The Week of August 12-18
Security and Conflict
Cross Border Fighting – The Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar was closed after clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces on Monday, August 12. The conflict escalated from light to heavy weapons, including artillery, and lasted several hours. Three Afghan civilians were reportedly killed. The border, marketplaces, and government offices were shut down. The Torkham border reopened on Thursday. The clash reportedly began over a disputed Taliban checkpoint near the border. On Saturday, Pakistan re-closed the Torkham border crossing, blocking the movement of passengers and vehicles, reportedly due to the arrest of Afghan refugees and flooding in the area. The gate reopened to traffic in the evening.
Taliban Kill Former Police Officer – Local sources in Badakhshan province reported that Taliban members killed former police officer Amanatullah Sadeqi in Tishkan district. Sadeqi was abducted from his home and later found dead in a cave, reportedly choked by the Taliban. The Taliban claimed he died from a fall, a claim disputed by his family. Since the Taliban's return to power, Sadeqi had been working as a farmer.
Former ANSF Arrested – Taliban intelligence forces in Bamiyan province have arrested Amirjan Foladi, a former military officer who recently served as the Taliban's planning and operations manager for Bamiyan's police command. Detained about five days ago, his family remains unaware of his whereabouts. The Taliban have recently increased arrests and harassment in the region.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Ravandari Report on Human Rights: Ravandari's report for early 2024 reveals worsening human rights conditions in Afghanistan. Despite fewer civilian casualties from attacks, violations like arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances have significantly increased. The Taliban have intensified discriminatory policies against women, restricting their rights to education, work, and movement. Former government employees, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists face violence and retribution. Additionally, the Taliban exhibit discrimination in public services and resource distribution and impose strict limits on religious practices. The findings are based on extensive monitoring and local reports from 31 provinces. The full report can be read Here
Woman Sentenced to Stoning In Balkh – The Taliban's primary court in Sholgara district, Balkh province, sentenced a woman to stoning for alleged extramarital relations, while the male accused received a lesser discretionary punishment. The woman, who is illiterate and did not understand the Arabic terms used in court, was reportedly coerced into confessing. Legal experts argue that valid confessions in Islamic law require voluntary, repeated admissions. This case marks the 38th instance of a stoning sentence since the Taliban's takeover. Critics highlight that stoning is not mentioned in the Quran and is considered inhumane and contrary to human dignity, with scholars and activists condemning the brutality and lack of legal justification behind such practices.
Women Protest Taliban Rule – On August 12, women in Taloqan protested against the Taliban's gender apartheid on the third anniversary of their takeover, with members of the Afghanistan Powerful Women's Movement marking August 15 as a "black day" in Afghan history. They condemned the Taliban's three-year rule for causing widespread suffering, especially to women, and highlighted severe restrictions on women's rights. The protestors urged the international community to recognize this as gender apartheid and hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations.
Floggings – On Tuesday, 2 people were flogged in Maidan Wardak and sentenced to prison.
Internal Politics
Taliban Celebrate Three Years in Power – To mark the third anniversary of their takeover, the Taliban held two major events: one at Bagram Airbase in Parwan province and another in Kabul. Bagram, previously a key U.S. military base, was chosen for its symbolic significance and security advantages over Kabul’s Ghazi Stadium. The Bagram event, led by three deputy prime ministers and attended by top security officials, featured a national anthem, a 21-gun salute, speeches, and a military parade with fighters on motorcycles and yellow explosive barrels. These barrels, used in IED attacks, have been crucial in the Taliban's operations, causing significant destruction and casualties to civilians. On the same day, Taliban fighters disrupted public order in various cities, including Kabul, with military vehicle parades.
Taliban Reshuffling – The Taliban announced a series of administrative appointments, with eight of nine positions involving reshuffles rather than new appointments. Mohammad Hanif Hamza and Hisamuddin Sabir received prominent roles, while Abdul Wali Sedqi and Hamdullah Zahid were appointed to head Ariana Afghan Airlines and Breshna Company, respectively. Since the Taliban's takeover, their supreme leader has issued 75 decrees affecting over 365 officials, mostly involving internal transfers. This pattern has raised concerns about inclusivity and representation, especially the exclusion of women.
