[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- FORMER ARMY AND POLICE REMAIN UNDER THREAT – Overwhelmingly, the highest number of casualties that continue to be exacted on the Afghan population come from the former Afghan Army, Intelligence, and Police. 2 men, both former security force members under the previous regime were killed in Northern Baghlan Province (Pul-i-Khumri) over the last few days. These killings continue to be carried out by ‘unidentified gunmen’ and most locals are under the assumption that the Taliban simply don masks to carry out the operations. The false flag of ‘general amnesty’ continues to lure many to their deaths. This segment of society continues to see the highest casualty rates in the country.
- TALIBAN ARREST 10 HIZB UT-TAHRIR MEMBERS IN KAPISA – Reports from the Province say that Taliban security forces rounded up 10 of the more radical members of the fundamentalist movement in an operation on the outskirts of the provincial capital. The arrests are thought to have occurred on 18 January but have only now been announced. Hizb ut-Tahrir has long been accused of aiding al-Qaeda and ISIS throughout Central Asia. The fundamentalist advocated for a pan-Islamist political strategy to establish a caliphate across the region. The Taliban initially welcomed Hizb ut-Tahrir into Afghanistan and most located in Kapisa. However, a falling out between the two is thought to have occurred in 2022 and some of the group members were assassinated under mysterious circumstances. The Taliban have since banned the group publicly.
- PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN BUS SERVICE MAY RESUME SOON – A bus terminal at Torkham Gate is being planned that would link service from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Peshawar, Pakistan. The service ran for many years but was suspended after a violent incident between the two countries in 2016. The date for reopening has not been announced but Pakistani officials seemed to imply that all negotiations had been agreed to between the two countries.
- TALIBAN OFFICIAL AT RALLY, “WE’RE READY FOR SUICIDE ATTACK” – More rallies erupted on Friday to protest the burning of the Quran in Sweden last week. A Taliban official in Ghor Province, Abdullah Zaeem, read a statement at a rally saying - “We the residents of Ghor are ready for suicide (attack) against the infidels to protect the values of Islam.” Other leaders among the Taliban called for West to hand over the man responsible for the act (Rasmus Paludan, a Danish political figure). In 2011, a similar act in the US sparked widespread protests, and protestors in Mazar-i-Sharif burst into a UN compound and killed 7 foreign UN staff. The protests lasted for several days with many non-combatants and police killed before finally subsiding.
NEXT 24 HOURS
MORE PROTESTS AGAINST THE BURNING OF QURAN IN SWEDEN EXPECTED – While there has been no reported violence to date, thousands are expected to continue protests over the weekend in at least 11 Provinces. Some local sources were concerned that Afghans who had worked on projects with Scandinavian countries could be targeted. However, this threat does not appear to be widespread. We urge caution for at-risk Afghans as they travel around urban areas and to avoid the protest sites if at all possible. |