[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- JALALABAD BLAST CALLED ACT OF TERROR – Taliban security officials in Jalalabad have stated that the explosion reported in a Jalalabad commercial center on Saturday was a terrorist attack. They went on to say the blast was caused by an explosive device that had been hidden in a flower pot. 6 non-combatants were injured in the blast and several shops were damaged. One of the shops belonged to the city’s only Sikh resident, Gul Charan, but it was not immediately clear if he had been targeted. The attack has still not been claimed by any group.
- PUBLIC FLOGGINGS CONTINUE – The latest was reported on Sunday in Ghor Province where 7 people were whipped for various moral offenses. Among those punished was 1 woman. The punishments were meted out at the soccer stadium in Firoz. The Taliban forbid spectators from filming/photographing the event. While this event is thought to be the fifth public flogging since the Supreme Leader issued his decree, there have been nearly fifty reports of smaller punishment ceremonies in rural areas.
- ISIS-K (DAESH) CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAKISTAN EMBASSY ATTACK – ISIS-K began posting messages on its social media accounts that took credit for the attack on the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires. Most analysts and observers were surprised by the announcements as most had assumed the attacks were part of the TTPs new campaign against the government of Pakistan. Pakistan has undertaken its own independent investigation into the matter of who was responsible and has yet to accept the ISIS-K claims.
- MINISTRY OF EDUCATION EXAMINES CURRICULUM OFFERINGS – The Ministry announced that it was nearing the end of a research project to streamline the educational offerings for University students. Significant cuts to current degree programs are expected and while no official word has yet been given, several programs generally chosen by women are expected to be done away with.
- A TRUCK RUNS OVER PEDESTRIANS AT TORKHAM GATE – Yesterday, a large container truck plowed into a group of pedestrians and at least 20 casualties have been reported. It is not clear how many were killed in the incident. An investigation is underway and very few details have been released.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN EMBASSY ATTACK INVESTIGATION TO CONTINUE – Likely drawn from confessions under interrogation, the Ministry of the Interior has dispatched two additional search teams from Kabul. It is believed the GDI agents are heading to Badakhshan Province but may also meet with Pakistan ISI officials at the border to share information about the ISIS groups in Pakistan who claim to have masterminded the attacks. A source in the Police said that any additional suspects who may have participated in the attempted assassination had probably fled the city at this point. We do not assess any threat to at-risk Afghans that will result from the new operations. |