[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- RED CRESCENT OFFICIALS IMPRISONED – Two Afghan Red Crescent Society officials appointed by the Taliban have been removed from their posts and sentenced to 1 month in prison for failing to implement undisclosed orders from the Supreme Leader. It is not clear what orders the two were instructed to put in place and this incident is thought to be the first instance where the Supreme Leader has referred Taliban officials to the courts for disciplinary action.
- MORE REPORTS OF PRISONERS BEING EXECUTED IN BADAKHSHAN – Several news outlets now report that approximately 20 prisoners have been summarily executed and 6 non-combatants over the past 4 days. If the reports are true, it adds fuel to the chorus of growing calls for an investigation into human rights abuses under the Taliban administration.
- TALIBAN REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FROM ANSARULLAHS IN FIGHT AGAINST NRF IN BADAKHSHAN – A source in the Ministry of Defense claims an unidentified high-ranking Taliban official met with delegates of Jamaat Ansarullah on Saturday to discuss cooperation in the fight against the Resistance in Badakhshan. Apparently, the Ansarullah agents demanded weapons and equipment be transferred to Mahdi Arsalon’s control for eventual use in Tajikistan. It is not currently clear if a bargain was struck. The move is seen as a desperate attempt to keep a lid on the problem the Taliban faces in Badakhshan. A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Ministry is on edge over an anticipated request for information from Chinese officials concerning the situation.
- SUPREME LEADER MEETS AGAIN WITH INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS – Akhundzada met with Defense intelligence officials on Sunday to pass along his vision for the future of the service and to congratulate the services on the recent counter-terror operations in the country. He warned the services to guard against recruiting unqualified applicants and urged the group to adhere to the tenets of Sharia law. Some analysts believe these meetings are intended to be warnings to those in the Ministries of the Interior and Defense.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Takhar: Independent reports state 8 Taliban were killed and 6 wounded when Resistance forces (NRF) inadvertently encountered a Taliban security patrol in Varsaj district (Tagab village). A Taliban security vehicle was also reportedly destroyed.
Khost: The Kohst Resistance Front (KRF) reportedly attacked the Taliban camp yesterday evening in Chaharghashlaq (Farghanbal Valley). The fighting continued into the night. Casualties are currently unknown.
Kabul:An explosion was reported in Police District 6 on Sunday. 3 non-combatants were reportedly wounded when a blast targeting a mini-bus ruptured the fuel tank of the vehicle, Multiple eyewitnesses reported a secondary blast, which suggests it was a magnetic mine or some other such device.
Takhar: A Taliban security vehicle was targeted by a ‘sticky-bomb’ in Taleqan late Saturday evening in Police District 3. The blast claimed the lives of 2 Taliban personnel and wounded 3. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
NEXT 24 HOURS
POSSIBLE TARGETED SECURITY OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE – As has been witnessed in past security operations that have targeted ISIS-K, information gleaned from survivors of the clashes often leads to additional raids. These may be possible over the coming week. |