[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- PASSPORT OFFICES REOPEN BUT RUMORS PERSIST THAT ONLY TALIBAN FAITHFUL BEING SERVED – While the Taliban regime seemed proud to announce that the Passport Directorate had overcome several ‘technical difficulties’ to finally reopen, those who have long waited for their passports to be processed say the offices are focused primarily on serving Taliban security forces personnel and other Taliban supporters. Sources provided photos of personnel stationed inside two passport offices are rumored to depict special personnel who have been placed in the offices to assist in filling in the forms for those among the Taliban who can neither read nor write. An unconfirmed report suggesting that European countries would not issue Schengen visas to Afghan citizens may be in response to the rumors.
- IRANIAN VISA PROGRAM SUSPENDED IN HERAT – Residents of Herat and surrounding communities are clamoring for the Iranian Consulate to recommence issuing medical, student, and tourist visas. The Consulate had ceased issuing all but business visas nearly two months ago. The stoppage was reportedly in response to a Taliban decision to close an agency that assisted people to get their visas. Sources had suggested at the time the facility was closed after Iran asked the Taliban to implement policies to slow the flood of refugees to Iran. Currently, local Taliban officials are meeting with the Consul General of Iran in Herat to reopen the process.
- RUSSIAN ENVOY TO AFGHANISTAN AGAIN IMPLICATES THE US IN SUPPORT FOR DAESH, CLAIMS AFGHANISTAN RESERVES ARE BEING HELD AS BLACKMAIL – Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Presidential envoy for Afghanistan, has again tried to tie the United States to ISIS-K activities in Afghanistan and claims Russia has proof of US involvement. Kabulov, who has been described as being one of the ‘bluntest knives’ in Putin’s diplomatic drawer made several fantastic claims to media officials leveled at the US. A source within the Ministry of the Interior said that most of the Taliban leadership does not believe such claims privately but will not contradict Russia as it suits their needs at the moment.
- 2 ADDITIONAL ISIS-K MEMBERS REPUTEDLY ARRESTED IN POLICE DISTRICT 9 – A source said that, after the clash between Taliban and ISIS-K forces in Police District 6, evidence collected near the scene led Ministry of the Interior agents to an apartment in Police District 9. Local eyewitnesses say 3 Taliban security vehicles pulled up to the apartment and ‘men’ (presumably GDI agents) led 2 unidentified people out of the building and into the vehicles. The source said that more intelligence was gained from this arrest and that counter-terrorism officials believe that 2 operational cells are currently in Kabul with a total of approximately 13 ISIS-K members.
NEXT 24 HOURS
ISIS-K SECURITY OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE – After two successful security operations provided critical intelligence to the Taliban, further confrontations are expected in Kabul. While sources could not provide information on locations that were to be the focus of surveillance operations, they were confident that at least 2 ISIS-K cells are in the city and that Ministry of the Interior agents had narrowed their searches down to three unnamed Police Districts.
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