[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- EXPLOSION REPORTED IN WEST KABUL – An unverified report of a large explosion was reported in the Pule Surkh neighborhood of Kabul yesterday. No details or confirmation of the blast has yet been made. Taliban security personnel were filmed converging on the area but it is not clear what transpired.
- EVICTIONS OF FORMER ANSF FAMILIES REPORTED IN HERAT – A protest took place in Herat (Ghand 11 neighborhood) on Wednesday after several families were removed from their homes. The protestors say they were evicted because their relations served in the Afghan military under the former regime. A local eyewitness told reporters that the families were replaced by people deemed loyal to the Taliban.
- PAKISTANI SECURITY FORCES NEUTRALIZE 2 TERRORISTS IN BALOCHISTAN – Government officials announced the successful conclusion of a two-day counter-terrorism operation in the Kech District of Balochistan. The raid took place in the Mazaband Range and was carried out on 10-11 August. 2 terror suspects were killed in a shootout and 1 was wounded. Security personnel recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition that was reportedly being assembled for a major terror attack. All the men involved in the incident were thought to have participated in the attack that killed 12 Pakistani soldiers in July. As of publication, it was not yet known to which terror group the men belonged.
- POLITICIZATION OF THE AFGHANISTAN ISSUE HAS ‘JUMPED THE POND’ – The US is not the only nation to have targeted the Afghanistan issue for political messaging. Europe is also beginning to see political groups and individuals incorporate Afghanistan into its messaging. Although, the US seems to be focused on the past while Europe is looking at the future.
- AFGHAN REFUGEES IN THE UK FACE A TOUGH DILEMMA – Thousands of Afghan refugees in the United Kingdom are facing major hurdles to secure housing as they are being forced out of the hotels they have been residing in. British Veteran groups and NGOs are struggling to assist Afghans with finding places to live. The official government deadline for the refugees to leave their hotels is 31 August and many Afghans are having very little luck with even scheduling a viewing for an apartment or home. Some of the refugees have already been evicted from their hotels (roughly 1 in 5 families) and have been forced to seek public assistance through homeless programs in different councils around the country. Some attribute the issues to a lack of housing even before the resettlement program began with a lack of understanding on the part of landlords and letting agencies that the Afghans have been granted indefinite leave to remain. For its part, the British government established a 285 million GBP fund for councils willing to provide housing for Afghan refugees.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Khost: Fighters from the Khost AFF reportedly carried out an RPG attack against Taliban personnel occupying a house in Lerwan, Dara Chakhfalak. While casualties were reportedly inflicted, a form count has not been provided.
Kabul: Afghanistan Liberation Movement (ALM) units claim to have killed 7 Taliban in the Red Bridge section of Kabul at approximately 2000hrs local time. The operation targeted a security checkpoint. Apparently, the Taliban closed the roads around the Pol Sohrh and De Buri intersection in response to the attack.
NEXT 24 HOURS: No Threats Reported