Sunday a Public Holiday – The Taliban's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has declared a public holiday on Sunday, August 18, to commemorate the 105th anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from Britain.
International Developments
Statement By Richard Bennett and UN Experts – In a joint statement marking the third anniversary of the Taliban's return to power, UN experts, including Richard Bennett, highlighted the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, especially for women and girls. The Taliban have issued over 80 decrees specifically targeting women’s rights, resulting in widespread and systematic gender oppression, which the experts say amounts to crimes against humanity. In 2024 alone, the Taliban publicly flogged over 200 men and women. The statement also noted the decline in humanitarian aid, worsening the economic, social, and cultural rights situation. The experts urged stronger international action, warning against normalizing relations with the Taliban until there is verifiable progress on human rights, particularly for women and girls.
Statement by House of Lords Member – On the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover, UK House of Lords member David Alton called for recognizing the Taliban's actions against Afghan women as gender apartheid. He condemned the rollback of 20 years of human rights progress, especially for women and minorities like the Hazaras. Alton highlighted rising violence and the need for international action against the Taliban's brutal crimes and human rights violations in Afghanistan.
Freedom of the Press
Journalist Detained - Mohammad Asif Fayziar, head of Neda-e-Baloch News Agency in Herat, was arrested by the Taliban on Tuesday, August 13, for the rapid dissemination of news related to the police command and their activities. He was detained after being summoned by the Taliban's police command in Herat and was released on Saturday, August 17, after spending several days in detention.
Social Media Activist Arrested – The Taliban arrested social media activist Khitabullah Bangakh, known online as "Abid Lmar," in Laghman province. A video released a month after his detention shows him expressing remorse and pleading for forgiveness. Bangakh had been advocating for the reopening of girls' schools and used satire to critique Taliban policies and harmful societal traditions.
Regional Developments
Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Visits Kabul – Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister, Abdullah Aripov, arrived in Kabul on Friday for a bilateral trade meeting with the Taliban. He was welcomed by Taliban officials and is set to attend an exhibition of Uzbek products in Afghanistan. The visit aims to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. During the visit, Uzbekistan and the Taliban signed 35 memorandums of understanding for economic cooperation and investment, totaling approximately $2.5 billion. This is Aripov’s first visit to Kabul since the Taliban’s takeover. The agreements include 12 investment deals worth $1.4 billion and 23 commercial agreements valued at $1.1 billion. The collaboration features a joint exhibition of goods and the establishment of business chambers in Kabul and Tashkent. Discussions also covered a joint cement production project. The visit follows a trilateral meeting with officials from Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Tashkent’s primary security concern is the declining Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
Miscellaneous
Report on Food Scarcity in Women Led Homes – WFP reports that 90% of Afghan families headed by women lack sufficient food, highlighting the severe hardships under Taliban rule. The WFP described its aid as "their last lifeline" amid increasing restrictions on women's employment, which hamper aid delivery. Nearly 24 million Afghans urgently need humanitarian assistance, but international donors have reduced funding due to the Taliban's repressive policies toward women.
Flooding in Maidan Wardak – A devastating flood on August 17 and 18 hit the "Paitab Mirshadi Beg" area of Hesa Duwum Behsud district, Maidan Wardak, destroying at least 15 homes, a car, and hundreds of acres of farmland and orchards. Villages like Dehn Dolana, Sorkh Shinya, Shinya, and Sardolana were hardest hit, leaving many without drinking water. The flood also killed around 200 livestock. Despite the damage, no aid has reached the 70-80 affected families, with only nearby villagers providing assistance. The Taliban’s Disaster Management Authority confirmed the flooding but cited access issues due to blocked roads and communication outages.
