LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN USING AN ‘ALL-OUT’ OFFENSIVE TO FORCE THE TALIBAN TO GIVE UP SUPPORT FOR THE TTP – While the looming deportation issue has captured the majority of the press headlines around the world, Pakistan has employed additional tools to force Kabul to take its security concerns more seriously. Commercial traffic across its land borders has seen a steep drop in use. Trucks loaded with goods for export via the Port of Karachi are routinely stopped and either delayed or, in some cases, turned back at Spin Boldak. Commercial traffic through Torkham Gate has not returned to normal levels since the most recent clashes that closed the crossing for many days. At both land crossings, Pakistani trucks carry goods into Afghanistan but the export traffic has been seriously restricted. At the Port in Karachi, shipping containers from Afghanistan that are destined for China stack up as restrictions currently enacted by Islamabad mean the containers will not be loaded and the exporters are forced to pay fines of $200 for each container. Other economic penalties are being considered by the government in Islamabad which are rumored to be punitive in nature. A source in Rawalpindi says that it is all part of a plan to punish Kabul for its refusal to liquidate the TTP threat along its borders. The merchant class in Afghanistan relies heavily on the use of the Port in Karachi and has already asked Kabul to intervene in these disputes. For its part, Kabul has reputedly asked China to pressure Pakistan over the restrictions but it is not clear if Beijing will be inclined to intervene. If the source is correct and Pakistan has launched a campaign on cultural and economic fronts, it could well lead to concessions from Kabul. At the very least, the episode displays just how dependent the Taliban is on its neighbors.
TAJIKISTAN REINFORCES ITS BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN – Tajikistan continues to see the Taliban regime as a direct threat and announced it had established twenty-four new security posts in six Districts this past week. Tajikistan has been the loudest voice at many of the regional security dialogues since the Taliban assumed control of the country. Tajik intelligence is said to be closely coordinating with both Russian and Chinese intelligence agencies to monitor threats that could emanate from within Afghanistan. Both Russia and China maintain bases in Tajikistan.
PAKISTAN SAYS OVER 51,000 UNDOCUMENTED AFGHANS HAVE BEEN RETURNED SINCE THE DEADLINE WAS ANNOUNCED – State radio announced yesterday that 3,248 Afghans had returned in the previous twenty-four hours alone. Pakistan continues to make plans for the expulsion of all Afghans considered to be staying in the country without proper documentation. It is not completely clear what constitutes proper documentation and it has been verified that some exceptions have already been made.
NEXT 24 HOURS
FORMER PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SET TO ARRIVE TODAY – The former Prime Minister will arrive after a two-day stopover in the UAE and crowds are expected to greet the popular figure. While no violence has been anticipated by his supporters, there could be counter-demonstrations from members of the PTI party who see him as a rival of former Prime Minister Khan. Sharif is expected to travel to Lahore where he will make a speech about his future plans. At-risk Afghans should be aware of the potential for clashes between the rival political parties and are encouraged to avoid any areas where people begin gathering.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Protests were held in Zahedan, despite a large security force presence who were deployed to keep citizens from attending Friday prayers at the Makki Mosque. Violence ensued and several protestors were injured. Police used spray paint to mark demonstrators for later arrests.
The United Nations secretariat ended sanctions it had placed on Iran’s missile program on Thursday. The US announced sanctions of its own the same day.
Iran says it has dispatched the first humanitarian aid shipment to Gaza through its Red Crescent organization. In truth, aid has been received in Gaza by several organizations.
PAKISTAN
Pakistani army units engaged TTP terrorists in an operation in Lakki Marwat yesterday. 4 TTP fighters were killed and one arrested in the clash that took place in Semu Wanda.
Pakistan officially joined China’s effort to establish a lunar research station on the moon on Friday during a signing ceremony on Thursday.
The weekly inflation rate eased by 1.7% according to the Bureau of Statistics on Friday. Recent economic news has been positive for the country and citizens are hoping for respite from inflation as winter draws near.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Calls Grow Louder For Pakistan To Stop Mass Deportation Of Undocumented Afghans
By Abubakar Siddique - RFE
A growing chorus of governments, human rights groups, and NGOs have urged Pakistan to reverse its decision to forcibly deport over 1 million Afghans from the country. Islamabad has said the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants living in Pakistan must leave voluntarily or face deportation by November 1.
AFGHAN NEWS
Protest Held in Kabul in Support of Palestinians
By Naweed Samadi - TOLO News
“There is no one to support them. They have been surrounded within a circle and are being bombarded from above,” said Sher…
“What do we go back to?” Life after the earthquake in Herat
By MSF
Since Saturday 7 October, Herat Province in western Afghanistan has been hit by three powerful earthquakes as well as innumerable aftershocks of…
Govt Will Not Endure Without People’s Support: Haqqani
By Naweed Samadi - TOLO News
In a meeting with Kabul province authorities, the acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, said that bringing Afghanistan into "obedience" does not…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan stops 8,700 Afghan goods containers at Karachi Port
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Pakistan’s recent restrictions on the transfer of goods have raised concerns among Afghan traders and freight forwarders in…
Tajikistan’ President unveils 24 new border posts along Afghanistan border
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Imomali Rahmon had previously stated that due to security threats, Tajikistan needed hundreds of security facilities along the border…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US tops global donors with $400 million humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in 2023
By AMU TV
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid has released a report indicating that over $1.2 billion in humanitarian aid was…
Britain is Paying The Hotel Bills of Afghans Living in Pakistan
By Jack Montgomery - The National Pulse
The British government, which has already imported over 20,000 Afghans to the United Kingdom following Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal from Kabul, is footing the…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghan earthquake response exposes Taliban's inability
By Masood Saifullah - Deutsche Welle
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed that the group's members had arrived in the affected areas just one hour after the earthquake.
“Sure they did bud.” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 75.37 AFN (as of 21 OCT 2023)