The Week of August 26-September 2

Note: The Afghan Digest will be taking a break next week. We will return on September 15.

Sep 03, 2024

Security and Conflict

Attack Near Prosecutors Office – On Monday, a suicide bomber targeted Taliban employees in Kabul, killing between 6 and 12 people and injuring around 13. The explosion occurred around 4:15 PM near Darulaman Palace as staff from the Command and Control Office were heading home. The dead and injured include one woman, several young men from Badakhshan, and former republic officials. No group has claimed responsibility, but the modus operandi suggests the Islamic State as a likely suspect.
Former ANSF Arrested – The Taliban have detained Saeed Omar, a former military officer from the previous Afghan government, in Panjshir's Hesa Awal district for unknown reasons. Omar, who had been unemployed since the fall of the republic and had no connections to anti-Taliban groups, has been transferred to a prison in Panjshir.
Taliban Attack Protestors – On Wednesday, the Taliban attacked a truck drivers' protest in Herat, injuring three drivers. The protest erupted after local Taliban officials allegedly bypassed official procedures for issuing permits. The Taliban opened fire on the protesters, who then confronted them, causing the Taliban to retreat into a building.
Former Head Of Land Transport Killed – In Nangarhar, Mohammad Ayoub Sharafat, the former head of land transport, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen on September 10 in Jalalabad's Bagrami area. The Taliban have not commented, and the attackers remain unknown. Sharafat had transitioned to personal business following the Taliban's takeover.

Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Forced Displacement in Ghor – The Taliban governor and the Ministry of Tribes in Ghor province have ordered the forced eviction of approximately 600 households from Dawlatyar district, citing the resolution of a long-standing land dispute. The eviction, described as a "peaceful" measure, prohibits residents from taking any possessions, including agricultural products and even doors from their homes. The dispute involves around 800,000 acres between the Taimani and Sardar tribes, with allegations that the Taliban are favoring the Sardar tribe due to political connections. Local residents, already facing severe poverty and the onset of winter, criticize the eviction as inhumane and claim their historical land rights and tax documents are being ignored.
Taliban Destroy Homes in Takhar – The Taliban recently demolished around 50 houses in Khwaja Bahauddin district, Takhar, claiming they were built on government land. Residents report that these homes, some over 100 years old, were legally owned and built to accommodate a growing population. The demolition, carried out with heavy machinery, has affected many impoverished families.
Barbers Arrested for Trimming Beards – In Herat on Tuesday, the Taliban arrested and imprisoned three barbers for shaving clients' beards, in violation of Taliban Vice and Virtue Law. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has warned of permanent shop closures for non-compliance. Similar actions have been reported previously in Herat and Badghis.
Activist Arrested – On Saturday, the Taliban arrested human rights activist Ehsan Saddat and took him to an unknown location. The Taliban have not commented on his detention, and no further information is currently available. Saddat has been detained and tortured by Taliban intelligence multiple times in the past.
Purple Saturdays report on Sexual Assault – According to a report by the Afghanistan Women and Children Strengthen Welfare Organization/Purple Saturdays, there has been a 35% increase in sexual assaults by Taliban members against women and girls in Afghanistan from September 2023 to September 2024. The study, covering 25 provinces and based on interviews with 1,400 individuals, reveals a rise from 97 to 132 cases. The majority of these assaults occurred in rural areas under Taliban control, highlighting significant gaps in international oversight and support. The full report can be accessed here
Floggings – On Monday, the Taliban publicly flogged three individuals in Helmand and twelve in Zabul. On Tuesday, three people were flogged in Kandahar, followed by two more in Ghazni province on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Taliban flogged three individuals in Khost province and sentenced them to prison. Additionally, on Monday, the Taliban publicly flogged four men in Parwan and two individuals, including a woman, in Logar. In the past two weeks, at least 26 people have been publicly flogged across various provinces.
Crackdown on Weddings in Ghazni – Local sources in Ghazni report that the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is disrupting wedding celebrations by banning music, fining residents, and detaining several people. Taliban officials inspect wedding halls daily, enforcing a new law that prohibits listening to music in the province.

