LAST 24 HOURS
HERAT EARTHQUAKES – Two powerful earthquakes struck Western Afghanistan and several aftershocks caused additional damage and loss of life yesterday in Herat Province. Reports about those who lost their lives differ considerably between 100-320 people. The death toll is expected to climb as reports from rural communities begin to come in. International agencies and local disaster management crews were working to evacuate the wounded to hospitals with the capacity to treat patients. Power and communications services were disrupted across large portions of the Province and may be out of service for several days.
ARRESTS OF AFGHANS CONTINUE IN PAKISTAN – Two separate reports say that approximately 70 Afghan citizens were arrested yesterday as police continue to round up foreigners in the country. Some unsubstantiated follow-up reporting suggested that at least 11 of the Afghans were released after having their identities and documentation verified.
RUMORS CIRCULATING IN INTERNATIONAL PRESS ALLEGE TALIBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS OFFERED HELP TO HAMAS – The Jerusalem Post and several other news sites are saying that the Taliban regime has made overtures to Hamas and have asked Iraq, Iran, and Jordan for financial support and/or passage rights to assist Hamas in their struggle with Israel. So far, no confirmation has been received from official sources but the optics certainly look bad for a regime that has been trying to assure regional states that it does not support terrorism.
RUSSIAN AND UZBEK PRESIDENTS MEET IN MOSCOW TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN – While nothing of particular importance was reportedly on the agenda, the two leaders used the moment to call on the Taliban to fulfill the promises made under the Doha agreement.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
After sophisticated and deadly attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians by the terrorist organization Hamas occurred, many leaders blamed Iran for supporting the terror group.
The Iranian regime supported celebrations in many Iranian cities after the Hamas attack and called the operation a ‘Palestinian Victory’.
A girls’ school in Western Tehran reported several cases of girls being poisoned on Saturday. How many students may have been affected was unclear, but at least 12 were rushed to local hospitals.
PAKISTAN
Counter-terrorism units searched the Shahzad Town area in Islamabad, seized several vehicles that were thought to be stolen, and rounded up approximately 90 people for further questioning. An additional 19 Afghan citizens were also questioned.
The UAE is being accused of denying visas to Pakistani citizens based on the cities in which they live. Officials (both Emirati and Pakistani) dismiss the claims as baseless and say the rumors are being spread online by fake travel agents.
A source in Islamabad said the government is considering a temporary cut to fuel prices of nearly Rs40 per liter to provide some relief to consumers during this period of high inflation.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
America’s Afghanistan Exit Was Disgraceful – Abandoning Afghan Allies is Worse
By Maria Hewett - Providence
The US’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan two years ago was a failure and a disgrace. Our troops left, the Taliban immediately regained control, and now the country is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis. Staggering unemployment, a floundering currency, and dramatically rising food prices have nearly half of the country’s population on the brink of starvation. This is not even mentioning the near-overnight erasure of 20-years of women’s rights progress.
AFGHAN NEWS
At least 100 dead after powerful earthquakes strike western Afghanistan: UN
By Meredith Deliso - ABC News
At least 100 people are dead and at least 500 injured after powerful earthquakes struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, the…
October 7: 23rd anniversary of US attack on Afghanistan
By AMU TV
Twenty-three years ago today, on October 7, 2001, US-led allies launched attacks on Afghanistan, in the name of counter-terrorism – as the country served as a safe haven for…
Afghanistan: MSF is responding to Herat earthquakes
By Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) supports Herat Regional Hospital and manages the facility’s pediatric section, which includes…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan government doubles down on policy to evict illegal immigrants
By ANI
The Pakistani government on Friday doubled down on its policy to evict all illegal immigrants, including around 1.7 million Afghan…
Afghan Immigrants in Iran Face Various Challenges
By Rohullah Sangar - TOLO News
Afghan immigrants in Iran claim that the Iranian military has intensified the process of expelling Afghan immigrants from…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Shadi Khan Saif - ABC
A lone mother living in hiding with her five children under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has been counting the days for nearly two years…
UN agencies ‘ready’ to help Pakistan in registering, managing Afghan nationals
By Gulf Today
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are ready to support Pakistan’s government in registering…
THE DAILY WTF
By Lynne O’Donnell - Daily Mail
Diplomats have held only one face-to-face meeting with the Taliban over two British men taken prisoner by the group, one of their wives has…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 75.79 AFN (as of 8 OCT 2023)