Afghans Facing More Poverty 3 years into Taliban Rule – Three years after the Taliban's return to power, Afghanistan faces worsening poverty, with the World Bank predicting zero economic growth for the next three years. From 2021 to 2022, the country's gross national product declined by 26%. Discriminatory Taliban policies, especially against women, have diminished aid and investment interest, exacerbating the crisis. Despite Afghanistan's rich mineral resources, brain drain, lack of infrastructure, and limited financial resources continue to intensify the country's economic challenges.
Fire At Customs in Herat – Four days after a massive fire broke out on Wednesday at Herat's customs office, the Taliban has yet to provide details on the damage. The blaze, which lasted over three hours and occurred during a holiday, destroyed 50 vehicles carrying commercial goods, causing millions in losses. Eyewitnesses reported significant financial impact and ongoing smoke from the site. Despite plans for a press conference, the Taliban has not released further information.
NEXT WEEK
Current trends of pressure from Pakistan and Iran regarding the deportation of Afghan refugees and the closure of borders are expected to continue. The Pakistan-Afghanistan Border situation remains fluid and border crossings may close without warning.
Retaliatory searches, raids, and checkpoints are likely as a response to recent activities by protestors and resistance forces over the past week, particularly in Kabul.
Following the visit of Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister to Kabul and the signing of over $2.5 billion worth of economic agreements, there may be implications for the Taliban's treatment of Uzbek jihadists. The visit could influence the Taliban’s actions towards these groups.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Warnings of Afghan Deportations Posted in Fars – In Fars province, Iran, banners have been posted in areas like Tasuj, Dashtak, and Vali-e-Asr, ordering Afghan citizens to leave within two months. The banners instruct Afghan migrants to vacate their rental homes and warn of legal action against violators. Reportedly, local residents requested the banners. This move follows Iran's recent escalation in detaining and deporting Afghan migrants, many of whom have faced violent treatment from Iranian police in recent days.
Police Chief Statement in Hijab – Iran's Chief of Police Ahmadreza Radan confirmed that mandatory hijab enforcement under the Noor Plan will continue during President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, emphasizing the police's duty to uphold the law and the presidency's strong support for these efforts.
Raids on Factories – Plainclothes officers in Tehran conducted a crackdown on Afghan migrants in Shahr-e Rey, targeting factories on Saturday. Migrants reportedly fled their workplaces to avoid detention, reflecting ongoing enforcement actions against migrant communities in the area.
Statement on Child Laborers – Tehran's Deputy Mayor for Social and Cultural Affairs announced the reimplementation of a program to manage child laborers, with a focus on foreign nationals, particularly Afghan migrants, who make up 83% of the city's child laborers. The initiative, which began on April 3rd, involves over 700 officials and emphasizes guiding the children rather than immediate placement in child centers. Some children have been returned to their families, while others, mainly foreign nationals, require coordination with the Ministry of Interior.
PAKISTAN
Former Afghan Soldiers killed in Balochistan – Jaish al-Adl recently conducted a "Military Clean-up Operation," arresting nine individuals from a network linked to the Iranian regime, including former Afghan Security Forces members. The group also released a teaser featuring confessions from alleged Iranian spies. Additionally, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the execution of five former Afghan soldiers—Rozi Khan, Samiullah, Sangri, Ishaqzai, and Rahmatullah—who were found hanged from electric poles in Chagai, Balochistan, Pakistan. The group also claimed responsibility for killing an Iranian security member, Ali Raufyan, in Zahedan.
Former Afghan Police Killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Barat Khan Bakhtar, a former Afghan police commander, was shot dead on August 18 in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Having sought refuge in Loralai after Afghanistan's government fell, he was reportedly targeted by the Taliban, following recent threats from a local commander in Paktika.
Former ISI Chief Court Martialed – The Pakistani military has arrested Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, the former head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), marking the first time a current or former ISI chief faces court-martial. He is charged with corruption and political meddling, including involvement in a 2017 housing scandal. The arrest is seen as part of a crackdown on allies of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who appointed Hameed as spy chief during his tenure.
