The Week of Sep 30-October 6
Security and Conflict
Border Clashes – On Tuesday, a Taliban member named Khanjar was killed in a clash with Pakistani border guards in the Ghashi area of Nangarhar's Goshti district. Details regarding Pakistani casualties remain unclear. Fighting has persisted intermittently in the area for six days, involving both light and heavy weaponry. On Wednesday, clashes erupted in Kunar province's Shali-Wali-Dara area, lasting until 9 PM and prompting residents to flee amid forest fires. On Sunday, October 6, Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces clashed in Kandahar's Shorabak district, beginning around 11:00 AM when Pakistani soldiers fired at Taliban forces attempting to establish security checkpoints. The Taliban's 205th Al-Badr Corps has sent additional troops, and the conflict is ongoing, with casualties yet to be reported.
ISKP Attack Kunar – On Saturday, ISKP launched an attack on a Taliban vehicle using an IED in Kunar’s Sawkai district. The explosion occurred between the villages of Bargor and Dewagal. While ISKP claimed all passengers were killed, reports confirmed one Taliban fighter dead and six injured.
Alleged ISKP Members Arrested – On Monday, the Taliban announced the arrest of several members of the ISIS-Khorasan group in Kabul, Nangarhar, and Faryab provinces. The detainees are accused of orchestrating attacks, including one against tourists in Bamiyan. The Taliban claimed the group's leader is a Tajikistani planning a suicide bombing and that they were trained in Balochistan. Despite previous assertions of eradicating ISIS, the group recently claimed responsibility for an attack in Daikundi that killed 14 Hazara civilians.
House to House Searches Panjshir – On Saturday, the Taliban conducted a house-to-house search in Panjshir’s Dara district following an attack on their military unit, which resulted in casualties. The Resistance Front claimed responsibility, stating it killed 13 Taliban members and injured two. The Taliban arrested seven individuals and blocked access to the area during the operation.
ANSF Arrested – Two former Afghan military officers, Noorulhaq Panjshiri from Baghlan’s Provincial Police Command and Abdul Rashid from Balkh’s Border Brigade, were arrested by the Taliban in Jelga district, Baghlan province. They were detained two weeks ago, with no information provided about their whereabouts. The Taliban deny the arrests despite family inquiries in Kabul.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Former district Governor Arrested – On Monday, the Taliban's intelligence agency arrested Ruhullah Achakzai, the former district governor of Sangin in Helmand, at his home. The reason for his arrest remains unclear, and the Taliban have not commented on the situation.
Religious Scholar Released – Abdul Qadir Qanit, a religious scholar, along with Mawlawi Abdul Samim Ghaznavi, was released from Taliban detention on Tuesday after being arrested in Kabul earlier in the week. Qanit had publicly criticized the Taliban’s restrictions on girls' and women's education..
Flogging – On Monday, a woman was flogged in Faryab, and on Wednesday, two individuals were flogged in Ghazni.
Arrests for Immorality in Kabul – On Saturday, the Taliban's Ministry of Vice and Virtue announced the arrest of six individuals in Kabul on charges of "illicit relations," although the specific location of the arrests was not disclosed. The ministry emphasized its ongoing efforts to combat immoral and improper conduct through such arrests.
Pension Protests – On Saturday, the Taliban's Ministry of Vice and Virtue announced the arrest of six individuals in Kabul on charges of "illicit relations," although the specific location of the arrests was not disclosed. The ministry emphasized its ongoing efforts to combat immoral and improper conduct through such arrests.
Internal Politics
Statement on Extended Passports – On Wednesday, the Taliban-controlled Passport Office announced that Afghans who have extended their passports abroad with stickers must obtain new passports before leaving the country. This decision is in response to issues related to entry denials in certain nations. Priority will be given to these individuals, allowing them to receive new passports without delays or the need for appointments.
Virtue and Vice Statement on International Criticism – Saif Khyber, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated that imposing "international terrorism in the name of women's rights" is unacceptable. He criticized the UN's condemnation of the Taliban's laws, attributing it to a "mental illness" within the organization. Khyber argued that the Taliban's laws align with their religious values and questioned whether the UN formulates its laws according to cultural beliefs.
