defense to prepare for a deployment to the Province. It is not clear what the reinforcements will be used for upon arrival but many are speculating that local leaders will likely be arrested and an effort to reign in members of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) could occur. At-risk Afghans in Badakhshan (especially Faizabad) should be aware of the possible deployment. Conflict could easily ensue as the Taliban appear to be nervous over a potential ‘breakaway’ Province situation. China has previously expressed concerns over the activity of ETIM in the Province and is rumored to have shared several intercepted messages with Kabul over the past year.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Hojatoleslam Shahabedin Haeri Shirazi, a well-known Islamic scholar announced on his Telegram channel that he had recently been sentenced to at least 1 year in prison and would have to pay a large fine for criticizing the Supreme Leader.
Iran’s Minister of Defense warns all US and Europeans in the Middle East to leave the region. Cites threats from the Axis of Resistance in his claim.
China is said to be considering investing approximately $2bn in improvements for Tehran’s international airport. China has yet to confirm the deal.
PAKISTAN
2 people were wounded when Police and PTI Party members clashed in Chukiatan as Police attempted to block the political party from holding a convention. Police blocked roads around the convention location and PTI members began throwing stones in response.
11 people were killed and 22 injured in a fire at a shopping mall in Karachi yesterday. The fire began in the RJ Shopping Mall and quickly spread. The cause of the fire has not been determined so far.
The acting Prime Minister announced he would not honor a summons by the Islamabad High Court in a case involving a missing Baloch student.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Understanding Taliban Relations With Neighboring Powers
By Zafar Iqbal Yousafzai - EurAsia Review
In the complex geopolitical landscape of South Asia, the Taliban’s relations with neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran, are subject to historical nuances, evolving dynamics, and the persistent challenge of hosting Afghan refugees. Despite decades of support to the Afghan populace and refugees, both Pakistan and Iran find themselves entangled in a delicate dance with the Taliban. This piece aims to delve deeper into the complexities of these relationships, exploring historical contexts, regional power dynamics, and the overarching quest for autonomy in the Afghan narrative.
AFGHAN NEWS
No deportations via Torkham as Taliban enforces new verification rules for migrants
By Tahir Sadid - AMU TV
In an unprecedented development during the ongoing repatriation of undocumented Afghan migrants from Pakistan, not a single individual was deported through the Torkham crossing on…
Afghan foreign minister to takeover mandate of deputy premier
By Islamuddin Sajid - Anadolu Agency
Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will temporarily assume the duties of deputy prime minister, local…
At least 10 Taliban members killed in attacks, Front Freedom claims
By AMU TV
The Freedom Front, an anti-Taliban military movement, claimed it conducted four attacks attacks on Taliban targets on Friday. The front said that at least 10 Taliban members…
Afghanistan: Taliban detains NGO staff, including foreigner
By Deutsche Welle
The International Assistance Mission said two Afghan nationals and one international team member were taken from its office in…
REGIONAL NEWS
Bugti: Afghans Make up 99% of Undocumented Illegal Immigrants Deported
By TOLO News
The Interior Minister of the caretaker government of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti, said that 99% of the illegally deported immigrants from this country are…
Taliban names Bilal Karimi as its ambassador to China: Source
By AMU TV
The confirmation came from a source in Kandahar, stating that Taliban chief minister Hassan Akhund made the appointment, and Karimi has already arrived in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
U.S. launches emergency hotline for Afghans facing deportation from Pakistan
By AMU TV
The U.S. State Department has established an “emergency hotline” for Afghan nationals awaiting American visas as Pakistan intensifies its campaign to…
UN special representative’s appointment not subject to Taliban veto, asserts envoy
By Bais Hayat - AMU TV
Nasir Andisha, Afghanistan’s representative in the United Nations Geneva office, emphasized that the Taliban lacks the authority to veto the selection of the UN special…
THE DAILY WTF
Shaheen: UN Using Afghanistan’s Seat to Pressure Kabul
By Naweed Samadi - TOLO News
In an interview with RTA, Shaheen said that the UN uses Afghanistan’s seat in the organization as pressure on the Islamic Emirate, urging the organization to…
“Ya think?” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 69.58 AFN (as of 26 NOV 2023)