[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- TORKHAM REMAINED CLOSED FOR 5TH DAY – Trade groups from both countries expressed frustration over the continued closure of the commercial crossing. Talks reportedly continued on Sunday but Pakistan has dug its heels in over a call on Kabul to tackle the TTP terror problem. The Taliban continue to claim the TTP does not operate from within Afghanistan. Traders estimate that at least $1M has been lost due to the closure. Some in Kabul have speculated that an agreement to reopen the gate could be announced today.
- SECOND MAJOR ENGAGEMENT IN CHITRAL REPORTED – Possibly lending credence to TTP claims that it had occupied select population centers in the disputed area, Pakistani military personnel claim to have engaged TTP forces in the Ursoon area. 6 TTP fighters were reportedly killed and 6 others were wounded in the clashes. A source in Rawalpindi said that Pakistan has dispatched several hundred reinforcements to the area and is working to target remnants of the large TTP force that initiated the incursion last Wednesday. The area is considered extremely dangerous to travelers and Pakistani military and police were turning vehicles back along the main roadways leading into Ursoon and Chitral.
- TTP LEADERS FEAR A BETRAYAL BY KABUL/KANDAHAR – A source in Khost said that a recent meeting occurred in Paktia Province of senior TTP leaders and that the discussions were focused on possible courses of action the terror group could take should Kabul launch counter-terrorism operations against their members in Eastern Afghanistan. One of the senior leaders, referred to as ‘Commander Green’, complained that the TTP should never have allowed some of its members to be resettled to Balkh and other Northern Provinces from their strongholds along the Durand Line. ‘Commander Green’ also complained that the line of communications to Haqqani (presumably, the Minister of the Interior) had been compromised and that Pakistani intelligence services were eavesdropping on conversations. The source said that the recent actions in Chitral appear to have been an attempt to establish a new base of operations on the Pakistani side of the border and take pressure off Kabul. However, they did not expect such a strong response from the Pakistani military. Apparently, local leaders and communities were not as welcoming as TTP leaders had hoped. This information has not been confirmed.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Helmand: A suicide bomber reportedly attempted to target a Taliban security checkpoint in the Gereshk district, but was unable to approach the location. He entered a shop and detonated his device on Sunday morning. 1 non-combatant was killed and the suicide bomber also died in the alleged incident. It is nor clear which group was responsible for the attack.
NEXT 24 HOURS
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN KARACHI PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE TERRORIST THREATS – Police in Karachi are warning Christian churches and facilities of potential terror threats. Police officials visited several of the facilities and compiled a list of recommendations that Christian leaders should take to safeguard their property and personnel. It was not immediately clear if the warnings were related to an immediate threat or, were simply proactive precautions in the wake of the riots that took place recently in other parts of the country. Regardless of the motives, the Police in Karachi appear to be taking threats to Christian minorities seriously. At-risk Afghans in Karachi would be wise to avoid these locations in the near term.