International Developments
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Departure – On Tuesday, Tom West announced his departure as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, a role he held since October 2021, during a challenging period for U.S. diplomacy. West, alongside Secretary Antony Blinken, emphasized the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, highlighting humanitarian efforts that have averted famine and supported millions. He praised the resilience of Afghan leaders and activists, expressing hope for Afghanistan's future. Karen Decker will now lead U.S. diplomacy from Doha.
Donor Meeting for Afghanistan Held in UAE – The UN-hosted donor meeting for Afghanistan began on Thursday in Dubai, focusing on aid amidst the severe humanitarian crisis under Taliban control. Participants discussed transparency in aid delivery and emphasized the need for conditions that enable self-sufficiency rather than reliance on aid. Concerns were raised about the Taliban's potential misuse of assistance and new restrictions impacting women. The U.S. has contributed $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid since the Taliban's takeover, with upcoming reviews of economic initiatives planned.
BRICS Undecided on Taliban Meeting Participation – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko announced that the Taliban’s request to join the upcoming BRICS summit has not been approved due to a lack of consensus among BRICS members. While Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's deputy prime minister, expressed interest in attending, decisions within BRICS require agreement from all member states. The summit, featuring countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and others, will be held from October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia.
Freedom of the Press
Director of Radio Khushhal Arrested – Sources in Ghazni confirmed that the Taliban's intelligence forces arrested Hikmat Aryan, the director of Radio Khushhal, on Wednesday. Aryan was detained four days prior and taken to an undisclosed location. The reason for his arrest remains unknown, and the Taliban have yet to provide any official statement on the matter.
Journalist Arrested – On Saturday, Mahdi Ansari, a journalist with the Afghan News Agency, was arrested by the Taliban at the Pul-e-Khoshk checkpoint in Kabul. He has reportedly been transferred to a detention facility, and his family has expressed concern over his whereabouts. The reason for his arrest remains unclear.
Regional Developments
Moscow Meeting – The 6th Moscow Format Meeting on Afghanistan commenced on Friday, with representatives from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the Taliban in attendance. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the importance of pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban for regional security and economic development. He, along with Rasoul Mousavi, former assistant to Iran's Foreign Minister, expressed concerns about terrorist groups in Afghanistan launching attacks on neighboring countries. Lavrov stressed the need for coordinated regional efforts to address these groups. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised concerns about ISIS establishing recruitment centers outside Afghanistan, urging regional countries to prevent the enlistment of their citizens and claiming that most ISIS attacks in Afghanistan involve foreign nationals. Despite the Taliban's denial of ISIS's presence, ISIS-K regularly claims responsibility for attacks, with Russia supporting Afghanistan's counterterrorism efforts.
Afghans Arrested for Drug Smuggling in India – On Monday, two Afghan nationals, Mohammad Waris Hashimi and Abdul Nayeb, were arrested in West Delhi, India, for smuggling 560 grams of heroin and cocaine worth 2 billion Indian rupees. Hashimi, a 19-year-old refugee since 2020, learned drug smuggling from a friend, receiving $100 per delivery. Nayeb, who arrived in India the same year, joined Hashimi in the operation.
IOM Report on Returnees From Iran – In September, 230,000 Afghan nationals returned from Iran, marking the highest number of returnees this year, surpassing May's 190,000. Of these, 43% were deported, and 50% returned voluntarily. Nearly 91,000 Afghans arrived in one week, while returns from Iran were 75% higher than departures, amid increasing deportation pressure from Iran and Pakistan.
Report on Returnees from Pakistan – Since Pakistan began its crackdown on illegal foreign nationals last year, over 733,000 Afghan refugees have returned, peaking in May and June with 38,000 monthly. UNHCR reports over 6,000 arrests this year, the highest being in May with 1,130 detained. UNHCR has assisted nearly 112,000 returnees amid Pakistan's ongoing deportation efforts.
Decline in Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade – The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment announced on Thursday that trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has significantly declined since the beginning of this year. Khan Jan Alokozai, the chamber's deputy, cited political and security issues following the Taliban's rise to power as major obstacles. Annual trade, previously around $2 billion, is projected to drop to $500 million. Conversely, trade relations with Iran and Central Asia are improving, with Afghanistan importing about $2 billion from Iran last year. The ongoing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have led to reduced trade, affecting the freshness of goods.
