LAST 24 HOURS
- ONE YEAR OF GIRLS BANNED FROM SCHOOL — The United Nations and other international organizations released statements marking the one-year anniversary since Afghan girls’ were officially barred from attending secondary schools in Afghanistan. The statements sought to shame the Taliban regime and pleaded for a rollback of the unpopular policy. The Taliban has not responded.
- CONFERENCE OF EXILES INSPIRES OFFENSIVE — The conclusion of the conference of exiled Afghan leaders seems to have been the catalyst for a new round of Resistance attacks in Afghanistan. Groups loosely aligned with the NRF also executed targeted operations against high-value targets in provinces around the country. It is unclear if Resistance groups will continue to put pressure on the Taliban over the coming week.
- ZAKIR CONFIRMED ALIVE, INJURED — A Taliban spokesman has denied reports that the Taliban’s special commander in Panjshir, Abdul Qayyum Zakir, was killed but acknowledged that he was injured. However, Zakir’s deputy, Molavi Haroon, was confirmed to be killed in fighting in the 1st district. It was not clear exactly when the injury and killing took place. Zakir is said to be recuperating in a heavily guarded hospital in an undisclosed location.
- FIRE IN KABUL MARKET — A large fire consumed several shops in a bustling clothing market in Kabul early on Sunday morning. Local eyewitnesses say the fire was contained quickly and was not allowed to spread into the general market.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Helmand: Taliban repeatedly attacked suspected terrorist safehouse in an undisclosed location. Early reports claim 4 civilian women were killed and 4 more civilians maimed in the attack.
Badghis: Two Talib commanders, Qari Nasir and Sayyid Agha were reportedly killed by the NRF in Jund district.
Panjshir: Noted Talib commander Maulvi Habibullah Sheeran (a.k.a. Zarkqwi) was reportedly killed in battle with the NRF at an undisclosed location in the province. He was considered a favourite of senior Taliban leadership.
Panjshir: NRF commander Sahib Mohammad Kabir Foulad is said to have led an arrack in an unidentified Talib position. The NRF claim to have killed 8 Talibs while taking no casualties.
Kandahar: The militant wing of the NLF claims to have assassinated 3 Talib security forces personnel in Kandahar city during the evening. Among the dead is Talib commander Maulvi Shafi Amr. The killings may have taken place on a bypass road around the city.
Takhar: Unidentified gunmen were said to have shot and killed 1 Taliban security forces member in Dasht-e-Qala district yesterday evening. No group has claimed responsibility, and the circumstances around the killing are unknown.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- TALIBAN LEADER SHAKEUP RUMORS — There are several uncorroborated rumors of an impending shakeup in the senior leadership at the Ministry of Defense. No specific names or positions have been mentioned, but a source claims that Taliban leadership in Kandahar has ordered the dismissal of 5 senior figures and their replacements are en route from Kandahar. The source continued to say that the Panjshir campaign (codename: Operation Al-Fath) has been an embarrassment to the regime, and the recent positive press coverage given to the NRF leader in Austria has convinced Supreme Leader Akhundzada that a change was needed.
- INDIA ADVOCATES FOR SIKHS STUCK IN AFG— India is expected to make a plea to the Taliban for several Sikhs to be allowed to travel out of Afghanistan. The Sikhs were recently denied permission to exit because the Taliban said they were carrying holy documents that were considered blasphemous.
INTERESTING ARTICLES
Afghan Zarqawi is shot dead in Panjsher valley of Afghanistan
[Modern Diplomacy] According to intelligence information, the leading Taliban commander Maulvi Habibullah Sheeran, who was known as Zarqawi, a resident of Zhrhai District, Kandahar Province, in the southwestern zone of the Taliban was killed in Panjshir battle.
Meantime, the intelligence report indicates, Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, the general military officer of Panjshir and Andrab and the deputy of the Ministry of National Defense, was injured in Panjshir on Friday, September 16 at 3:25 p.m. |