[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- TALIBAN CALL FOR A THREE-NATION MEETING ON REFUGEE ISSUES – Khalil Rahman Haqqani, Minister for Refugees and Repatriation has called for a meeting with Iran and Pakistan to find a solution for the problem of refugees from Afghanistan. A source in the Ministry of Defense said a recommendation for talks had actually come from Iran initially but Turkey may also send a representative to any forthcoming summit.
- TTP KILLS 3 POLICE IN KHYBER DISTRICT – Several militants struck a police outpost with guns and a suicide bomber which resulted in the deaths of 3 police. The militants struck the facility in a nighttime coordinated attack and at least 4 militants were involved. The suicide bomber detonated his device and was killed in the attack while the others escaped. The TTP claimed that only the suicide bomber was involved in the attack but several eyewitness accounts supported Pakistan’s statement on the matter. It is not clear if the militants had launched their attack from Afghanistan.
- PRISONERS RELEASED FROM NANGARHAR JAIL BY SUPREME LEADER – Nearly 70 prisoners were freed from the Jail in Nangarhar yesterday. The head of the appeals court cited a recent decree by the Supreme Leader that called for freeing persons who had been convicted of minor offenses and/or who had received forgiveness from the victims of their crimes. There were 11 children and 5 women in the group. The jail superintendent said that 1,100 prisoners remain in the jail and that 65 were children and 50 were women.
- THE UN CONTINUES TO HOLD THE LINE WITH THE TALIBAN – A few misleading articles in Taliban-affiliated news outlets attempted to give the impression that visiting officials from the United Nations had pledged to advocate on the regime’s behalf for recognition and a return of several billion dollars of frozen funds. To their credit, the UN delegates continually stressed the conditions that would need to be met before engagement could proceed. UNAMA, under badly needed new leadership, has impressed many with its skill at the negotiating table.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Takhar: A vehicle that exploded near the governor’s office Thursday afternoon was targeted by the NRF. 2 Taliban are thought to have been killed and 2 others were wounded. Reports differ over whether the mine was attached to a Taliban vehicle or the vehicle had a device placed in it and was parked near a checkpoint, The Taliban have acknowledged the incident but provided no additional details.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TAKHAR SECURITY OPERATIONS EXPECTED – A source in Kabul said that Taliban forces in Takhar have received information about further threats from NRF forces in the Province. To preempt any potential attacks, they intend to conduct home searches in Taloqan. The searches are expected to concentrate in neighborhoods on the North and South banks of the Khanabad river, near the Taloqan bridge. There is also a plan to set up a new security checkpoint along the road to Takhar University. Local Taliban security forces are reportedly looking for a cache of magnetic mines, 2 IEDs (mortar shells), and small arms. They believe the NRF operatives who carried out yesterday’s bomb attack have not departed. |