LAST 24 HOURS
RUMORS CIRCULATE AMONG PRO-RESISTANCE GROUPS OF US ASSISTANCE TO THE TALIBAN IN BADAKHSHAN (DRONES/INTEL) – A select few pro-Resistance social media sites have begun sharing opinions that the US is somehow aiding the Taliban in the fight against the NRF with drones and intelligence. We have received confirmation from multiple sources in the USG that these claims are nonsense. Sources in a neighboring country who are monitoring the situation scoffed at the idea and suggested the stories are being planted by pro-Taliban or pro-ISIS-K supporters. One video that had been circulated on a pro-Resistance social media site that purportedly depicted US drones launching Hellfire missiles at an NRF base in Badakhshan actually had a date/time stamp of March 2009 on it. Our analysis indicates these claims are merely rumors and may have been started with malicious intent.
BADAKHSHAN FIGHTING BEGINS AGAIN – Shortly after the Taliban’s victory lap announcement about victory in Badakhshan was made, the NRF reportedly launched multiple assaults in three Districts of the Province. While reports are slow to filter out of the areas affected, fighting has been noted in Shif, Raghistan, and the Kafir Dareh regions with additional clashes in several unidentified locations. It appears the Taliban’s announcements may have been presumptive. Some sources opined the Taliban were quick to claim victory to calm China’s nerves.
FORMER AFGHAN COMMANDOS RECEIVING RECRUITMENT REQUESTS TO FIGHT FOR RUSSIA IN UKRAINE – While we had previously reported on this rumor, it now appears to be confirmed and is running in several regional news sites in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It is not clear how many former Commandos have opted to take the offer and no reporting out of Ukraine has confirmed the participation of any Commandos on the Russian lines as of yet. However, with the tectonic pace of resettlement efforts and dire economic conditions facing Afghan refugee communities, it is believed that some may be forced to join up simply to feed their families.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TAKHAR, PANJSHIR, BAGHLAN, AND BADAKHSHAN LIKELY TO SEE FRESH FIGHTING – The Resistance Coalition is said to have planned multiple attacks and raids across the four Provinces for the next two weeks. The pressure taken off Panjshir over the last 3 weeks is said to have allowed for significant time to resupply and rearm the forces in the main bases there and some tactical prepositioning is thought to have been completed as of yesterday. We expect to see several light engagements at the outset which will develop into more moderate and heavy fighting scenarios in each of the different Provinces as the weekend approaches. Travel will be hazardous.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Let’s Not Kid Ourselves: Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime Will Not Become More Inclusive
By William Byrd - Lawfare
Ever since the August 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there has been widespread, almost universal, rhetoric in international diplomatic circles—ranging from the United Nations to the European Union and the United States to Russia—that the Taliban need to form a more inclusive government, with varying definitions and views on what that means in concrete terms.
AFGHAN NEWS
400 Days Have Passed Since Afghan Girls Attended Secondary School
By TOLO News
Rina Amiri, United States special envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, expressed concern about the closure of…
As Iran protests enter sixth week, women take to Afghanistan's streets
By Sabena Siddiqui - Al-Monitor
In Afghanistan, some of the largest protests led by women started after a Sept. 30 suicide attack on an educational center in Kabul in…
Afghan Aid Plan Has ‘Staggering' $3.14 Billion Gap: OCHA
By Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
“Some $614 million is urgently required to support priority winter preparedness activities such as upgrades and repairs to shelter and the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Hundreds of Iranian protesters go on trial
By Ariana News
Iranian authorities are bringing charges of an offense that could carry the death penalty on protesters who took part in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Russia’s Recruiting Afghan Commandos
By Lynne O’Donnell - Foreign Policy
Afghanistan’s 20,000 to 30,000 volunteer commandos were left behind when the United States ceded Afghanistan to the…
Norway to Host Closed Meeting on Afghanistan
By Imran Danish - TOLO News
The Norwegian Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement that the UN special envoy Roza Otunbayeva, deputy special envoy…
THE DAILY WTF
Popular Afghan Pastime Goes Up In Smoke As Taliban Bans Hookahs
By RFE
The ban on hookahs was announced in the western province of Herat earlier this…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.25 AFN (as of 26 OCT 2022)