Afghan Refugees Protest Taliban Anniversary – Afghan refugees in Islamabad marked the third anniversary of Kabul's fall to the Taliban by condemning global engagement with the group as a "grave mistake." They warned that trusting the Taliban violates international human rights conventions and pointed out the group's ties with terrorists. The refugees called for an end to this engagement, support for an inclusive Afghan government, and international backing for Afghan refugees worldwide.
MPox Confirmed in Pakistan – Pakistan's health ministry confirmed its first case of the mpox virus on Friday, August 16, in a patient returning from a Gulf country, with three additional cases reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The virus variant remains unidentified as sequencing continues. This follows the WHO's recent declaration of the outbreak as a global health emergency.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Amnesty International
The Afghan community is struggling with three years of unresolved frustration as the Taliban de facto authorities commit human rights violations and crimes under international law against the Afghan people, especially women and girls, with absolute impunity, said Amnesty International today.
In a wide-ranging consultation with more than 150 stakeholders, including Afghan human rights defenders, members of academia, women protestors and activists, young people, civil society representatives and journalists, Amnesty International has documented the Afghan community’s frustrations with the international community’s response and fears and suggestions for the future.
“We spoke with people representing a cross-section of Afghan society throughout the world who overwhelmingly believe that the international community has failed the people of Afghanistan. Not only have they failed to hold the Taliban accountable for the crimes and human rights violations, they have also failed to come up with a strategic direction to prevent any further harm,” said Samira Hamidi, Regional Campaigner for South Asia at Amnesty International.
“Three years on, the absolute absence of any concrete measures in addressing the human rights catastrophe in Afghanistan is a source of shame for the world.”
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan: Taliban Tighten Grip 3 Years into Rule
Human Rights Watch
The Taliban have created the world’s most serious women’s rights crisis since taking power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, Human Rights Watch said today. Afghanistan is also experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with aid severely underfunded, thousands of Afghans forced back into Afghanistan from Pakistan, and thousands of others expecting to emigrate to Western countries still waiting.
Under the Taliban, Afghanistan is the only country where girls are banned from education beyond the sixth grade. The Taliban have also violated women’s right to freedom of movement, banned them from many forms of employment, dismantled protections for women and girls experiencing gender-based violence, created barriers to them accessing health care, and barred them from playing sports and even visiting parks. The United Nations special rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has described the situation as “an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity, and exclusion of women and girls.”
Afghan Women Call for Global Action Against Taliban as Regime Marks Third Anniversary
Kabul Now
On the third anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Afghan women have called for urgent global action against the Taliban’s “rampant misogyny” in the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 13, the Purple Saturday Movement, a women’s rights group in Afghanistan, criticized the UN for its failure to pressure the Taliban and protect Afghan women, warning that the organization risks harming its global reputation.
Taliban’s third year in power sees escalating press restrictions, report says
Amu TV
A report by the Afghanistan Journalists Center reveals that 181 incidents of media and press freedom violations, including threats and arrests, have been recorded in the third year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, marking a slight increase from the previous year.
The incidents include 133 cases of threats, the temporary closure of four media outlets for periods ranging from a few hours to several months, and the permanent shutdown of four other outlets, the report says.
Additionally, 48 journalists and media workers were detained, with two still in custody, the report added.
Despite these violations, the report noted one positive development: no targeted attacks against journalists or media outlets were reported during this period.
Taliban Supreme Court issued 176 execution, 37 stoning sentences in three years
The Taliban-run Supreme Court has issued over 176 execution and 37 stoning sentences in the three years since the group took control of Afghanistan. According to statistics from the Taliban’s judicial system, 587 people, including 106 women, have been subjected to corporal punishment in public during this period.
A review of reports from the Taliban’s Supreme Court shows that between March 2022 and March 2023, more than 295 individuals were publicly flogged. In the following year, from March 2023 to March 2024, 44 individuals were publicly flogged. So far in the current year, which began in March 2024, over 240 people have faced the same punishment.
Human rights activists and citizens have condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment, calling it extrajudicial and a violation of human rights. The Taliban resumed public floggings in December 2022.
Why the Taliban Shouldn’t Be Feared
Khalid Amiri
With the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, the psychological warfare waged by the Taliban— which played a crucial role in the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan—entered a new phase.
