Security and Conflict
Border Clashes – On Wednesday, new clashes erupted between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani border troops along the Durand Line in the Upper Kurram area. Pakistani sources reported Taliban casualties, though the Taliban have yet to comment. A separate clash, lasting nearly five and a half hours, occurred from Thursday evening until early Friday morning at Ghulam Khan port in Khost province. The fighting, triggered by attempts to prevent Pakistani forces from crossing the border, resulted in casualties on both sides, with local residents also affected, despite Taliban denials. A Frontier Corps soldier was injured and later died following gunfire from Afghanistan that targeted a Pakistani border post in Shahi Kot, Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Sunday. Pakistani troops retaliated in response to the attack.
Six Executed in Takhar Under Unclear Circumstances – Sources in Takhar report that the Taliban executed six people, displaying their bodies in Qayum Bazaar, Baharak district, on Friday for several hours. Residents were not allowed to approach the bodies, and details about the victims remain unknown. Additionally, reports indicate that several individuals were executed in Taloqan on Thursday night. In Khwaja Ghar district, two bodies were discarded by the roadside. Taliban officials have not commented on any of these incidents.
House to House Searches in Taloqan, Takhar – Sources in Taloqan report that Taliban intelligence forces began a house-to-house search on Friday, which were still ongoing on Sunday. This search is allegedly aimed at finding kidnappers following the recent murder of a student named Nizamuddin and the abduction of his brother. In response to the incident, Taliban checkpoints have also increased in the city. It is unclear if this is related to the executions that occurred on the same day.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Conditions in Bagram Prison – Families of Bagram prison inmates report increased restrictions on visits, violence, psychological torture, and deprivation of food over the past three months. Relatives of three inmates confirmed poor prison conditions, limited access to food, water, and medicine, and infrequent visits. Most inmates are held on charges related to the National Resistance Front or ISIS, with sentences ranging from 2 to 17 years. The Taliban's intelligence department oversees the prison, which has no external oversight, unlike Pul-e-Charkhi prison.
Head of Karwan University Arrested – Abu Zar Khpalwak Zazi, deputy dean at Karwan Private University in Kabul, was detained by Taliban intelligence agents last Wednesday. His whereabouts remain unknown despite the university’s official report to the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education. Surveillance footage shows Zazi being taken by armed men claiming to be from the Taliban, but the Taliban denies holding him.
Former ANSF Arrested in Kabul – Local sources reported that the Taliban arrested former army officer Mohammad Akram Darehyi on Monday in PD 16, Kabul, accusing him of collaborating with the National Resistance Front. He had no known ties to anti-Taliban groups.
Flogging – The Taliban publicly flogged a man in Balkh province on Monday. A woman in Sar-e Pul province was also flogged on Sunday, and a total of six others were flogged in Sar-e Pul on Wednesday and Thursday.
Internal Politics
Mazari Square Destroyed – Sources in West Kabul report that the Taliban demolished Abdul Ali Mazari Square, deploying armed personnel and bulldozers. Roads leading to the square were blocked, and forces were stationed in the area. The Taliban later claimed to have removed intersections for traffic flow but did not specify which ones, and no other intersections have been removed. Mazari’s statue in Bamiyan was previously destroyed.
Mining Contracts Awarded – The Taliban signed contracts for 183 mining projects, including 13 major ones, with domestic and foreign companies. These deals aim to boost revenue, particularly through Afghanistan’s vast mineral wealth, such as lithium reserves. Key projects include the Amu Darya oil field, Ghorian iron mine, and Takhar gold mine. Despite $8 billion in projected investments, critics argue that local communities see little benefit. The Taliban has yet to disclose how the mining revenues are being allocated or spent.
