[IsraelTimes] LAST 24 HOURS
- UNITED NATIONS LEVIES A DEADLINE ON THE TALIBAN – In remarks made by the head of the UN’s Development Program, the UN is prepared to pull out all support from Afghanistan if the Taliban don’t relent on their bans against women humanitarian workers. While a specific date was not mentioned, the UNDP Chief mentioned the month of May as a potential deadline. In a clearly choreographed effort, the UN released economic data on Tuesday which suggests the economy would be reduced by 30% without this aid. The United Nations employs nearly 3,300 Afghans with a gender ratio of 2,700 men to 600 women. The workers have been ordered to ‘work from home’ for now and are still receiving pay. It is unclear if they would lose their positions should the UN be forced to quit the country.
- RAIN AND FLOODING KILL 2 AT TORKHAM, DRIVERS STRANDED ACROSS MANY PROVINCES – A landslide caused by saturated ground near Torkham on Tuesday has overturned at least 14 large trucks, and at least 2 people are dead with many more unaccounted for. Rescue crews, army soldiers, and locals were desperately trying to dig people out of the mud and stone. Officials have said the death toll is expected to climb as scores of names have been reported as missing. A military engineering team that was sent to assess the damage is concerned that more slides or, a larger slide could take place due to unstable conditions and steep grades of the hillsides near the roads.
- RESISTANCE OVERTURES TO PAKISTAN – An official from the National Resistance Front indicated in a press conference that overtures had been made to the Government of Pakistan seeking potential cooperation in their fight against the TTP. We do not assess the Government of Pakistan would support official relations with the NRF but may explore secret collaboration based on mutually supportive priorities.
- IMRAN KHAN FEARS ARREST PLANNED FOR EID UL FITR IN LAHORE – The deposed Prime Minister has voiced concerns that he will be arrested during the upcoming holiday at his Zaman Park home. Charges have continued to be filed against the former PM by Police and some believe Khan may have conjured the threat up to try and rally supporters. A Pakistani police spokesman said there were currently no plans to serve the former PM at his home in the near future, much less arrest him.
- KAZAKHSTAN ACCREDITS TALIBAN DIPLOMATS – Aibek Smadiyarov, a spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry has stated that letters of accreditation have been granted to some Taliban diplomats in Astana. He stressed that his government does not yet recognize the Taliban regime.
NEXT 24 HOURS
THREAT OF FLOODING TO PERSIST ANOTHER 18-24 HOURS – While floodwaters have receded in some Provinces, water continued to pose a hazard in other areas as heavy rains combined with mountain snowmelt to cause rivers and streams to overflow their banks. Several casualties have been reported and a rough count suggests that as many as 1,000 travelers remain stranded due to washed-out roads. The flooding threat is expected to diminish tomorrow morning in most areas and travel is strongly discouraged in affected areas. |