LAST 24 HOURS
TALIBAN FRATRICIDE – Najibullah Noori and one of his bodyguards were killed in a nighttime shootout with a Taliban security patrol in Parwan on Tuesday. Noori was the counter-crime chief for Jabal Saraj District. The Taliban have stepped up patrolling activities due to the success of NRF ambush tactics and it appears the Taliban patrol assumed Noori’s vehicle was involved in anti-Taliban activities.
FORMER NDS OFFICIAL ARRESTED IN SAMANGAN – Mohammad Kabir, a former National Directorate of Security official under the previous regime, was arrested while attending his son’s wedding by GDI agents. Kabir continued to work on intelligence matters even after the Taliban had taken power but was eventually forced out of his position. No reason was given for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown.
ARRESTS FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA PROTESTS – As previously reported, the Taliban have stepped up efforts to identify critics of the regime on social media. Current reports indicate that nearly 50 people have been rounded up in Kabul, Khost, Kandahar, and Balkh for posting comments critical of the Taliban. Most of those under arrest are young people. At-risk Afghans are urged to exercise restraint with regard to their online activities.
SENIOR UZBEK COMMANDER QUITS THE TALIBAN – Thought to be the most senior Uzbek Commander for the Taliban, Salahuddin Ayubi told a BBC reporter that he was cutting ties with the Taliban over the intransigence of senior Taliban leaders to take concerns of ethnic minorities seriously. Mr. Ayubi went on to say that he supports three main principles:
The formation of an inclusive government
Women’s full rights to access education
Halt the land reforms that are dispossessing people of their homes
NEXT 24 HOURS
MORE ARRESTS FOR ONLINE ACTIVISM POSSIBLE – According to a source in the Ministry of Justice, the Taliban leadership has informed the courts to expect a large number of cases that included charges of treason and sedition. A document was shared with the Ministry containing notes from senior officials in Kandahar on how the cases should be described to journalists. At-risk Afghans who may have voiced anti-Taliban opinions on social media are encouraged to erase their remarks and remove any potentially identifying information from their accounts. It is believed that the Taliban are specifically looking for those who may have used hashtags referencing the Hazara and Tajik genocides as well as other compromising information.
SPOTLIGHT CULTURE
Life in a Far-Flung Corner of the Taliban Emirate
By Franz J. Marty - The Diplomat
DAREN VALLEY, GHAZIABAD, KUNAR — In various remote corners of Afghanistan, Taliban rule has been a fact for years. However, even in such areas the Taliban takeover of the whole country last August has had an impact. Some things became easier or even possible for the first time, while some problems — old and new — persist.
AFGHAN NEWS
UN Rapporteur for Afghan Human Rights Meets Islamic Emirate Officials
By Faridullah Mohammadi - TOLO News
“Regarding the human rights situation, Muttaqi said that the warlords, kidnappers and land grabbers cannot suppress the…
In Afghanistan, Resistance Means Women
By Sahar Fetrat & Fereshta Abbasi - HRW
The September 30 suicide attack on ethnic Hazara students at Kaaj Educational Center in Kabul has sparked protests by women and girls in…
Gay Afghan Man Shot Dead By Taliban: Report
By Star Observer
A local activist told Pink News that Taliban kidnapped Sabouri and a few days later sent a video of his murder to his…
REGIONAL NEWS
Mujahid: Afghanistan Will Keep Neutral Stance Toward Regional Countries
By Imran Danish - TOLO News
An Islamic Emirate once again stressed that it has chosen to remain neutral in relation to regional…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US visa restrictions to negatively impact ties: Taliban
By Al Arabiya
The United States’ new visa rules against some Taliban members could have a “negative” impact on ties with Afghanistan’s government, which held talks with Washington…
Afghanistan Loses Contest for UN Human Rights Seat
By Waheeda Hasan - TOLO News
Afghanistan lost a contested race for a seat on the top UN human rights body on Tuesday along with…
THE DAILY WTF
Countries should see Afghanistan’s security as an opportunity: Hanafi
By Ariana News
Countries in the region and beyond should support Afghanistan and view the security in the country as an opportunity, Abdul Salam Hanafi…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.57 AFN (as of 13 OCT 2022)