• A MYSTERIOUS DRONE — An unidentified drone was filmed while reportedly loitering over the Abdullahkhel area of Dara District in Panjshir. Several videos have been posted, lending credibility to the reports. The drone appeared to loiter for a couple of hours before it was observed moving off to the north. It is unclear which country or group owns and operated the drone.


• FACEBOOK CRACKDOWN? — Several members of the small ulema who met in Kandahar recently made calls to shut down access to Facebook access in Afghanistan. Two unnamed advisors to Supreme Leader Hibatullah declared that the social media site is corrosive to morality. Leading religious figures have also stated that Afghans should be spending their money on necessities, not Facebook, despite no evidence that Afghans are directing income toward the site.


• CONTROVERSIAL LAND REFORM — The Taliban began a land reform program in Takhar province that mirrors operations that began in Herat earlier this year. Local sources stated that a controversial program began on Monday to settle recently arrived nomads, reportedly from Pakistan, in the province on plots of land owned by local inhabitants with minority backgrounds. Local inhabitants are concerned the Taliban’s strategy is to displace ethnic/religious minorities with populations who are perceived to be loyal to the Pashtun factions of the Taliban. The local communities have protested the program to Taliban authorities but have not received any indication that the program will be halted. Historically, land reform programs have resulted in violence.

1) The Taliban has circulated a video showing top Haqqani leaders, including Sirajuddin & Badruddin Haqqani, Qari Zakir, Mullah Sangeen Zadran, and Ghani Muhammad sending off the suicide assault team that attacked Forward Operating Base Fenty at Jalalabad Airport in 2010. pic.twitter.com/N2Z5IpJATa

— Bill Roggio (@billroggio) August 22, 2022