[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- The Taliban’s Director of Culture in Helmand province issued a warning about posting on social media using Afghanistan’s tri-color flag. He claimed the government would take screenshots of offenders and that action will be taken. The warning was prompted by the celebration of Afghan Independence Day.
- Taliban reprisals against non-combatants in Panjshir are being widely reported across multiple Resistance-affiliated organizations. Many arrests have been made, and the charges given are typically related to providing support to the NRF. Residents of some villages have been told to vacate their homes and leave their districts. Violence has also been reported, but there is not enough information available yet to speculate.
- Persistent reports continue to arrive about the Taliban possibly having arrested an American filmmaker in Kabul. According to the rumors, American independent filmmaker Ivor Shearer and Afghan producer Faizullah Faizbakhsh were arrested on Wednesday while filming near the location where the former al-Qaeda leader was killed in a drone strike. They were accused of being American spies by Taliban standing guard, then detained and blindfolded by about 50 armed Taliban intelligence operatives. No further information was available.
- Reports from the impromptu conference in Kandahar suggest that Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was recorded declaring war against the United States and its allies. We are awaiting verification of the video/audio recordings.
- Taliban reinforcements began arriving in several locations across Panjshir. A source stated that the size of the force is approximately 400 fighters. Additionally, security elements dispatched from Kabul to Kandahar arrived and were deployed around the city.
CONFLICT TRACKER:
Baghlan: NRF vs Taliban in Pul-e-Hesar district killed 10 Talibs plus 8 maimed
Takhar: NRF vs Taliban in Rustaq district killed Talib intelligence officer Qari Sibghat and 3 turbans
Badakhshan: 3 killed, 1 maimed, Chinese security forces seen |