International Developments
Security Council Meeting on Afghanistan – On Wednesday, Roza Otunbayeva addressed the UN Security Council. In her speech, she raised concerns about Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis three years after the Taliban's takeover. While stability has returned, international aid has dropped, leaving millions without essential services. The speaker criticized the Taliban's restrictive policies, especially toward women, and warned that Afghanistan’s reintegration into the global community is hindered by unmet international obligations and insufficient diplomatic engagement. Urgent action was called for to prevent further deterioration of the crisis. The full report can be accessed here
UN Report on Security Incidents – The United Nations, in a recent report on Afghanistan under Taliban rule, recorded 2,127 security incidents from May 14 to July 31, 2023. These incidents marked a 53% increase compared to the same period last year. Armed clashes rose from 37 to 80, and improvised bomb explosions increased from 7 to 13. Despite no territorial gains, anti-Taliban groups conducted 73 attacks. Additionally, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for four attacks, and land disputes increased in southern and eastern regions. Taliban-Pakistani military forces clashed 13 times along the Durand Line during this period.
China’s Statement to UN – Feng Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, urged the Taliban to address the legitimate concerns of the international community during a recent Security Council meeting on Afghanistan. He emphasized the need for the Taliban to take effective measures to protect the rights of women and girls and to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorist organizations. Cong also called for the international community to initiate development projects for the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, and stressed the importance of engaging with the Taliban. He stated that the U.S. should unconditionally release Afghanistan's frozen assets.
German Chancellor Criticizes Taliban – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan as illegitimate at a summit in Astana, citing severe restrictions on women's rights. He rejected Central Asian leaders' calls to normalize relations with the Taliban. Afghanistan remained a contentious issue at the summit, attended by regional leaders from Central Asia.
Freedom of the Press
Head of Vice and Virtue Threatens Journalists – On Monday, Mowlavi Karimullah Fakir, head of the Taliban's Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, threatened journalists in Kandahar with punishment for publishing negative or critical news about the Taliban. He warned of serious consequences for spreading false information and stressed that no media or journalist should damage the group's image.
Clerics Banned from Debate or Criticism – Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada called for unification between religious scholars and the Taliban government, asserting that “the voice of the pulpit and the state” must be aligned. His stance, which prevents clerics from publicly criticizing the Taliban or engaging in religious debate in the media, raises concerns about freedom of speech. Despite global condemnation of Taliban laws, particularly regarding women’s rights, Akhundzada continues to defend the regime’s legal framework.
Journalist Arrested – Taliban authorities in Baghlan have arrested Jawed Forugh, a poet and editor of Radio Baghlan, along with former mayor Enayatullah. They were detained three days ago, and the reasons for their arrest remain unclear. Relatives have received no information about their whereabouts or condition since their detention.
Regional Developments
Afghans Arrested and Deported from Türkiye – Turkish media reported the detention of 32 undocumented migrants, primarily from Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Edirne as local police intensified operations to combat illegal migration. These migrants were apprehended at various checkpoints and transferred to the Edirne Immigration Office. Simultaneously, hundreds of Afghan asylum seekers were arrested in Istanbul under the pretext of distributing residence permits, with around 500 individuals detained after a gathering at the Civil Registration Office. Reports highlight an alarming rise in the detention and deportation of undocumented migrants in Turkey, with many facing serious challenges, including mistreatment and forced relocations.
Pakistani Delegation Travels to Kandahar – On September 15, a Pakistani delegation visited Kandahar for discussions with the Taliban on border tensions and the TTP. The talks followed recent clashes, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of harboring TTP militants, an allegation the Taliban denies. A UN report estimates that 6,500 TTP fighters are in Afghanistan.
Tajik National Security Chairman Visited Kabul – Afghan media report that Tajikistan's National Security Committee Chairman, Saymumin Yatimov, secretly visited Kabul in August for meetings with Taliban leaders. The visit was not officially acknowledged by either side, but it aimed to strengthen relations between Tajikistan and the Taliban. Discussions included the appointment of a Taliban representative in Dushanbe and improving diplomatic ties. This visit follows recent diplomatic engagements between the two sides, with Tajikistan seeking to balance its relations amid regional pressures.
