[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- RUMORS OF IRAN & AL-QAEDA COLLABORATION — A source in the Ministry of the Interior claims that the Taliban are overhearing rumors that Iran is in talks with representatives of al-Qaeda to discuss cooperation against ISIS-K in the country. The source claimed Taliban Minister of the Interior Haqqani seems to be taking the rumors seriously and even ridiculed one of his staff member’s suggestions that Iran would not work with Sunni organizations. He has reportedly asked an unidentified Saudi Arabian businessman in Tehran to urge the Iranian government to speak directly to the Taliban about such matters. The source went on to say that Haqqani voiced concerns that such a move would invite future American drone attacks.
- NO QUDS ALONG THE BORDER — The Afghan Digest previously reported that security force vehicles along the Iranian border may have belonged to the Quds forces. However, a local source has confirmed that the markings on the vehicles do not belong to the Quds forces. Rather, the reinforcing troops appear to be from varied Iranian military units.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Logar: The Afghanistan Patriotic Front (APF) launched an attack in the Khawaja Ali Shahr district, killing 4 Talibs. Among the dead is thought to be Maulvi Mohammad Nasim Hanfiar, a Taliban commander who has been accused of atrocities. A source claims the attack was provoked by Marshal Dostum’s recent call for the country to rise against the Taliban, especially given that Logar province has been relatively peaceful since the Taliban takeover.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SHOPKEEPERS’ STRIKE CONTINUES — A strike by local business leaders in the Urgun district of Paktika province is leading to food shortages among the local populace. The business community’s strike will enter its fourth day with no signs of wavering. They are protesting increases in rent and property taxes that they say have been levied by the Taliban (Note: it is not clear who is actually directly responsible for the rent increases). Local sources claim the tax rates have gone up by 1,000 percent. If the Taliban attempt to break the strike by force, violence could result.