[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- PAKISTAN’S DEFENCE CHIEF MEETS WITH TALIBAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN PAKISTAN – General Asim Munir, the Chief of Staff for Pakistan’s armed forces received Foreign Minister Muttaqi to discuss regional security matters between the two countries. A source in Pakistan said the meeting was not on the official agenda for the trip and may have been called without input from the Taliban’s Defense Minister, Mullah Yaqoob. The source said Muttaqi represented himself as a personal envoy of the Supreme Leader. If accurate, it could reinforce claims about the widening rift between Kandahar and Kabul. It was not immediately clear if any members of the delegation represented the Minister of Defense at the meeting(s).
- TALIBAN VISIT TO PAKISTAN CONCLUDES – It is not immediately clear if any positive progress was made during the Trilateral consultation of Foreign Ministers or the subsequent meetings with institutions and/or organizations. Remarks made after the event were muted and included the continued exhortations to: 1) Form an inclusive government 2) Stamp out terrorism 3) Try to respect the rights of Afghan women. It had the appearance of a publicity stunt and is unlikely to elicit any serious pathway forward.
- AFGHAN REFUGEES IN IRAN FACE A NEW PROBLEM – The Iranian regime stopped issuing a special ‘bank card’ that authorized Afghan refugees sheltering in the country to make purchases from local merchants. The program was halted months ago and many of the cards are expiring. Without the card, refugees are either denied services/goods from merchants or, are subjected to bribes from merchants to ‘overlook’ the discrepancy. The tactic is considered one of the many tools Tehran is using to deter illegal migration from Afghanistan and is expected to have a negative effect on nutrition for families. Some influential religious and political leaders have called for new cards to be issued while others are demanding the issue of illegals residing in the country be dealt with decisively.
- INDIA DEALING WITH LARGE-SCALE ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN MANIPUR – Over 50 people were killed and 23,000 have fled the unrest in Manipur as tribally motivated violence erupted after a protest march last week. The Indian government has deployed thousands of troops to the area bordering Myanmar and has authorized the use of deadly force to quell violence. Curfews have been established and the internet was cut in many parts of Manipur. The crisis came about as many of the minority tribal groups in Manipur are critical of the government’s decision to grant the dominant tribe (Meitei) status as a ‘Scheduled Tribe’. Such a denotation gives members of the Meitei ethnic group elevated access to government jobs and admission to colleges. While Manipur has witnessed significant violence since the 1950s, things had mellowed somewhat over the last several years, aided by New Delhi’s increased engagement in the State.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Baghlan::Taliban security forces, responding to a tip, began searching houses in Khost district mid-morning on Sunday in the village of Jangalak. NRF forces in the area responded and a clash ensued. The fighting reportedly lasted several hours. 3 Taliban fighters were killed, but other casualty figures will likely be reported over the next twenty-four hours.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TALIBAN OPERATIONS IN BAGHLAN LIKELY TO CONTINUE – After yesterday’s engagement with the National Resistance Front forces in Jangalak village (Khost District), search operations continued well into the night. The Taliban reputedly made several arrests and local eyewitnesses said the arrests were indiscriminate. As the fighting was intense, it is likely that additional Taliban forces have been sent to the area and searches of homes will continue. Further arrests are also a distinct possibility.
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