[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- 2 DEAD IN AN EXPLOSION REPORTED IN POLICE DISTRICT 4 – A blast was reported yesterday evening (approximately 2050 hrs local) in the Parwan 3 neighborhood of Kabul. Taliban police responded to the scene but no information was provided about what may have caused it. A police spokesman said 2 people had been killed when a Corolla-type vehicle blew up. The identities of those killed were not released and no further information was available.
- LARGE EXPLOSION REPORTED IN TAKHAR – Local eyewitnesses reported a massive explosion had been observed in the capital city of Taloqan. No information about where the blast occurred and whether it was planned or accidental has yet been released. No further information was available.
- CASUALTIES REPORTED FROM MOST RECENT AFGHAN/PAKI BORDER CLASH – Previous reporting indicated a clash had taken place along the Durand Line. Pakistan has now reported 7 people were wounded in Kurram District as a result of gunfire. Among those wounded, 3 were reportedly members of the Pakistani Army, 2 were non-combatant adults, 2 were children, and livestock had been killed. An official statement from the Government of Pakistan claimed that civilian residential areas had been targeted by the Taliban and alluded to reports of ‘shelling’ which may indicate mortars or artillery may have been used in addition to small arms. Talks between local leaders from both sides of the border were underway. Pakistan reported the impetus for the fighting was an illegal incursion into Pakistan by Afghans and the Taliban who claimed to be building a road. As of this morning, the Taliban had moved the heavy machinery used to construct the road back to the same location which saw the commencement of hostilities. While the border crossing at Spin Boldak-Chaman was reopened, the border area along the Durand Line may see further violence.
- TALIBAN CAPTURE 12 NRF MEMBERS IN KAPISA – The Ministry of the Interior released a statement that it had captured 12 members of the Resistance Front, including 3 key leaders on Sunday. In addition, they released video footage of confessions and the men looked to have sustained several visible injuries. Local residents told a news outlet that 10 of those captured had nothing to do with the NRF and they were not affiliated with any group. At this point, it is not clear who the Taliban arrested. The detentions come after earlier arrests in the Province netted an additional 11 people who were charged with assisting the NRF. The NRF has not yet confirmed the reports.
- SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN BORDER CROSSING REOPENS – As promised, the border crossing reopened to all traffic on Monday. Several photos alleged to depict the Taliban handing over a man to Pakistani authorities were circulated on social media late on Sunday night. Additional security forces have been observed on both sides of the border but traffic was passing through normally on Monday.
- RUMORS OF A TTP BREAK WITH AFGHANISTAN’S TALIBAN – Multiple sources have claimed that trouble is brewing between the TTP and Kabul. Some in the TTP are inclined to believe that Kabul is assisting Pakistan to disrupt the TTP and believe the mysterious killings of 2 TTP leaders in Afghanistan are evidence of collusion. While the rumors have not been confirmed, there was ample evidence the TTP were dissatisfied with negotiations between Kabul and Islamabad earlier in the year and felt their concerns had not been addressed. A schism between the two could complicate Afghan/Pakistan relations and cause chaos along the border.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- SECURITY OPERATIONS LIKELY IN KABUL AND TAKHAR – While the causes of the two blasts reported yesterday are unclear, rumors that ISIS-K had been planning retaliatory strikes against the Taliban have been circulating since the ‘clearing operations’ in Kabul and Herat earlier this month resulted in the deaths and arrests of several ISIS-K militants. It is possible the Taliban may conduct additional clearing operations in both locations and at-risk Afghans should expect heightened security checkpoint protocols in the meantime.
- THE SWISS-BASED GROUP IN CHARGE OF MANAGING AFGHANISTAN’S FROZEN ASSETS MEETS FOR FIRST TIME IN GENEVA – An announcement about how the first tranche of Afghanistan’s frozen funds will be used is expected in the next twenty-four hours. Insiders say the initial funds are likely to be used to stabilize the national currency. Whatever the announcement entails, it will likely draw criticism from China, Russia, and other Central Asian actors who have consistently labeled the economic tactic as illegal.