Internal Politics

Hibatullah’s Decree on Who Can Speak for the Taliban – On Monday, Mullah Hibatullah issued a decree stating that only official Taliban spokespersons may comment on the group's policies. Statements require prior approval, and individuals are advised against commenting if the Taliban's stance is unclear.
Taliban Statements on Vice and Virtue Law – On Monday, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, defended the "Law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" as reflecting the will of the Afghan people and divine command. He warned of consequences for those opposing the law and declared an end to warlordism, asserting that no group can govern independently in any region.
Taliban Meet with Shia Leaders – The Taliban claims that issues affecting Shia Muslims in Afghanistan were largely resolved during a meeting with Shia leaders, who reportedly expressed satisfaction with security cooperation. However, no statements from the Shia leaders have been issued to confirm these claims or their satisfaction.
NRF Announce New Head of Political Affairs – The National Resistance Front (NRF) has appointed Abdullah Khanjani as the head of political affairs. This decision follows the expansion of the NRF’s military activities and the need for improved coordination of its political and strategic efforts.
Taliban Spokesperson Statement on Anniversary of Withdrawal – On the anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal, Taliban Ministry of Interior spokesperson Abdul Matin Qani condemned "human rights" as a "shameful slogan" and labeled NATO a "tyrannical power." He called for Muslim unity against "infidels," while some social media users pointed out the Taliban's ongoing financial support from the U.S. despite these claims.

International Developments

Taliban Attend IOC Meeting – Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister, attended the 50th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers' meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where he was excluded from the official group photo for the second time since 2021. During the session, OIC Assistant Secretary-General Tarig Ali Bakheet urged the Taliban to reconsider its stance on women’s education and employment. Despite the Taliban's three-year control of Kabul, OIC members have yet to recognize the group.
Members of US Foreign Affairs Committee to Meet with NRF – Michael McCaul, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, is scheduled to meet with Ahmad Massoud and the NRF on September 10 to discuss their fight against the Taliban. McCaul, who supports the Afghan people and opposes Taliban rule, will release a report on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on September 9.
Deportation of Afghans From Germany – German media reported that a deportation flight carrying 28 Afghan refugees, all convicted criminals, departed from Leipzig Airport in Halle. This marks Germany's first deportation of Afghan refugees since the Taliban's return to power. The move comes amid political disputes over asylum and deportation laws in Germany, with future deportations potentially influenced by negotiations with the Taliban, who might use the situation politically against Germany and other EU states.
European Countries to Hold Meeting on Afghan Consulates – A senior Afghan diplomat in Europe reports that European countries will hold a meeting on September 28 to decide the fate of Afghanistan's embassies in Europe. Over the past month, tensions have increased between the Taliban and diplomats from the former Afghan government over control of these embassies. The Taliban have sent letters to European countries, Canada, and Australia, stating that services provided by diplomats not engaging with them are invalid. Germany has responded, while other countries, like France, have dismissed the letter. Some human rights activists urge prioritizing human rights concerns in any engagement with the Taliban to prevent regional instability.
Roza Otunbayeva in Afghanistan – On Monday, local sources reported that Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah refused to meet with Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, who sought to discuss the newly ratified Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Instead, she met with Kandahar's deputy governor, Mullah Mohammad Sadiq Inquilabi, to discuss how the UN can assist the province. The Taliban emphasized that the law, crafted within "Sharia principles," is non-negotiable.
UN To Hold a Meeting on Afghanistan – The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Afghanistan in September, with briefings expected from Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, and Sima Bahous, UN Women’s Executive Director. Based on reports, a civil society representative may also attend. The exact date and agenda have not been publicized.
Hudson Institute Report on Afghanistan – On Monday, the Hudson Institute published a report recommending U.S. support for the anti-Taliban resistance and criticizing the Biden administration's withdrawal strategy. It suggests inviting Ahmad Massoud to Washington and providing aid. The analysis highlights worsening humanitarian conditions and increased al-Qaeda activity under Taliban rule. A related event was held on Tuesday with NRF leader Ahmad Massoud participating. The full report can be found here

Freedom of the Press

National TV Shut Down in Kandahar – Local sources in Kandahar report that the Taliban-controlled National Television has suspended its broadcasts. Staff have been furloughed or reassigned to Kabul. The suspension follows a ban on filming live animals in Kandahar, and all related administrative positions have been canceled. This move is part of the Taliban’s broader restrictions on daily life, including a recent ban on drone filming in the province.