Lapis Corridor Meeting – Turkmenistan met in Istanbul to discuss the Lapis Lazuli Corridor. Turkey’s Transport Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, emphasized its potential for enhancing trade and cultural relations. Key topics included infrastructure investments, tariffs, customs procedures, and security measures for transport, aiming to connect the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe.
Kharlachi Crossing Reopens – On Tuesday, the Kharlachi crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopened after nine days of closure due to tribal clashes in the Kurram district, which resulted in 60 deaths. The closure halted cargo trucks, causing food shortages for local residents. Such crossings are periodically closed due to border conflicts.
Miscellaneous
Flooding – On Sunday, September 29, seven people were injured, one critically, after heavy rains and storms hit Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan. Flood-displaced families in Ghor province are living in poor conditions under tents after losing their homes in the spring floods. Approximately 500 families are affected, and heavy rains have damaged their tents. On Wednesday, floods caused by heavy rain destroyed dozens of homes and damaged crops on around 1,200 acres of farmland in the Achin, Spin Ghar, and Kot districts of Nangarhar.
Landslide in Badakhshan – On Wednesday, a landslide in Yadnil village, Badakhshan's Yawan district, destroyed two homes but caused no casualties, according to the Taliban's Disaster Management Authority. Over 20 homes remain at risk, and blocked roads are limiting access to food and water.
New Polio Cases Reported – The World Health Organization reported three new cases of polio between August 21 and September 30 in Afghanistan, specifically from the districts of Maiwand and Ghorak in Kandahar, and Nahr-e-Siraj in Helmand. Since the start of the year, there have been 22 polio cases in Afghanistan and 24 in Pakistan, where polio remains endemic.
NEXT WEEK
Taliban checkpoints, house-to-house searches, and random phone checks are expected to continue in various areas, particularly in Kabul, Panjshir, and large cities in the north and west of the country.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border will remain volatile, and those traveling to the border should exercise caution. PTI protests may persist this week, with disruptions to travel and internet services. In the lead-up to the October 11 PTM Jirga, further crackdowns and arrests are likely. Afghans are urged to exercise caution when traveling and to avoid gatherings or protests.
The situation in Iran remains tense, with Afghans in the country advised to be aware of potential fighting or attacks between Iran and Israel. Additionally, Afghans continue to face targeted deportation, regardless of their immigration status. Numerous reports have emerged of taxi services transporting Afghans to deportation centers.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Afghans Executed – On Monday, Iran executed Afghan national Nisar Ahmad Rahmati on drug charges without notifying his family. Rahmati, who was arrested in 2019, was executed in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison. On Wednesday, Iran executed two more Afghan nationals, who reportedly had been sentenced to death for rape.
Afghans Killed in Accident – A collision in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, between a pickup truck carrying Afghan migrants and a trailer truck resulted in the deaths of 11 Afghan nationals. The accident occurred early Tuesday on the Saravan to Kuhak road, injuring 14 others. The victims were allegedly illegal migrants traveling through the region, a common route for such crossings.
Flooding – Recent floods in Iran have resulted in 15 deaths, including 14 Afghan nationals and one Iranian, following the flooding of the Halil River in Kerman province. Search and rescue operations, involving 16 teams, recovered all bodies. The Afghan victims were local orchard workers, with children among the deceased.
Attack in Sistan-va-Baluchistan – On Tuesday, at least six people, including an Iranian Basij commander and three family members, were killed by unidentified armed assailants in Nikshahr, Sistan-va-Baluchistan. Additionally, two security guards were killed when attackers targeted their vehicle en route to Khash City. Jaish Ul Adl claimed responsibility for both attacks.
ISKP Arrests – On Saturday, three members of the Islamic State were arrested in Nowshahr, Iran, for plotting a terrorist attack at a crowded tourist complex, according to local police commander Colonel Ali Akbar Darvishi. This follows the earlier arrest of 14 ISKP members across four provinces in late August by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.
PAKISTAN
Arrests Ahead or PTI Protests – On Wednesday and Thursday, Islamabad Police arrested 412 individuals, including 60 Afghan nationals, in anticipation of PTI's planned protest at D-Chowk on Friday. The crackdown in areas like Bara Kahu, Tarnol, and Sangjani led to the detention of individuals carrying spiked batons and slingshots. Authorities deployed Rangers and 4,000 police officers to secure the Red Zone. Despite Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s warnings and heightened security, PTI, led by Imran Khan, vowed to proceed. Barrister Saif confirmed that thousands of workers, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, would participate, despite government efforts to block their movement.
