[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- INSTITUTE FOR PEACE FOUNDER ARRESTED IN KABUL – Sardar Nadir Naim, the founder of the Kabul Institute for Peace and a former presidential election candidate (2014) has been arrested on unspecified charges. Friends and onlookers saw GDI agents push Naim into a ‘land rover’ and take him away. It is thought he is being held at the Ministry of the Interior currently.
- US CONGRESS AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT, 2023 – A bipartisan bill focused on providing permanent pathways to Afghan refugees in the US was introduced yesterday. The bill reportedly has significant support from both parties in Congress but will face tough debate over the scope of authorities and some controversial provisions that appear to be aimed at the State Department.
- IRAN HOPING TO PASS A BILL IN PARLIAMENT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL REFUGEE ORGANIZATION – The Interior Minister of Iran, Ahamd Wahidi gave an interview where he expressed hope that the parliament would establish the new government agency to help take the pressure of military and police personnel. He went on to say that no security threats have been reported from among the 5 million Afghan refugees currently in Iran. Iran has continued its program of mass deportations and claimed that 18,000 Afghans had been sent back over the previous ten days. In a separate interview, an advisor to Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan said that Afghan refugees have invested nearly $150 million in Iran over the past four months. The investments were primarily focused on agriculture, industry, and construction.
- IN THE WAKE OF THE ZHOB TERROR ATTACK, PAKISTAN’S LEADERS ISSUE STERN WARNINGS TO TALIBAN – While there was no specific evidence that the 5 terrorists who attacked the military facility in Zhob had come from Afghanistan, several senior officials have recently made public remarks which leave little doubt as to the government’s thoughts on the matter. The surge in attacks against Pakistan’s military and police forces is thought to have been caused by the backroom deal between the Taliban and Pakistan to relocate TTP personnel away from the Durand Line. A source in Kabul says the move has ignited a minor firestorm between the TTP and the IEA that has been kept quiet so far but could erupt at any time. Apparently, several senior TTP leaders viewed the relocation program as a betrayal and vowed to carry the fight into Pakistan. The source said the IEA has not sanctioned any cross-border actions and has warned local leaders not to provide arms and ammunition to the group.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN’S POSTURING COULD PRECIPITATE A STRIKE IN AFGHANISTAN – While there has been no definitive information relating to a potential strike, the recent warnings issued by government officials to the Taliban may signal that a strike is being planned. The overwhelming majority of TTP actions have occurred in North Waziristan and our analysis indicates that any potential strike would likely target suspected TTP operating bases in Khost or Paktika Provinces.
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