Regional Developments

Report on Deportations – Between August 18 and 24, 72,624 people left Afghanistan, primarily for Iran and Pakistan, an 11% increase compared to those returning. During the same period, 64,950 returned to Afghanistan. Overall, migration to and from Afghanistan rose by 21% from the previous week. A UN report indicates 700,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan between September 2023 and July 2024. The report can be found here.
Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Visit to Türkiye – This week, Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited Türkiye. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan refused to meet with him, reflecting Türkiye's limited interest in expanding relations with the Taliban despite maintaining its embassy in Kabul. During a visit to the Afghan Consulate in Istanbul, Muttaqi emphasized the need for transparent services and proper treatment of migrants and criticized Afghan embassies in Europe for not complying with central directives, which resulted in some documents being invalidated.
Afghan Executed in Saudi for Drug Smuggling – Saudi Arabia executed Afghan national Abdul Qayoom Shinwari in Mecca on charges of heroin trafficking. The execution, carried out on September 1, followed his confession and conviction.
Taliban Propose Tripartite Talks on Returnees – Taliban leaders have proposed a tripartite meeting with Pakistan and the UN to discuss the safe return of Afghan migrants. UN officials suggest this plan could offer a sustainable solution. The proposal comes as a UN delegation, led by Indrika Ratwatte, visits Pakistan to address the migrant crisis and related humanitarian issues.
Taliban Delegation Participates In Trilateral Agricultural Meeting – Taliban-led delegation, headed by Sediqullah Rahmani, Director of Seed Certification, traveled to China on September 10 to attend a ten-day trilateral agricultural meeting with China and Pakistan. The discussions will focus on agricultural programs, a ten-year plan, and China's agricultural progress. China’s involvement in Afghanistan's mining sector reflects the growing ties between the two countries.
Dr. Amin ul-Haq appears in Terrorism Court in Pakistan – Journalist Tahir Khan posted a photo of Dr. Amin ul-Haq handcuffed outside an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala, Pakistan. Khan alleges that the Taliban pressured Haq to leave Afghanistan. Detained in 2008 and released in 2011, Haq returned to Afghanistan in 2021 and was re-arrested in Pakistan in November 2023, with the arrest announced in July 2024.

Miscellaneous

Mpox Outbreaks – On Tuesday, a suspected mpox case involving a child was reported in Nangarhar, and the child is now receiving treatment. Health officials in Nangarhar have not yet commented. The day before, two mpox cases were reported in Kabul and Paktia. To prevent mpox, practice good hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face. Avoid sharing utensils, cups, or personal items like bedding and towels with infected individuals. If someone in your home is infected, follow proper cleaning and disinfection practices. Maintaining general sanitation and preventing rodent infestations are also important precautions.
Pressure Cooker Lead Danger Report – New research indicates a severe lead poisoning crisis in Afghanistan, with blood lead levels significantly higher than those in neighboring countries. Traditional aluminum cooking pots, or kazans, made from low-quality recycled material are a major source of contamination. U.S. studies show these pots, used by Afghan refugees, often exceed safety limits, with some leaching lead up to 650 times above acceptable levels.
Earthquake in Badakhshan – A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Badakhshan province near Ashkasham on Thursday morning, with tremors felt in North India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. The quake, measured at a depth of 255 kilometers, was also recorded as 5.4 by the USGS.
Herat-Ghor Highway Reopens – The Herat-Ghor highway in the Dera-e-Bedan area has reopened after being closed for four months due to flooding. Taliban officials in Ghor confirmed the road's reopening.

NEXT WEEK

The anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s death on September 9 is approaching, and the days around this event are expected to be tense. The NRF is likely to increase its activities, leading to more checkpoints and searches. In areas with strong NRF support, there may be fighting. Exercise caution in your movements, avoid Taliban checkpoints, and secure important documents in case of searches. Avoid unnecessary travel, especially in the evening.