In this phase, key political and media operatives of the Taliban, a network of military and intelligence veterans trained by Pakistan and other regional countries, propagated a narrative to the mass media claiming that the Taliban had seized military equipment and weapons worth $88 billion from Afghan security and defence forces, making their invincibility seem inevitable.
Domestically, this narrative aimed to intimidate the Taliban's military and political opponents, while regionally and globally, it sought to compel countries to accept the Taliban as the undisputed rulers of Afghanistan.
REGIONAL NEWS
Islamabad residents stuck between sit-ins and road blockades
Kalbi Ali
The Faizabad Interchange on the border of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been shut down by protesters so many times that a lingering fear persists among the residents living in its vicinity about how long the interchange will remain open before being blockaded, again.
The closure of the key artery between the twin cities has become a routine feature for political and religious groups, causing traffic problems for the residents. The recently concluded sit-in by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) activists was one such protest.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Resolve of Afghan women in the face of erasure: Three years since the Taliban takeover
UN Women
Afghanistan is beset with overlapping crises linked to and compounded by deepening gender inequalities. At least 70 Taliban decrees, directives, and practices target the lives, bodies, and choices of women and girls. The mounting women’s rights crisis challenges progress on all Sustainable Development Goals and indicators.
Despite this dire situation, Afghan women show an unwavering and even growing resolve, from the simple act of leaving their homes to continuing to run businesses and organize communities to meet essential needs and pursue equality.
McCaul urges Blinken to testify on Afghanistan withdrawal
Amu TV
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has formally requested that Secretary of State Antony Blinken testify before the committee regarding the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a letter sent to Blinken on Monday, McCaul emphasized the need for the Secretary to provide answers to the American people and honor the sacrifices of Gold Star families, whose loved ones died in the conflict.
McCaul highlighted that numerous senior officials, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, and 16 current or former State Department officials, have already testified as part of the committee’s investigation into the chaotic withdrawal. The Committee is expected to release its report on the matter in September 2024.
Senior US Congress Investigator Resigns Over Failure In Afghanistan Withdrawal Probe
Afghanistan International
A senior investigator for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has resigned in protest over the committee's failure to adequately investigate the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Jerry Dunleavy criticised the committee for not sufficiently addressing the deaths of 13 US soldiers in Kabul.
The ISIS suicide attack on the Abbey Gate of Kabul Airport on August 26, 2021, resulted in the deaths of at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 US soldiers.
Afghan soldiers blocked from joining stretched British Army for 5 years
Larisa Brown
A former major general once in charge of thousands of elite Afghan troops as they served alongside British special forces during the war is living in the London suburb of Harrow struggling to find full-time work.
His former soldiers, the most highly-skilled and daring soldiers in Afghanistan, are either unemployed or working as cleaners, taxi drivers or for Deliveroo, the takeaway delivery company.
They want to join the British Army — which is facing a huge recruitment crisis and is losing soldiers at a rate it cannot sustain — but have been blocked from doing so because of stringent rules that mean they have to wait five years after arriving in the UK before they are deemed eligible.
Take the Taliban to The Hague for What They’re Doing to Women
Binaifer Nowrojee
When the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan three years ago this month, one of the first things they did was paint over the images of women on billboards and murals. Since then, women and girls themselves are being erased. Girls cannot go to high school, women are officially banned from working in most jobs, movement outside the home is heavily restricted and often punished. Many of the women who defied these impositions have been tortured and detained. Others are in hiding. The flogging and stoning of women in public has resumed as a matter of policy.
Yet, the world looks away. There are dedicated journalists and human rights advocates who continue to report on Afghan women, girls, and minorities, but the horrors inflicted on them have long slipped off the front pages. Governments occasionally issue statements of concern but nothing more. It is only on moments like this, the third anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover, that we remember Afghanistan. For the rest of the year, Afghans are kept out of sight, quietly abandoned to their fate, as if nothing can be done.
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 70.93 AFN (as of 18 August 2024)