[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- AFGHAN ICON, HASIBA NOORI, KILLED BY GUNMEN IN PAKISTAN – A friend and fellow performer confirmed that Noori had been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a group of unidentified men. She was reputedly shot multiple times but no additional information about the attack was available as of publication time. She had traveled to Pakistan approximately 11 months ago and had reestablished her career in Islamabad. Police had yet to release a statement about her murder but said an investigation was underway.
- SOME NGOS ORDERED TO HALT RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR FAILING TO ‘HIRE’ TALIBAN SPONSORED JOB APPLICANTS – International NGOs have been reeling from the edicts being issued from Kandahar over who they can hire. It appears that the Taliban are trying to take advantage of the situation and have provided lists of ‘preferred candidates’ to directors to fill vacant positions. In many cases, the Taliban issued threats to close down all relief activities unless the NGOs relent and hire their lackeys. Reports out of Zabul say that a major health-related NGO has been ordered to halt all operations over its refusal to hire its personnel. A source close to the situation in Qalat says the NGO attempted to act in good faith and interviewed some of the men who were recommended by the Taliban but demurred due to a lack of education and the inability to read/write on the part of the candidates. Other aid organizations around the country have complained of similar abuses of power.
- PAKISTAN COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATION SUCCESSFUL IN PUNJAB – The Counter-Terrorism Department in Punjab announced they had arrested 5 members of ISIS-K during two operations in both Gujranwala and Multan. Among those arrested was a key ISIS-K Commander. Of note, all 5 of those under arrest possessed Afghan national identity cards and some mobile phones with Afghan numbers that had recently been used. Explosives, weapons, and ammunition were also recovered. The discovery of ID cards and Afghan phones would seem to support Pakistan’s continued claims that the terror network is using Afghan soil for at least some of its activities.
- LEADING BRITISH POLITICIAN SAYS UK SHOULD REOPEN ITS EMBASSY IN KABUL – Tobias Ellwood, Chairman of the Defence Select Committee and a senior Tory leader wrote in an editorial that it was time to reopen the British embassy in Kabul and begin negotiating with the Taliban. Mr. Ellwood claims that nothing of substance can be accomplished by adhering to the current strategy of non-engagement. Mr. Ellwood is an officer in the Reserves and lost a brother in the 2002 terrorist attack in Bali. He says he is definitely not an ‘appeaser’ but that the current policy route is unlikely to make things better for Afghans and/or the region.
- TALIBAN RESPOND TO PAKISTAN’S CLAIM IT HAS ABANDONED ITS COMMITMENTS TO PEACE – The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid spoke with the BBC Pashto channel on Saturday and responded to several incendiary remarks made by both the Pakistan Minister of Defense and Army Chief of Staff over Afghanistan’s perceived reluctance to halt cross-border terror activity. Mujahid reminded Pakistan that the Doha Agreement was signed with the United States and not with Pakistan. He then proceeded to reiterate the claim that Afghanistan was not being used by terrorist groups as a safe haven and that no attacks would be permitted to be carried out from its soil. In response to a question about a possible Taliban response to Pakistani strikes, he said that any attacks by Pakistan on Afghanistan would be ‘dealt with’.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kabul: Sources in Kabul say the Taliban executed a raid on an ISIS-K hideout in the Bagrami neighborhood overnight. 2 ISIS-K terrorists were reportedly killed and 5 were arrested.
Kunar: An unidentified Resistance group is daid to have ambushed a convoy transporting the TTP’s commander (Noor Wali Mehsud) along with over a dozen suspected ISIS-K and TTP guards. The location of the attack was said to ve north of Jalalabad. A source said that many in the party were injured when the Resistance element opened fire on the vehicles, but a firm casualty estimate was not available.
Paktika: Members of the Islamic National Movement for Independence (INFMA) claim to have assaulted a Taliban patrol near Sharni and reportedly killed 3 Taliban members. 1 of their fighters was reportedly wounded in the clash.
NEXT 24 HOURS
MORALITY POLICE TO START HIJAB PATROLS AGAIN IN IRAN – Police confirmed the patrols would begin on Sunday in Tehran and then spread to other major cities across the country in the coming week. Both car and foot patrols will be used to try and find violators of the strict clothing ordinances. Those found in violation could face fines, psychological counseling, and prison still remains a possible outcome as the national dialogue in May failed to reach a consensus over removing the threat of jail. At-risk Afghans in Iran should be aware that the patrols are likely and we assess that enforcement could be overly enthusiastic for the first several weeks. Protests could begin anew depending on how many Iranian women choose to ignore the rule.
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