PTI Protests – Protests occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party mobilized supporters in Islamabad, resulting in significant security measures, including road closures and the imposition of Section 144. Mobile phone services were suspended, and over 564 individuals were arrested, including 120 Afghans and 11 KP police personnel. Violent clashes erupted, injuring 31 Islamabad police and 75 Punjab police personnel. The Islamabad police detained over 100 PTI members, including senior leaders like Zartaj Gul Wazir, who was arrested at her home. Additionally, an Anti-Terrorism Court remanded the sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan into custody on terrorism charges. Despite the arrests, PTI leadership indicated a commitment to continue protests, warning of serious repercussions if key figures are detained, suggesting ongoing unrest in the coming days.
Terrorism Arrests – On Saturday, the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced the arrest of 18 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the province. A total of 134 IBOs were conducted in various districts, including Lahore and Rawalpindi. The arrested individuals, linked to groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Al-Qaeda, had planned to target key installations. Authorities recovered weapons, explosives, and cash during the operations, which also resulted in 278 arrests and numerous investigations.
TTP Attack – n Saturday, the Pakistan Army reported that six soldiers, including senior officer Mohammad Ali Shaukat, were killed, and 21 others were injured in a clash with militants in North Waziristan. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is believed to be responsible, with Pakistani officials accusing the group of planning attacks from Afghanistan, a claim the Taliban denies.
Pashtun Jirga to be Held Next Week – The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is set to hold a grand Jirga on October 11, 2024, to amplify the voices of extremism’s victims. In response, the Pakistani government has officially banned the PTM, designating it as a prohibited organization due to its activities being deemed a threat to national peace. Despite the ban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has expressed support for the upcoming Jirga, while pro-Taliban accounts mock the PTM’s non-violent stance, suggesting that rights cannot be achieved without resorting to violence, further complicating the already tense situation. Arrests of PTM members have been mixed with those of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters this week.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Rachel Reid
The government of Afghanistan has been warned that its violations of women’s rights will trigger a referral to the United Nation’s highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – unless it changes its policies. The initiative, taken by Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands and supported by 22 other states, centres on alleged violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to which Afghanistan is a signatory. According to the procedures of the court, the Afghan government is offered a chance to resolve the dispute, failing which, the ICJ will take up the case. A spokesman for the Islamic Emirate immediately dismissed the allegations. While the court lacks enforcement power, it is not without teeth and a judgement against the IEA could lead to additional sanctions against the Emirate, as well as political pressure on those actors inclined towards normalisation. Rachel Reid provides an overview of the process, its potential impact and pitfalls.
The move to take Afghanistan to the ICJ could be groundbreaking: CEDAW has been in place for more than 40 years, but never before has the court been asked to look into a state’s alleged breach of it.[1] The initiative was announced by four foreign ministers at a side event at the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2024 in an emotional speech from the German minister, Annalena Baerbock, who described the restrictions on Afghan women and girls.
You are not allowed to go to high school. You are not allowed to do sports. You are not allowed to travel. You are not allowed to work. To take the bus. To speak to a man or boy. To see a doctor on your own. It sounds like prison. But this has been the reality for women and girls in Afghanistan since 2021. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are removing every last shred of freedom from women and girls. And now, they have even banned women from speaking in public. In German, we have an expression for that: ‘mundtot’. It literally means mouth-dead. To kill someone, by killing their voice. That’s what is happening right now.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban ban filming of officials’ meetings, interviews in Takhar
Amu TV
The Taliban’s vice and virtue department has banned the filming of officials’ meetings and interviews in Takhar, a northern province of Afghanistan.
The new restrictions prohibit the use of video footage showing living beings, including local officials, during public appearances, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported.
Taliban Accused of Arson in Attack on Girls’ School in Panjshir Province
Kabul Now
Local sources report that the Bibi Amina girls’ school in Panjshir province was set ablaze on Sunday by alleged members of the ruling Taliban.
The Taliban’s provincial police command confirmed the incident, stating that the fire broke out around 9:30 PM and was extinguished by firefighters. However, Abdullah Aqab Farooqi, the spokesperson for the police command, did not provide details on the extent of the damage or the cause of the fire.
