[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- REPORTS OF A ‘QUIET’ CURFEW IN KABUL, NANGARHAR, KUNAR, AND LAGHMAN PROVINCES – Residents of these Provinces say that Taliban patrols have increased in certain areas and that citizens are being told that no one is to leave their houses after 2100hrs local time. Some reports that individuals who have been stopped for a second time in select areas of Nangarhar have been arrested. It is not clear what threat the Taliban may be responding to and there are reports that the unofficial curfews are actually being put in place by local Taliban commanders who are under orders to reduce crime in their areas of responsibility.
- TALIBAN REGISTER COMPLAINT WITH CHINA OVER AFGHAN FEMALE ATHLETES ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN ASIAN GAMES ON 26 SEPTEMBER – A source in Kabul said that Taliban leadership was miffed upon hearing the news that 17 Afghan female athletes would be allowed to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games that is scheduled to start next week. The women athletes are expected to represent Afghanistan in the sporting competition and all are currently living abroad and are not sanctioned by the Taliban. Approximately 130 male athletes from Afghanistan are expected to take part in the games. The source said that an official response from China about the women’s participation had not yet been received and the Taliban Foreign Ministry was concerned that negative press would mar the Taliban’s image and would be used by critics of the regime to point out the continued gender disparity under the de facto regime.
- FORMER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE AFGHAN MILITARY SAY THEIR HOMES ARE BEING CONFISCATED BY THE TALIBAN IN NANGARHAR – Several sources from among officials of the former regime say the Taliban’s ‘3rd Brigage’ had begun confiscating property given to them while working/serving under the former regime. It is not clear how many homes had already been seized and there are conflicting reports about who is receiving the homes. Some sources say that families of TTP members have received the lion’s share while others say they are being taken by members of the Taliban security forces.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kapisa: An NRF strike team struck an intelligence directorate office in Kohistan yesterday evening at approximately 2100hrs local. 3 Taliban personnel were reportedly injured during an exchange of fire.
NEXT 24 HOURS
HEAVY RAINS EXPECTED IN THE NORTHEAST OF AFGHANISTAN – Up to 30mm
...over an inch...
of rain is in the forecast for parts of Badakhshan, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Kapisa, Nangarhar, Logar, Paktia, Khost, and Paktika Provinces today. The rainfall is expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas and will disrupt travel. Strong winds and dust storms will affect much of the rest of the country for the next two days. Travel should be planned with these unpredictable weather systems in mind.