[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- ANOTHER BORDER SKIRMISH ON AFGHAN/PAKISTAN BORDER – Taliban and Pakistan border security forces traded fire in Paktia Province on Saturday. The incident occurred as Afghan citizens and Taliban reportedly climbed fences along the Durand Line (Dandpatan District) with wire cutters and attempted to dismantle the barriers. There are conflicting reports over which side began firing first and there has been no word on casualties that either side may have sustained. Both sides reported that an Afghan vehicle was hit by Pakistani rifle fire. The engagement lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Yesterday’s clash is said to be the second over the last four days. No further information was available.
- PUBLIC FLOGGINGS IN TAKHAR – 19 men and women were handed down sentences of flogging by courts in Taliqan and the sentences were carried out in the city center. The judgments primarily punished those accused of committing adultery.
- AFGHANISTAN REMOVED FROM MEDIA FREEDOM LIST – The Media Freedom Coalition, an international organization that promotes freedom of the press around the world has announced that it revoked Afghanistan’s membership. The organization cited a prohibitive environment, state-sponsored arrests of journalists, and the forced closure of multiple media outlets that did not subscribe to the Taliban’s vision for the future.
- ISIS-K CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLERIC’S ASSASSINATION – ISIS-K released a message on several of its social media outlets claiming credit for the recent assassination of religious leader Qari Najibullah Azizi and 2 of his followers.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Paktia: A second clash in the past four days occurred in the Dandpatan district along thr Durand Line. No casualties have been reported. The shooting lasted less than an hour.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TENSIONS REMAIN ALONG THE DURAND LINE BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND TALIBAN – While a joint committee has been established between the two countries to probe the impetus for the deadly clashes at Spin Bodak-Chaman Gate, tensions remain elevated along the Durand Line. The latest clash in the Dandpatan District illustrated the long-standing outrage over the erection of the fence. Local sources say rumors about Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees and women, in particular, have enraged inhabitants along the border. Future isolated clashes such as yesterday’s are likely to continue. |