LAST 24 HOURS
TALIBAN OPEN DOORS TO AZERBAIJAN, ANNOUNCE THEY ARE READY TO OPEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS – The main Taliban spokesman announced that Kabul wants Azerbaijan to open its embassy as soon as possible. Presumably, the announcement was made after the Taliban opted to support Azerbaijan recently in its border dispute with Iran. From a foreign policy perspective, the move illustrates growing competence in the conduct of international affairs. Clearly, some in the regime are learning lessons from the past two years. It is not clear if Azerbaijan will accept Kabul’s offer.
BRITISH AID WORKER HELD BY THE TALIBAN NEARLY RELEASED ON TWO OCCASIONS – A British news outlet has reported that Kevin Cornwell, a British aid worker and medic who was arrested by the Taliban and who is seriously ill was told on two previous occasions that he would be released. Cornwell was arrested for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm and the details of the charges against him are murky and contested by his wife and co-workers. According to the Daily Mail, Mr. Cornwell was scheduled to have been released in both July and August but in both cases, his release was halted by the Supreme Leader. Cornwell suffers from kidney problems and has lost a significant amount of weight and his family and friends fear that he could develop additional medical issues or perish if he is not transported to a location with healthcare facilities capable of treating his condition. The Taliban released a video yesterday touting the new security situation in the country and which specifically said that foreigners would not be captured and held for ransom. The timing of the media/marketing push appears to be in conflict with what some are experiencing in the country.
KABUL POWER OUTAGES INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND DURATION – Residents in Kabul say that electricity outages are now occurring more often and seem to last longer than during the summer months. The national power authority says the outages are normal and that citizens have been warned in advance that the ‘load shedding’ was necessary to deal with problems in the transmission system. The problem has affected access to water as most pumping stations are having difficulty with the on-again, off-again routine.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Several nations, in what appeared to be a coordinated maneuver, announced new sanctions that were placed on Iran for the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death.
The regime announced it was barring nuclear inspectors and the IAEA released a harshly worded statement criticizing the regime for instituting the bans and questioned its resolve to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
1 person has reportedly been killed after being shot in the head by security forces outside of the Aichi cemetery in Saqqez. The cemetery is the resting place of Mahsa Amini.
PAKISTAN
Business leaders called on the government to roll back the recent fuel price increases and are warning that inflation could spin out of control as transportation costs rise.
Tens of thousands protested against a recent ban on trade between Iran and Pakistan in Turbat (Balochistan). Local political leaders called the ban a ‘conspiracy against the people of Balochistan’. Protestors demand Islamabad to reverse the ban.
Caretaker Prime Minister assures the international community that the situation along Pakistan’s borders will not affect scheduled elections.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Helping Afghan Women’s Rights Defenders Fleeing the Taliban
By Susan Hutchinson - The Good Men Project
Two years ago the last Australian flights departed Kabul International Airport. The photos of the first planes flying out of Kabul were full of men. There were very few women or children in sight. It was mostly men who’d worked with the security forces. Knowing Afghan women’s rights defenders were going to be left behind to suffer horrendous fate at the hands of the Taliban, I set about compiling a list of individuals who needed to be let onto the Australian planes out of the country.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghan Taliban Detain 18, Including American, on Charges of Preaching Christianity
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
Afghanistan's Taliban have detained 18 staffers, including an American, from a nonprofit group for allegedly preaching…
Taliban claim reclusive leader met with officials and elders in Uruzgan
By AMU TV
The Taliban’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told Amu that in his meetings, Akhundzada provided necessary advice for…
Afghanistan NGO working with the UN to free workers detained by the Taliban
By Conor Courtney - Jurist
The International Assistance Mission (IAM), an Afghanistan non-profit organisation, said Saturday that it is seeking the release of 18 members of staff detained by…
One dead, five injured as roof collapses along with house in Afghanistan’s Laghman
By ANI
A person died and five others suffered injuries after the roof as well as the house itself collapsed in…
REGIONAL NEWS
TTP accuses Pakistan Govt of crimes against Afghan migrants
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
In a statement released by the TTP, they claim that Afghans’ involvement in recent attacks in the Chitral region of Pakistan is…
Iran becomes 3rd top oil producer among OPEC members
By Pakistan Observer
Iran continued to increase its oil production in August to reach three million barrels per day (bpd) and stand at the third place among OPEC top…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Auditing Firm Hired by US to Examine DAB: Mehrabi
By Bibi Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
Shah Mohammad Mehrabi, Central Bank supreme council member and board member of the Afghan Trust Fund in Switzerland, said that the US hired an…
‘I cannot call this evacuation a success’
By Politico
A former State Department official questioned about the Afghanistan withdrawal by Congress bluntly said the evacuation wasn’t a success, a statement that poses a…
THE DAILY WTF
We no longer capture...: Taliban invites people to visit Afghanistan in new video
By India Today
The Taliban's Public Relations Department on Thursday shared a video inviting tourists across the world to visit Afghanistan, saying that they would be "100 per cent safe since the war is…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 79.06 AFN (as of 17 SEP 2023)