[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- ROCKET ATTACK ON AIRPORT IN KABUL, SEARCHES UNDERWAY – A rocket attack was reported at Kabul International Airport on Saturday as the Taliban’s Foreign Minister was leaving for a conference in Islamabad. Several projectiles reportedly impacted near the terminal area and at least 3 airport workers were witnessed to have received injuries from the explosions. It was unclear what kind of projectiles were used with differing accounts made by eyewitnesses to the attack. However, most agreed the attack originated from the rooftops of at least two buildings to the West of the airport. An anonymous source who had previously served with the Afghan National Army said the impacts from the strikes were too precise to be Rocket Propelled Grenades. The attack did not disrupt the Foreign Minister’s trip but Taliban units swarmed the airport and the surrounding neighborhoods. Several journalists said they had been warned to hold off on reporting the incident until a Taliban spokesman could prepare a statement.
- TRILATERAL MEETINGS IN PAKISTAN – Security and economic stability were the primary points of discussion in the meetings between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan. Calls were made to once again form an inclusive government and China used the opportunity to take more swipes at the United States for freezing assets. Ultimately, very little of consequence appears to have taken place at the event.
- STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS FUNDING ‘NOT’ GOING TO THE TALIBAN – A State Department spokesman, when pressed by a reporter over concerns raised in a recent Inspector General report about transparency, said that “US assistance in Afghanistan does not benefit the Taliban.” He stressed several ‘controls’ had been put in place to ensure the funding is handled by partner NGOs and the United Nations but many observers continue to question the validity of these claims and openly question how the State Department is monitoring the pipeline of cash.
- CHINA ‘GENTLY’ REMINDS TALIBAN OF TERRORISM COMMITMENT – China took the opportunity at Saturday’s meeting to explain to Amir Khan Muttaqi (Taliban Foreign Minister) that Afghanistan’s neighbors have valid security concerns about terrorism and that the Taliban had not convinced anyone that the threat of terrorism was diminished. China’s Foreign Minister mentioned his country’s specific concern by name (Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement) and said that China stood ready to assist with security cooperation programs to fight terror.
- PAKISTAN ISSUES PRESS ID CARDS TO AFGHAN JOURNALISTS – In a move to provide some semblance of credibility to the many Afghan journalists who find themselves in exile, Pakistan decided to issue these journalists press accreditation. The International Association of Pakistan-Afghanistan Journalists (IAPAJ) launched on Saturday in Islamabad and after brief remarks, began issuing the official cards to its members. The leaders of the IAPAJ hope the cards will deter Pakistani security personnel from harassing Afghan journalists and allow them to continue their work while residing in Pakistan.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kabul: Iran’s official news service said several rockets were launched into the airport grounds, landing in the ceremonial, control, and passenger areas. 3 non-combatants were reportedly wounded in the attack. The attack took place as the Taliban Foreign Minister was departing for meetings in Pakistan.
NEXT 24 HOURS
HOUSE SEARCHES AND POSSIBLE CLEARING OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE IN AREAS AROUND AIRPORT – Hundreds of additional Taliban security forces descended on the airport after the rocket attacks took place and small units began searching the adjacent neighborhoods about an hour after the last explosion took place. Some buildings had been searched and there was an unconfirmed report that several gunmen had been chased away from the Serena Hotel’s alley. At-risk Afghans can expect additional search operations to continue throughout the day and should be prepared for a possible clash with whichever group instigated the attack should contact be made. |