[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- PAKISTAN SAYS MILITANTS ATTACKED AN ARMY POST FROM AFGHANISTAN, 3 SOLDIERS DEAD – The attack was reported on Thursday in the Kurram border district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Local residents said the fighting began before daybreak and the fighting lasted for more than an hour. Pakistan claimed to have killed two of the militants and was attempting to identify the men. They say they were carrying Afghan currency on them. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
- INTERNAL DIVISIONS CONTINUE TO BUILD WITHIN THE TALIBAN – The standoff between Haibatullah Akhundzada and a cabal of his Ministers led by Mohammad Yaqoob and Sirajuddin Haqqani has continued. After the Supreme Leader spurned talks with his two most powerful Ministers, both sides have begun rallying loyalists to their sides. A source in a neighboring country who has enjoyed access to both camps said that Yaqoob and Haqqani hold a significant tactical edge over Akhundzada and have taken to calling the Supreme Leader’s forces, “The Militia of Kandahar”. The source went on to say that Kandahar is an island on an inner sea that would fall in days should the Kabul clique decide to remove Akhundzada. Another source in Kabul said any campaign to remove the Supreme Leader would be a protracted affair and said he holds significant sway with the older warlords who would likely come to his aid.
- HACKING GROUP ANONYMOUS SHARES TALIBAN MEMBERS’ PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAILS PUBLICLY – The hacking collective began posting the information on Twitter and are expected to continue leaking the information in a coordinated campaign that will see Afghan diaspora activist groups deluge the Taliban members with emails, texts, and phone calls over the next few months. Supporters of the campaign hope they will be able to change some opinions of those fighting for the group. The Taliban initially planned a press release about the situation but canceled it at the last minute.
- OFFICIALS IN KARACHI COME UNDER FIRE AFTER PHOTOS OF AFGHAN CHILDREN IN A PRISON ARE RELEASED – The UNHCR has asked for information about the Afghan people who have been arrested in Sindh Province. Authorities in the Province say they have rounded up approximately 1,400 Afghans, 400 Nigerians, and several hundred other foreigners since August of 2022. The officials say they have been detained in three detention facilities while their cases are reviewed and decisions are made about what to do with them. The photos have been shared widely on social media and will likely elicit further criticism from other organizations and governments.
- INDIAN DRUG MANUFACTURER ACCUSED OF KILLING 18 UZBEK CHILDREN FORCED TO HALT OPERATIONS – Marion Biotech, the firm that makes Dok1 Max, a children’s cough suppressant, was forced to halt production on Thursday night after irregularities and deviations were discovered. Indian authorities had already launched an investigation but were now trying to determine where the cough syrup may have been exported over the past year. There is concern that some of the cough syrup may have been sold in Balkh Province after being delivered by a supplier from Uzbekistan.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Nangarhar: An ALM squad ambushed the intelligence official of the Khogyana district (Hafiz Bashar) in the Wzirir Tangi area. ashar was reputedly killed in the incident.
Nangarhar: The AFF attacked a Taliban outpost in Surkhrud. A video clip of the attack showed an SFF fighter hurling a grenade over the walls of the outpost, The AFF says 2 Taliban were injured in the attack.
NEXT 24 HOURS
WOMEN’S PROTEST EXPECTED IN KABUL – After the Taliban doubled down on the ban on women working in humanitarian aid programs, several women leaders were planning protests in Kabul. The Taliban security forces failed to show restraint while putting down earlier demonstrations and will likely react in a similar fashion should the protests go ahead in Kabul.
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