[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- BORDER CLASHES IN PAKTIA CONTINUE – Yesterday evening, fresh clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan border forces were reported in the Dand-e-Patan District of Afghanistan and the Barokai District of Pakistan. The fighting has so far been restricted to small-arms gunfire being traded across the border. While a firm count of casualties has yet to be reported, there are scattered reports of non-combatant injuries on the Pakistan side of the line. The fighting escalated even after the announcement of the reopening of the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing early on Sunday.
- REINFORCEMENTS BEING SENT TO BADAKHSHAN – A Battlion-sized element of Taliban fighters has been ordered to reinforce Taliban outposts in the Wakhan Valley of the Province. A source within the Ministry of Defense said the move was meant to reassure both local leaders and China that the Taliban intend to keep the Province from falling into NRF hands. Source went on to claim the Chinese are primarily concerned with keeping ETIM and other terrorist groups from their shared border. It is not clear when the reinforcements will arrive in the Province and the source claimed that no preparations had been made to garrison the fighters there for the coming Winter. The Prime Minister is thought to have ordered a delegation of Taliban leaders to accompany the Battalion to hear grievances by local leaders.
- THE IEA DIGS ITS HEELS IN – The senior leadership of the Taliban continues to ignore calls for a more modern model of governance. Even sympathetic regional States have had their demands for the formation of an inclusive government and access for women to education rebuffed. Seemingly, the thinking in Kandahar is that its strategic position as a crossroads will ultimately outweigh criticisms from the international community and they will be forced to relent and recognize the IEA. Thus, the edicts and proclamations from Kandahar continue to accelerate the IEA on its downward spiral towards ‘rogue nation’ status. Recent announcements concerning a return to the strictest form of Sharia law are serving to silence even nominal support for the regime. Such a state of isolation can be survived but with active resistance in the country that will likely get stronger as the economic situation worsens and a lack of expertise concerning domestic governance, the future looks bleak.
- TALIBAN MILITARY SHAKEUP – The Hamid Khorasani camp in Khair Khana (Kabul) is said to have been the scene of an inter-Taliban dust-up. Sources in the Ministry of Defense confirmed that Taliban forces who were previously stationed at the base have been relieved of their duties and all weapons, vehicles, and equipment were collected and placed under the command of the Central Corps. Sources said the loyalties of the troops garrisoned at the camp had been questioned and the Ministry of Defense decided to disarm/dismiss them rather than attempt to rehabilitate the unit. Sources agreed the move would drive several of the disaffected troops directly into the arms of the Resistance or ISIS-K. No further information was available.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Faryab: Unknown gunmen assassinated 2 Talib security personnel manning a checkpoint near the appeals court. The gunmen escaped.
Paktia: Another border skirmish was reported late Sunday between Taliban and Pakistani security forces in Dand-e-Patan district. The belligerents reportedly traded small arms fire for several hours. Some Pakistani non-combatants are thought to have been injured.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL REOPEN SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN GATE – The crossing had been closed since a deadly cross-border incident occurred. Pakistan made the announcement after receiving assurances the perpetrator would be brought to justice. One news outlet, The Khaama Press, reported that a man purported to be the instigator of the attack was transferred to Pakistani custody on Saturday night in Kandahar Province. This information has not yet been verified. The gate should open to all traffic today.
- UNAMA HEAD TO MEET WITH UZBEKISTAN AND TAJIKISTAN IN DUSHANBE – Marks Potzel, UNAMA head, traveled to Dushanbe for a week of meetings with leaders of both countries to discuss the Afghanistan problem.
|