The Taliban will continue to enforce the new codified vice and virtue laws, with restrictions on women being strictly applied. Although the law is codified, enforcement may vary, and public punishments are expected to increase as violators are made examples of.

Deportations from Iran and Pakistan will continue. The political situation in Pakistan remains tense following attacks by Baloch separatists, while in Iran, crackdowns and deportations of Afghans are persistent, even targeting those with valid documents. Afghans in both countries should be cautious in their movements.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

Ongoing Border Wall Construction – On Thursday, Iranian Army Ground Force Commander Mohammad Pakpour inspected the ongoing construction of a four-meter-high concrete barrier with barbed wire along the Iran-Afghanistan border in Sistan and Baluchestan. The project, started last year and expected to complete in three years, aims to enhance security and reduce smuggling.
Iran Names Female Spokesperson – On Wednesday, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian appointed Fatemeh Mohajerani as the Islamic Republic's first female government spokesperson. Mohajerani, with degrees in mechanical engineering and management, previously led the Technical and Vocational Faculty for Girls in Shariati and the Center for Outstanding Talents.
Immigrants Arrested Near Tehran – Police Chief Gholamhossein Arab of Semnan announced the "Hijrat Plan" in Damghan to manage migrants, resulting in the arrest of 106 undocumented individuals. Initiated in early September, the plan organizes migrants and forwards their cases to judicial authorities.
Ukraine Indicts IRG Commander – Ukraine has indicted Brigadier General Abbas Mousa Sharifi Molasaraei of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards for aiding Russia in war crimes. Ukrainian authorities allege he traveled to occupied Crimea in 2022 with Iranian UAV instructors, who launched at least 20 attack drones causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions.

PAKISTAN

Balochistan Attacks – This week, a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan resulted in over 70 fatalities, including 14 security personnel and 23 passengers in Musakhail. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, identifying two suicide bombers. Security forces countered by killing 21 militants. Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the violence, while the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed casualties and successful counteroperations.
Airport Opening Delayed – The launch of a Chinese-funded $200-million airport in Balochistan has been postponed due to security concerns following deadly separatist attacks that claimed over 70 lives. The airport, part of the $65-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was set to open on August 14 but now faces delays. Militants, including the Baloch Liberation Army, have frequently targeted CPEC projects, viewing them as foreign exploitation. Pakistani and Chinese officials are working on enhanced security measures.
Mpox Cases – Pakistan has reported five mpox cases, with the latest confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The patient, a 51-year-old from Orakzai district, tested positive at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan airport and is stable in isolation. Four cases are in KP, and none are locally transmitted. Enhanced airport surveillance follows the WHO's global emergency declaration.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Terrorism threats on the rise 3 years after Afghanistan exit
Brad Dress
Threats from terrorist groups such as ISIS are again surging across the globe three years after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, an exit that marked a new phase in the war on terrorism.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks this year across the world, from Turkey to Iran and Russia. ISIS-affiliated actors also carried out a stabbing attack in Germany this month and threatened a Taylor Swift concert in Austria.
AFGHAN NEWS
26 children die of malnutrition in Badakhshan, hospital reports
Amu TV
At least 26 children have died of malnutrition in the northern province of Badakhshan over the past eight months, according to the head of the provincial hospital.
Shafiqullah Hamdard, the hospital director, confirmed the deaths, noting that the children had been suffering from severe malnutrition. Since the start of the Afghan solar year on March 22, 2024, the hospital has admitted 326 children under the age of five with malnutrition-related conditions, Hamdard said.
Women activists continue campaign against Taliban’s ban on female voices
Amu TV
A coalition of women activists has launched a campaign against the Taliban’s newly imposed law, particularly the provision that bans women from raising their voices in public. The activists have rallied around the slogan, “My voice is not ‘awrah’, my face is not a provocation; your eyes are the problem.”
This message was also prominently featured in a statement by the Afghan Women’s Exiled Movement, which has been at the forefront of condemning the Taliban’s law. The group denounced the decree as “misogynistic and draconian.”
In a video statement, members of the movement further challenged the restrictions, asserting, “My voice is not a sin; your ears are the problem.”
Waiting for Justice for Afghanistan’s Forcibly Disappeared
Fereshta Abbasi
Afghanistan has one of the world’s highest number of enforced disappearances, with tens of thousands of people unaccounted for after being detained by government or militia forces since the late 1970s. Authorities of all stripes have forcibly disappeared opponents in Afghanistan. On August 30, International Day of the Disappeared, advocates grappling with ending longstanding impunity in Afghanistan should recall these victims and their families still waiting for answers.
Enforced disappearances are grave international crimes and are considered ongoing crimes so long as the fate of those disappeared remains unacknowledged and their whereabouts unknown. They cause profound suffering to families who can never really mourn.
REGIONAL NEWS
Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade declines by 59% in FY 2023-24
Amu TV
The Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade experienced a sharp decline of 59% year-over-year in the fiscal year 2023-24, falling to $2.9 billion, according to Pakistani media reports.
The drop is attributed to Pakistan’s intensified anti-smuggling measures and stricter import restrictions.
Bilateral trade between the two countries also decreased by 12% during the same period, driven largely by a 40% reduction in imports of Afghan goods, as reported by The Nation.
Pakistan: What's behind the armed insurgency in Balochistan?
Haroon Janjua
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, resulting in at least 70 deaths, including 14 soldiers. The coordinated assaults targeted police stations, railway lines and highways.
In the deadliest incident, BLA militants took control of a highway and shot dead at least 23 people, mostly laborers from the neighboring Punjab province, in what the province's chief minister described as "execution-style shootings."
Ukraine Allies Expect Iran to Ship Missiles to Russia Imminently
Alex Wickham and Alberto Nardelli
European officials expect Iran to deliver ballistic missiles to Russia imminently, a move that could prompt a swift response from Ukraine’s allies, people familiar with the matter said.
Iran has provided Russia with hundreds of drones during Russia’s 2 1/2-year war against Ukraine, but the potential transfer of ballistic missiles would mark a worrying development in the conflict, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential assessments.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