A child bride won the right to divorce - now the Taliban say it doesn't count
Mamoon Durrani
There is a young woman sheltering under a tree between two busy roads clutching a pile of documents to her chest.
These pieces of paper are more important to Bibi Nazdana than anything in the world: they are the divorce granted to her after a two-year court battle to free herself from life as a child bride.
REGIONAL NEWS
Lavrov voices concern over presence of terror groups in Afghanistan
Amu TV
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan during the sixth Moscow Format meeting.
He warned that these groups are using Afghan territory to launch attacks on other countries, calling the situation “worrisome.”
“Terrorist elements are still active in Afghanistan, launching attacks on neighboring states. This is a serious concern. But combating these groups requires regional cooperation,” Lavrov said.
The high-ranking Russian official also emphasized the importance of dialogue with the Taliban and urged Western countries to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets.
Taliban blame Pakistan after ‘capture of key IS fighters’
AFP
Taliban authorities captured “key members” of the Islamic State group responsible for recent deadly attacks across Afghanistan, a spokesman said on Monday, blaming neighbouring Pakistan for harbouring the organisation.
Security has generally improved since the Taliban surged back to power after winning their insurgency in 2021, however the regional chapter of the group, known as Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), has emerged as the main challenge to their rule.
Dengue rears its ugly head in Karachi
Tufail Ahmed
Among the various seasonal epidemics plaguing public health in the country, dengue appears to top the list, with thousands of people infected with the vector-borne illness each year, due largely to the negligence of the preventative authorities.
Despite the Sindh government allocating nearly Rs288 million for the dengue program during 2021 to 2024, the spread of the deadly virus could not be controlled due to a lack of communication between the health agencies. In light of the sluggish preventative efforts undertaken by the dengue control authorities this season, health experts have expressed their admonitions that in case no effective campaign is launched to eradicate dengue during the upcoming days, the virus may emerge as a major healthcare emergency towards the end of the year.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Holding the Taliban Accountable Through the Media
Harun Najafizada
In late September, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan started jamming the Afghanistan International TV news channel with newly acquired equipment obtained from Iran. Earlier, in May, they issued a stark ban on communications with the Afghanistan International network, paving the way for the current jamming. They explicitly threatened Afghan citizens against engaging with or even watching our channel.
These draconian measures stem from our steadfast commitment to delivering uncensored news and information to the Afghan populace, who are under the tight grip of the de facto authorities striving to impose their narrative through a heavily censored media landscape, a misappropriated remnant of the international community-backed Republic era in Afghanistan.
First refugee deported from church asylum in Hamburg
Natasha Mellersh
In Hamburg, a 29-year-old Afghan was deported from church asylum on Monday. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches have criticized the latest breach of church asylum, and Hamburg factions of the Left and Green parties also condemned the action.
According to the Archdiocese, a 29-year-old Afghan had been granted church asylum in a parish in Hamburg in August. However on Monday morning (September 30), in a breach of church asylum, he was deported and transferred by plane to Sweden according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The Catholic Archdiocese had stated that the parish of St. Elisabeth had taken the man in for humanitarian reasons because he was seriously ill. Church communities try to prevent deportations in exceptional hardship cases by granting asylum within their premises.
Top EU court rules gender, nationality enough for Afghan women to be granted asylum
Julia Payne
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Friday that gender and nationality alone were sufficient for a country to grant asylum to women from Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban have sharply curtailed women's rights.
Authorities in Austria refused refugee status to two Afghan women after they applied for asylum in 2015 and 2020. They challenged the refusal before the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court, which in turn requested a ruling from the ECJ, the top European Union court.
Canadian foreign minister says Taliban must be held accountable for rights violations
Amu TV
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, called for the Taliban to be held accountable for their treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, urging international action to address what she described as the regime’s systematic oppression.
Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Joly condemned the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive policies, which have barred women from public life and denied girls access to education.
“The Taliban continue to impose inhumane rules against women and girls, banning them from being in public so they are invisible, robbing young girls of the fundamental right to an education,” Joly said in her remarks. “How is that respecting human dignity? How is that protecting the best interests of their people? They need to be held accountable.”
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 68.48 AFN (as of 6 October 2024)