Afghan Embassy in Muscat Opens – The Taliban announced on Tuesday that the Afghan embassy in Muscat, Oman, officially opened last week, with their diplomats now in place and operational.
Foreign Minister Holds Dinner to DIscuss TAPI – Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister, hosted a dinner for diplomats and international representatives in Kabul, highlighting the TAPI gas pipeline project's relaunch. He emphasized that focusing on economic policies benefits all parties and shifts regional discussions from conflict to development. Turkmenistan's ambassador also spoke, noting the project as a new chapter in Afghanistan-Turkmenistan relations, with further political and economic ties anticipated.
Mullah Akhund Blocked from Attending Party in Dubai – Dubai police blocked Taliban Acting Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund from attending a gathering during a visit to the UAE, citing a lack of proper diplomatic protocol. He was asked to return to Abu Dhabi, where he was receiving medical treatment. The incident raises concerns about the Taliban's impact on Dubai's image.
Taliban Diplomats Refuse to Stand for National Anthems – At an international Islamic conference in Tehran, a Taliban diplomat refused to stand for Iran's national anthem, with Iran’s president present. A similar incident occurred in Peshawar, Pakistan, where Taliban diplomats remained seated during Pakistan’s national anthem, citing objections to the presence of music. Both incidents highlight tensions between the Taliban and neighboring countries.
Miscellaneous
Taliban Suspend Polio Vaccination Campaign – The United Nations has reported that the Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns across Afghanistan indefinitely, with no reason given for the halt. However, Taliban Ministry of Health Spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amar has denied these reports. The campaign, initially scheduled to start in September, faces additional hurdles, especially for female vaccinators who now encounter restrictions, including the requirement to have male guardians in some areas. The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the reduced participation of female vaccinators, which limits access to children in certain regions. Eighteen polio cases have been reported in Afghanistan this year. A later report indicates that the campaign will resume on Monday, though no official statement has come from the Taliban.
Landslide in Badakhshan – On Thursday afternoon, a landslide at a gold mining site in Badakhshan resulted in the deaths of three local residents in the Khwahan district. Their bodies have not yet been recovered, and local Taliban officials have not commented on the incident.
Childhood Malnutrition Report – UNICEF reported that 343,000 children with acute malnutrition have been treated in Afghan hospitals this year, with UNICEF being the sole provider of therapeutic food. The WHO warned that food insecurity is escalating, affecting 2.9 million children under five, including 850,000 suffering from acute malnutrition.
WFP Food Aid – The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered over 225,000 metric tons of food aid across Afghanistan this year, addressing the severe hunger crisis affecting 12 million people. Nearly 4 million children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers suffer from malnutrition. WFP urgently needs $677 million to continue operations, as only 25% of the UN's Afghan aid budget is funded.
Netherlands Donates to Afghanistan – The United Nations OCHA announced that the Netherlands has donated $16.1 million to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund. This aid will be used in 2024 to support those in need. The Netherlands is the third-largest donor to Afghanistan, contributing over 89 million euros since 2016.
NEXT WEEK
Taliban checkpoints, house-to-house searches, and random phone checks are expected to continue in Kabul and other cities. Taloqan and other northern cities are likely to experience similar searches and additional checkpoints.
The Pakistan border may face increased fighting, potentially leading to closures of border crossings without notice. Recently, border regions, especially Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have experienced heavy attacks that are likely to persist. Residents in these areas should exercise caution in their movements. In Quetta, reports indicate a suicide bomber in the city may be targeting law enforcement agencies.
Iran and Pakistan will continue deportations. Those in Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye, and neighboring countries should remain vigilant about attempts to round up migrants, including those with valid documents.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Alborz Bans Afghans Without Legal Residency from School – Ahead of the new academic year in Iran, authorities in Alborz province have banned the registration of undocumented Afghan migrant students in schools. Only those with legal residency, such as Amayesh or identity documents, are allowed to enroll. Each year, many Afghan students face difficulties accessing education. Activists have previously launched campaigns advocating for the inclusion of Afghan migrant children in Iranian schools.