CIA official: Predictions Afghanistan would become a terrorist launching pad after U.S. exit 'did not come to pass'
Dan DeLuce
Warnings that Afghanistan would become a launching pad for terrorist attacks around the world after the withdrawal of U.S. troops turned out to be wrong, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen said Wednesday.
“The dire predictions have not come to pass,” he said at a national security conference in Rockville, Maryland.
US, Uzbekistan reach agreement on Afghanistan’s military aircraft, envoy says
Amu TV
Jonathan Henick, the United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan, has said that Washington and Tashkent have reached an agreement regarding the fate of military aircraft that were flown into Uzbekistan by the Afghan military during the fall of Kabul in 2021.
In response, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has declared that any agreement concerning these helicopters and planes is “unacceptable.”
At least 46 aircraft, including helicopters, were left in Uzbekistan after the fall of Kabul.
European officials expect Iran to deliver ballistic missiles to Russia imminently, a move that could prompt a swift response from Ukraine’s allies, people familiar with the matter said.
Iran has provided Russia with hundreds of drones during Russia’s 2 1/2-year war against Ukraine, but the potential transfer of ballistic missiles would mark a worrying development in the conflict, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential assessments.
Leader of Afghanistan’s resistance movement says he will defeat the Taliban ‘no matter the odds’
Peter Bergen
Three years after the departure of the final US troops from Afghanistan, the situation in the country is bleak, with the Taliban tightening its grip as it introduces increasingly oppressive laws that restrict political freedoms and suppress the rights of women.
Most Afghans have had to acquiesce to the Taliban not because they embrace their misogynistic ideology but because they have all the guns. Still, there is a nascent resistance movement. I spoke to its leader, Ahmad Massoud, who said he’s engaged in “a fight for the soul and future of our nation, and we are determined to win, no matter the odds.”
WEEKLY WTF
The Taliban, celebrated for its unmatched commitment to human rights through frequent executions and floggings, has now banned mixed martial arts, deeming it too violent and incompatible with Islamic law—a commendable effort to protect the public from the brutality of a sport while ignoring the brutality of their own governance.
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 70.46 AFN (as of 2 September 2024)