[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- PAKISTAN HEDGING ITS BETS – While the political leaders of the country continue to promote dialogue with their Taliban counterparts, the Army is building up a sizable presence near Chaman. Photos and videos of several long convoys of heavy artillery, rocket systems, and trucks filled with infantry have been received since last Sunday’s exchange of fire. The military units were observed passing through Quetta on the way to positions near Chaman. Local sources estimate the garrisons around Chaman have received an additional 20,000 soldiers in the past 96 hours.
- KARZAI POPS UP IN TURKEY FOR MEETINGS WITH FORMER OFFICIALS – The former President was photographed in Turkey with former leaders of the previous regime. An aide stated his intentions were to attempt to find a way of establishing a line of communication between the exiled leaders and the Taliban. His trip was planned to ostensibly seek medical care in Germany but his stops in the UAE and, now in Turkey, suggest politics was also a primary purpose. Some in Afghanistan had circulated rumors that he was carrying an olive branch from the IEA to the leaders in exile, but those rumors have not been substantiated and don’t appear to be realistic based on the actions of the Taliban leadership over the past two months.
- RESISTANCE FORCES REPUTEDLY RECEIVING FINANCIAL SUPPORT – A source close to the NRF leadership has stated that significant financial support is expected to be turned over in January 2023. It is not clear who is providing the support and how much may have been raised but the source said that ‘realists’ now see the NRF as the only viable alternative for a potential power-sharing agreement. The source said his contacts within the Taliban government have been concerned after the ICC and others announced possible War Crimes investigations could go ahead. The source also mentioned that senior Taliban leaders see ISIS-K as the true enemy of Afghanistan and are interested in potentially working with the Resistance groups to eradicate the threat. The source concluded by saying that collaboration between the Resistance and Taliban to fight ISIS-K is ‘not grounded in reality at this time’. No further information was available.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Panjshir: An NRF detachment targeted a Talibqn security vehicle in the Rakheh district with a magnetic mine, Early reports indicate that 9 Taliban security personnel were killed and several others were injured, The blast is said to have occurred near the Golestan Market and was near a cluster of Taliban personnel, Taliban officials have admitted the blast but attributed it to a family rivalry.
Helmand: A team from the ALM reported,h assassinated Mullah Qauoum in the Nad Ali district last night at approximately 2000 hrs local time. Other casualties may have occurred, but an accurate count was unavailable.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN – We still do not know if the border crossing has reopened but talks were held between Taliban and Pakistan interlocuters which are thought to have averted further attacks in the near term. Pakistan military forces are known to have moved into support positions around Chaman but the Taliban seem to be content with the forces they have on hand. At-risk Afghans should avoid the area in the meantime. |