[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- HERAT COUNTER-ISIS OPERATION CALLED INTO QUESTION – Many are now questioning whether the Herat security operation that purportedly targeted an ISIS-K cell was faked. There are rumors that suspected ISIS-K detainees had been transported to the house and then executed. ISIS-K has released both documents and an audio file claiming the raid had been staged. Apparently, a video file has been received that shows Taliban security personnel unloading four men and herding them into a house (presumably in Herat). ISIS-K then threatened the Taliban and said that a ‘countdown’ had started.
- DEADLY BALOCHISTAN BOMBING KILLS AT LEAST 9 PAKISTANI POLICE – Reports suggest that a suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed a Pakistani bus that was transporting police and detonated his device. At least 9 are dead and 13 are said to be wounded. The attack occurred at approximately 1000hrs local on Monday in Bolan (on the Kambri Bridge crossing). No group has yet claimed credit for the attack but there are fears that the Balochistan Liberation Army has established an agreement with the TTP and is coordinating attacks such as these. UPDATE: ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack according to SITE Intel Group.
- STRANGELY, FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES HAVE BEEN ISSUED REGISTRATION FORMS FOR THE UNIVERSITY EXAMS – In recent proclamations, the Kankoor (university acceptance test) had been restricted to only male students. However, female students who have recently graduated high school report receiving the registration forms for the next testing phase. It is not clear if there was a technical oversight and the forms were distributed by mistake or, if there has been a change of policy.
- RUSSIA, IRAN, AND PAKISTAN SIGN $1 BILLION DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH TALIBAN – Russian media began reporting the deal had been struck between private businesses and investors from all three countries and the Taliban on Monday. The majority of the projects are reputedly focused on infrastructure improvements.
- SOME MALE STUDENTS IN BALKH PROVINCE BOYCOTT UNIVERSIT CLASSES IN SOLIDARITY WITH BANNED FEMALE STUDENTS – Male students in the Languages and Literature department at Balkh University announced they were boycotting classes in protest to the ban on female students.
- TALKS AT IRANIAN AND AFGHANISTAN BORDER CLASH SITE ONGOING – Taliban and Iranian border officials discussed the recent clash at the border and were seeking ways to lower tensions. It is still not clear what transpired to provoke the crisis.
NEXT 24 HOURS
FORMER PRIME MINISTER KHAN TO BE ARRESTED – After a Pakistani court upheld the arrest warrant for former PM Khan, it is believed that police will take him into custody soon. While some of his supporters could use the event to protest, we do not believe it will be widespread and feel that the danger posed to at-risk Afghans in Pakistan is low.