[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS 2 ADDITIONAL ISIS-K LEADERS FOR ROLES IN KABUL AIRPORT BOMBING IN 2021 – ISIS-K spokesman Aziz Azam and Maulawi Rajab (a leader) were sanctioned on Wednesday during a UNSC committee meeting. Both are Afghan nationals and their current locations are unknown.
- A SERIES OF ATTACKS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA SEEN AS A RIPOSTE TO GOVERNMENT COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS – In the span of an hour, 6 separate attacks took place in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Tank, and North Waziristan Districts. The timing and targets of the attacks suggest a coordinated and detailed planning effort among the TTP and potentially other terrorist organizations. Sources in Pakistan say the barrage was meant to send a message to the people of Pakistan that these groups were far from being defeated. Several casualties have been reported on both sides but the information is jumbled and will take some time to unravel. Security forces remained active throughout the night and a source says they have cornered approximately 15 militants (said to be TTP) in an undisclosed location.
- CSTO WORKING GROUP ON AFGHANISTAN MEETING CONCLUDES – The member states released a joint statement that voiced concerns over ‘unfavorable trends in the security situation’ in Afghanistan. Of particular concern was the perceived growth of both terrorist and narcotics organizations. The chief spokesman for the Taliban rejected the statement by the CSTO and contends the country is now safer than at any time in recent history. The meeting marked the 37th time the nations have met to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
- RESISTANCE OPERATION REPORTED YESTERDAY IN NANGARHAR ATTRIBUTED TO THE AFGHANISTAN LIBERATION MOVEMENT – The operation reported in yesterday’s Conflict Tracker that is thought to have taken place near Torkham and which resulted in the deaths of 6 Taliban (5 others wounded) was planned and carried out by the ALM. The group is said to be currently conducting follow-up operations against several Taliban security checkpoints in the Province. The ALM has been fairly successful with its military operations so far in 2023 and appears to be the most active Resistance group since January.
- COVID-19 RESURGENCE A CONCERN FOR HEALTH WORKERS – Some independent sources have alleged that 1,500 cases were lodged in the past week alone. A resurgence of the pandemic in Afghanistan is thought to be a worst-case scenario for the populace as nutrition has suffered from the precarious economic situation in the country over the past 19 months and many believe that people are more vulnerable. The situation could rapidly worsen as health workers are in short supply and treatment facilities have been described as ‘hollow buildings that are more like morgues than hospitals’. The ban on female aid workers has severely hobbled the abilities of international aid agencies to respond to a new and deadly wave of the virus.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Zabul: A team from the Afghanistan Liberation Movement (ALM) is said to have ambushed the Taliban police commander of Shahjoy (Maulvi Khattab) and killed him as he was journeying to Ghazni.
NEXT 24 HOURS
RESISTANCE GROUPS FOCUSING EFFORTS ON TALIBAN SECURITY CHECKPOINTS – Some Resistance groups have stated intentions to launch fresh attacks against Taliban security checkpoints in the coming days. It is believed that most of these attacks will focus on vehicle checkpoints along roads and will not take place in urban areas. A source with one Resistance group says the Taliban have become complacent in many of these postings and have not made security improvements over the winter months. The source went on to say that many of the security vehicles in use have begun to break down and a shortage of batteries had caused the Taliban to steal batteries from non-combatants in some areas. A decision had been made to conduct hit-and-run operations against these dispersed locations. At-risk Afghans who may be traveling along these routes should avoid stopping at the checkpoints for a prolonged period of time.
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