Detentions and Deportations of Afghans Continue – The wife of a former Afghan soldier revealed in an audio message to Afghanistan International that Iranian police arrested her husband and plan to hand him over to the Taliban. Iranian authorities have not commented. Arrests, deportations, and detentions of Afghans in Iran are increasing, with Iran planning to deport 2 million Afghans by March 2025. Reports of former Afghan officials being detained or killed after deportation have surged. An Afghan immigrant also shared that a Snap driver handed his friends to the police.
Gold Smuggled to Iran – IIranian border officials seized 12.72 kilograms of smuggled gold from Afghanistan in the Taybad area of Khorasan Razavi. The shipment, valued at 472.827 billion rials, was discovered in a vehicle attempting to cross from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Recently, authorities also seized 151.45 kilograms of methamphetamine in the same region.
PAKISTAN
Attack on Diplomats – On Sunday, an explosion targeting a convoy of diplomats from 12 countries in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed a police officer and injured three others. The blast, caused by a remote-controlled IED, left the diplomats unharmed. Following the attack, police launched a search operation, and the Pakistani government condemned the incident, reaffirming its commitment to fighting terrorism. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Deputy Secretary Of State in Pakistan – During his visit to Islamabad, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Bass met with Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir to discuss expanding economic and security cooperation, including counterterrorism efforts. Bass praised Pakistan's assistance with Afghan resettlement and congratulated it on joining the UN Security Council. The discussions also covered rising militant attacks in Pakistan linked to insurgents operating from Afghanistan, which Pakistan attributes to security weaknesses.
Ariana News Director Attacked in Islamabad – On Sunday, Abdul Aziz Sakhizadeh, director of Ariana News, was attacked by unknown individuals in Islamabad. Sakhizadeh released a video on Monday noting that he was in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
TTP Attack – On Friday, a security post near Ladha in Upper South Waziristan was attacked by multiple terrorists around midnight, resulting in six fatalities and 11 injuries, including four critical cases. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. Clearance operations took place to secure the area, with local officials confirming the casualties.
ISKP Kills Shia Family – Five family members, including women and children, died in a house fire in Rustam village, Mardan. Initially reported as an accident, ISKP later claimed responsibility, stating that the victims were Shias and that they set the house on fire after the murders. The incident occurred on September 14, 2024, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Polio Cases Rise – Three new polio cases were reported in Pakistan, bringing the total to 21 for the year. The cases were detected in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In contrast, only six cases were recorded in 2023. Health officials confirmed that most cases are in Balochistan. Polio, an infectious disease affecting children under five, attacks the nervous system. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last countries where polio remains endemic.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
William Maley
The Afghan Taliban have commenced an aggressive attempt to thrust aside and silence critical Afghan voices in international circles. If Western governments are sincere in their protestations of concern about human rights in Afghanistan, they will resist these endeavours, forcefully.
Seemingly emboldened by a meeting held in Qatar on 30 June-1 July 2024 (‘Doha III’) at which the United Nations welcomed the Afghan Taliban but excluded Afghan women from the gathering, as well as the Taliban’s gender apartheid from the agenda, the Taliban are now seeking to cripple Afghan diplomatic and consular missions which they do not control.
The Taliban campaign began with a statement on 30 July 2024 that they would cease to recognise consular documents issued by Afghan missions that do not operate on their behalf. This was accompanied by messages to various states purporting to dismiss Afghan ambassadors who had declined to acquiesce in the Taliban’s violent seizure of power in August 2021. Given that the Taliban had been unsuccessful in their quest for de jure (legal) recognition from those states, the Taliban’s statement and messages were of no intrinsic legal significance. They could acquire importance if and only if states responded in ways to the Taliban’s liking. Two states did, with the United Kingdom and Norway moving to close the Afghan Embassies in London and Oslo, although apparently not through the presentation of formal notes verbales, and—perhaps out of some embarrassment—with no mention of the moves on their foreign ministry websites.
