[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN KABUL – Eyewitnesses reported a sizable explosion in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul on Saturday. The blast was said to have taken place near the Maulana Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi High School (Police District 11). Some eyewitnesses were quoted saying they heard a rocket sound before the blast and most saw the students screaming and running away from the sound of the blast. No casualties have been reported and Taliban security forces have cordoned off the area. No group has claimed credit for any attack and it is not clear if the blast was triggered by a terrorist device at this point.
- TALIBAN WILL TREAT TERRORISTS USING AFGHAN SOIL AS SEDITIONISTS – Zabibullah Mujahid announced on Friday that anyone caught planning or carrying out attacks on other countries from within Afghanistan will be tried for treason in the future. The Taliban have continually claimed that no terror groups (with an external focus) reside in Afghanistan. The statement seems to indicate an acknowledgment that the reverse is true. Whether it has any effect on diminishing future cross-border attacks remains to be seen.
- IRAN URGES MORE ACTION TO PROTECT SHIITES/MINORITIES – In the wake of the latest bomb attack on a Shiite community in Kabul, Iranian officials took to social media to condemn the attacks and alleged the Taliban was not taking threats to minority religious and ethnic communities seriously enough and urged the de facto regime to do more.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Parwan: A night attack took place on a Taliban military garrison in the Jabal-al-Sraj district. 3 Talib fighters were killed and 1 maimed in the melee. The hit-and-run attack took less than an hour. The base has been a frequent target of both the NRF and AFF since spring.
Badakhshan: A former Talib commander who defected to the NRF is said to have led an assault on a Taliban garrison in the Shahr Buzurg district Friday night. 4 Taliban fighters were reportedly killed and another 4 maimed. Talib commander Gol Murad is said to be among the wounded. No MRF casualties were reported. Fighting continued into Saturday
NEXT 24 HOURS
- TALIBAN FIGHTERS ARRIVE IN NURISTAN – Two columns of Taliban security forces personnel began arriving in Nuristan to quell a previously reported revolt in two Districts. The convoys were photographed upon arrival but have remained outside of the villages where local inhabitants have seized Taliban administrative offices. One source claimed they seemed to be waiting for something but could not say what that might be. It is possible the Taliban are waiting on a negotiator to arrive and speak with the local inhabitants. Although violence can’t be ruled out, the fact the Taliban have yet to enter the towns suggests that force will
- THE CENTRAL BANK TO AUCTION DOLLARS – The DAB announced its intentions to auction $10 million dollars on Sunday.
|