[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- QUESTIONS RAISED OVER HALTED US EVACUATION FLIGHTS – A recent article in the Voice of America cites anonymous sources within the Department of State who provided several explanations for the stoppage of evacuation flights since mid-June. Many Afghans who have approved SIV cases expressed concerns over the pause and have been left in limbo as to when flights will resume. No official reason was given for the action and officials failed to provide any indication of if/when flights would resume.
- MUHARRAM CEREMONIES INVITE TALIBAN CRACKDOWN – Shiite Muslims who chose to take part in religious observances for Muharram were filmed being dispersed violently by Taliban security personnel. The Afghan Shiite Ulema Council and many prominent Shiite leaders have called on the Taliban to allow the mourning period to continue. The Taliban continue to maintain they have imposed restrictions over security concerns. Some senior religious leaders in the Shiite community have called on followers to defy the Taliban.
- TALIBAN PRESS REGISTRATION PROGRAM VIEWED WITH SUSPICION – A program to register all journalists in Afghanistan commenced yesterday in Kabul. However, journalists say they do not trust the program and the virtual lack of credibility on the part of the Taliban have many international journalism organizations warning their Afghan colleagues not to participate. The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture says the program is meant to support journalists and continues to claim it was a program that began under the former regime. To obtain a Press Identity card, one must provide photos, names, affiliations, and contact information to the Taliban. Obviously, the rather harsh treatment many members of the Afghan press have dealt with over the past two years has caused many to question the true motivations behind the program.
- US/TALIBAN MEETINGS SCHEDULED IN QATAR – US envoys will meet with the Taliban in Doha to discuss several topics of interest. The US team will then travel to Kazakhstan for meetings with the Central Asian States on Afghanistan. The majority of the meeting is expected to focus on human rights but will also include discussions about trade, security, and economic stabilization. The meeting in Kazakhstan will involve the C5+1 group of nations that was formed with President Obama at the UN in 2015. The members include Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
NEXT 24 HOURS
ISIS-K ISSUES THREAT TO TALIBAN – ISIS-K released a message on several of its many social media platforms that scoffed at claims the terrorist group had been neutralized in Afghanistan and warned of impending attacks. Historically, ISIS-K launches an operation within 2-5 days of posting such messages. There has been no information received about any specific targets or dates for any potential attack. However, with the ongoing Muharram observance taking place, ISIS-K could well target Shiite Mosques or neighborhoods. Alternatively, they may attempt to strike at senior Taliban leadership owing to the many insults the Taliban have thrown at them over the past two months.
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