AFGHAN NEWS
Exclusive: Surge in human trafficking in Afghanistan as networks expand operations
Milad Sayar
Human trafficking activities in Afghanistan have seen a sharp rise over the past year, according to a field survey conducted by Amu.
The findings reveal that trafficking networks, particularly active in border provinces, are increasingly preying on vulnerable Afghan youth, exploiting their desperation to flee the country’s deteriorating conditions.
The survey sheds light on the extent of this crisis, its connection to other criminal activities, and the personal stories of those who have fallen victim to these illicit networks.
UN Women: 90% of Afghan Women and Girls Report Deteriorating Mental Health
Kabul Now
UN Women reports that 90% of women and girls in Afghanistan describe their mental health as bad or very bad, with most observing that it is getting worse each quarter.
During her briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, September 18, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, said that 64% of women surveyed by the organization reported feeling unsafe leaving their homes alone, mainly due to Taliban harassment.
She said that their findings indicate that not only women suffer from this environment; men also feel less safe when accompanying women, leading to strained relationships and a deterioration of social trust and cohesion.
Taliban Imposes Complete Ban on Women Visiting Parks in Balkh Province
Kabul Now
The local Taliban authorities in northern Balkh Province have imposed a complete ban on women visiting parks across the province, where they were previously allowed to visit on designated days.
In a letter, a copy of which obtained by KabulNow, the Taliban’s Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Department in Balkh has instructed the morality police to prevent women from entering parks in the capital city and districts.
REGIONAL NEWS
Two years after Mahsa Amini's death in Iran, protest movement endures harsh persecution
France 24
Persecution of bereaved relatives. Impunity for perpetrators. Rampant executions and infighting among the opposition.
Thirty-four women prisoners went on hunger strike in an Iranian prison Sunday to mark two years since protests erupted against clerical authorities, Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi's foundation said.
"Today, on the 15th September 2024, 34 female political prisoners in Evin Prison have gone on a hunger strike in commemoration of the second anniversary of the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement and the killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini," it said
5 suspects arrested in 65 intelligence-based operations across Punjab: CTD
Imran Gabol
Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested five “suspects allegedly linked to terrorist organisations” during 65 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out across the province, the agency said on Saturday.
The Punjab CTD regularly carries out operations across the province to prevent and investigate terrorism-related activities and gather intelligence. Operating under the provincial police department, the agency plays a key role in maintaining internal security and countering terrorism within the country.
Pakistan police shoot dead blasphemy suspect in Sindh in second such killing in a week
Mansi Arora
Pakistan police have shot a doctor accused of blasphemy during an alleged shootout with armed men, in Sindh province, officials said on Thursday (Sep 19).
It marks the second such apparent extra-judicial killing in a week, further drawing criticism from human rights groups.
The man who was shot dead was later identified as Dr Shahnawaz Kanbhar and was a doctor in the Umerkot district of Sindh district. He was killed "just by chance" in a shootout with officers who did not know it was him, the local police chief in Sindh province said.
$100b debt repayment looms in four years
Shahbaz Rana
Deputy Finance Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Thursday disclosed that in four years Pakistan will have to repay a startling $100 billion external debt, which would largely be funded by securing rollovers from bilateral lenders.
The $100 billion external debt repayments by the federal government are 10 times more than the current $9.4 billion gross official foreign exchange reserves.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
EU Parliament: Taliban’s Treatment of Women Amounts to ‘Gender Apartheid’
The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the Taliban’s new morality law and labeling the regime’s treatment of women and girls as “gender apartheid.”
On September 19, the European Parliament passed three resolutions on human rights issues in Afghanistan, Belarus, and Cuba. The resolution on Afghanistan was adopted with 565 votes in favor, 8 against, and 43 abstentions.
Through the resolution, the EU Parliament condemned the Taliban’s new morality law and all recent decrees that exclude women and girls from public life.
WEEKLY WTF
Former Taliban defector Abdul Hamid Khorasani, freshly released from arrest just last week, is now appointed as the head of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce