• CABINET RESHUFFLE REPORTED – The Deputy Prime Minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir is once again said to be stepping down due to an illness. The current Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi will assume the role in the interim. It was not clear if Muttaqi would be replaced at the Foreign Ministry or fulfill the duties of both positions. Kabir has reputedly fallen ill on at least two other occasions and a temporary Deputy was appointed in his place. Some sources allege that Kabir is not ill but has harbored resentment over his position since the Cabinet was formed.


• TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN HERAT CLAIM IRAN DEPORTING AFGHANS WITH VALID PASSPORTS AND LEGITIMATE VISAS – The local head of Immigration in Herat said that many recent deportees had been returned through the Islam Qala crossing bearing valid documentation issued by Iran. Most expressed outrage over having been arrested and deported ‘violently’ by Iranian security forces. Most reports indicate that Iran has increased deportations of Afghans by 100% over the month of November. Speculation continues that Iran is using the cover of Pakistan’s largely unpopular deportation operation to get rid of Afghans.


• NRF CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SATURDAY ATTACK IN TAKHAR – The National Resistance Front took credit for a blast that had been reported in Talaqan on Saturday. The group said that 3 Taliban were killed in the incident and that their forces had used an explosive device to target a Taliban vehicle.


• SPIN BOLDAK PROTESTS CONTINUING – Islamabad has yet to find a solution to the protests that continue to block commercial traffic at the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing. Trade is reportedly at a standstill as Pakistanis continue to deny access to the crossing for trucks and other commercial vehicles to cross into Afghanistan. The impasse arose over the implementation of the ‘One Document Policy’ that only affords those with a passport/visa to cross the frontier. Local traders say that the crossing has always been treated as an ‘open border’ and that generations have moved freely across to buy/sell goods. The Government in Islamabad has countered that the border crossing has been used for smuggling purposes and seems content to allow it to remain closed. Many international observers in Pakistan have offered the opinion that Islamabad failed to make a strong case for security when implementing the policy and this has contributed to much of the frustration.

• DEPORTATIONS HALTED AT TORKHAM ON FRIDAY, TALIBAN FORCE THE HALT – In a move that has befuddled policymakers in Islamabad, the Taliban refused to accept people being deported from Pakistan by mandating they all must be cleared by the Consul General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A source in Islamabad said the maneuver caught members of the Foreign Ministry by surprise and that a special team had been assembled to examine the legality of the Taliban’s new rule. The Taliban’s main contention for invoking the screening is that many Pakistani citizens have been found among the Afghans who have so far been deported back to Afghanistan. A human rights lawyer in Islamabad said the maneuver was ‘brilliant’ on the part of the Taliban and offered the opinion the rule would be hard to argue as Pakistan had used similar arguments in a previous case involving Afghans in the early 2000s. Eyewitnesses say that no deportees were sent through Torkham on Friday as a result and that trucks carrying those who faced expulsion were left at the border to try again today.


• TALIBAN MINISTRY HIT BY NEW CYBER-ATTACK – An unidentified Ministry in Afghanistan fell victim to the ‘HrServ’ attack. Analysts say the attack inserted the web shell into the Ministry’s server and that the HrServ is a weaponized malware that can allow hackers to steal data, monitor servers, and perform limited functions across the server. The hack is being characterized as an Advanced Persistent Attack (APA). The web shell is capable of launching a file that erases any trail it may leave. Analysts say those responsible for the hack are likely not native English speakers due to the high number of typos in the source code. Ultimately, it is believed those behind HrServ were planning a financial crime of some sort.


• RETIRED INDIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF RECOGNIZING THE TALIBAN – Talmiz Ahmad, a retired Indian senior diplomat said that the recent circus that has played out in the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is a sign his government intends to begin bilateral relations with the defacto leaders in Kabul. Ahmad characterizes the step as ‘inevitable’ and is hopeful that bilateral relations would result in favorable trade agreements and the potential for discussions about the Taliban’s internal policies.


• PAKISTAN’S SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AGAINST FORCED DEPORTATIONS ON 1 DECEMBER – After a possible politically motivated delay, the Supreme Court said it would constitute a three-member bench to hear the plea on behalf of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and are considered to be ‘birthright citizens’ under Section 4 of the Citizenship Act (1951). If the plea is affirmed by the Supreme Court, it could potentially provide a legal basis for halting the deportations as the plaintiffs argue illustrates the Government of Pakistan’s inability to differentiate between those considered lawful ‘birthright citizens’ and those deemed ‘illegal migrants’. Political analysts say that even if the Supreme Court accepts the plea, it is unlikely to halt deportations but could provide ammunition to the international community to bring more pressure to bear on Islamabad over the universally condemned policy.


• BADAKHSHAN HEADACHES CONTINUE FOR TALIBAN – Reports of a widening rift continue to come in from Badakhshan Province. The most recent indicates that the District Governor is thought to have ordered the transfer of both heavy and light weapons to Kandahar. A senior Taliban official, Qari Fasihuddin, was asked to postpone a trip to the restive Province by senior agents from the GDI. A source in Kabul said that senior leaders are recommending a ‘stronger hand’ is needed to lead the Province.

• NEW UPDATES FROM BADAKHSHAN TALIBAN ISSUES – Hasht-Sub Daily reports that a former Commander of the GDI in the Province was arrested by a special Taliban security detachment sent from Kabul. The former Commander was arrested in Faizabad on Friday and has been transferred to Kabul. Rumi Nooralhuda faces charges of corruption and mistreatment of civilians and may be implicated in the mysterious killing of 4 Taliban fighters earlier in the Province. Nooralhuda is said to be related to Mawlawi Fasihuddin Fetrat, a leader in the Taliban Ministry of Defense.


• UNITED NATIONS TO INVESTIGATE RECENT KILLING OF SHIITE SCHOLARS IN HERAT – A brazen daylight assassination of 2 Shiite Islamic scholars in Herat City has prompted the Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett to open an inquiry into the matter. In a tweet, Bennett urged the Taliban to accept an independent investigation into the killings, and sources in Kandahar say that Taliban officials are unlikely to accept the advice as there are concerns that a local Taliban Commander (unnamed) may have been involved.


• TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN KABUL THREATEN SHOP OWNERS TO ADOPT PASHTO OR FACE CLOSURE – The threat was communicated during a televised interview with an unidentified Taliban official in central Kabul. The threat supports claims made by members of minority groups within Afghanistan for the past two years that say their cultures are under threat by the Pashtun-dominated Taliban. The Taliban have continually pushed back against such claims but few can ignore the lack of political representation from minorities in the senior Taliban ranks.


• MORE DIPLOMATIC DRAMA IN INDIA – Diplomatic staff at the besieged Afghan Embassy in New Delhi released several statements on social media that claimed the Embassy was to be closed and no further services were to be provided to Afghan citizens residing in the country. Shortly after the posts began to circulate on various social media platforms, 2 officials from the staff said that the Embassy would continue to operate. One of those mentioned is said to be a consular officer appointed by the previous regime but who has agreed to work with the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul. The Government of India has wisely stayed out of the squabble and it is not yet clear if they will accept the credentials of the new ‘Taliban’ affiliated diplomats.


• RESISTANCE ATTACKS GAIN MOMENTUM – Fighters from the Afghanistan Freedom Front have launched several operations over the month of November and appear to be carrying the brunt of the fighting against the Taliban in the months leading up to Winter. Yesterday witnessed three separate military engagements against the Taliban, two of which have been confirmed. The attacks follow several others that were ultimately confirmed throughout the month of November. While the National Resistance Front is generally considered the main military opponent for the Taliban, the AFF has clearly stepped up operations when most campaigning is tapering off for the Winter. Local sources within the Resistance say this is primarily due to a spike in recruitment that began in late 2022 and that the group is primarily located within Kabul and a select few other cities while the NRF is considered the ‘Northern Front’ and is based mainly in Takhar and Panjshir. Many have long thought that the majority of the legitimate Resistance groups began coordinating operations at the end of 2022. This has not been confirmed but the frequency and locations of attacks over the course of 2023 suggest that some communication is taking place. Many in Afghanistan have characterized the AFF fighters as sort of a ‘Robin Hood’ movement that locals can turn to in dealing with particularly heavy-handed or corrupt Taliban in their neighborhoods. The AFF’s operational strategy has been to launch lightning attacks on vulnerable Taliban positions. While the NRF was involved in heavier campaigns against the Taliban in 2022. Throughout 2023, the NRF has played a more defensive role and has largely avoided major engagements like those witnessed in the previous year. Whether this is a coordinated strategy between the two groups is unknown but it has resulted in constant pressure on the Taliban and has served to illustrate to regional and international observers that the Resistance is far from pacified.

• AFGHAN REFUGEE PROTEST MARCH PLANNED IN 4 PAKISTAN CITIES SUNDAY – A coordinated call for Afghan refugees in Pakistan to join the ‘Aurat March’ in four major cities on Sunday (29 October) to protest the deportation edict. The group intends to host marches at 1530hrs local time in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Multan. Refugees are being told to gather outside of the Press Clubs in each respective location. A source in Islamabad said that security forces had been informed about the planned protests and said that no permits had been issued to the organizers and that they may be treated as illegal gatherings. At least four major international news organizations TAD contacted said they had already arranged for coverage of the events. Some international NGOs said they intended to allow their volunteers to march with the Afghans but could not officially support the protests as it would damage their operations within the country.


• ISIS-K THREATENS ATTACKS IN CHINA – In a recently released video on ISIS-K’s website, the terror group threatened to “Flood (China’s) Streets with Blood”. While China has made it abundantly clear it has concerns about elements of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) gathering strength and recruiting in Afghanistan, ISIS-K has remained off the radar for the most part. It was not clear what prompted the recent threat against China and some observers feel the terror group is warning China against further cooperation with the Taliban. A source in Kabul said that Taliban security personnel had reported multiple incidents of surveillance by ISIS-K during the installation of security camera systems around the country.


• TALIBAN DEMAND SEAT AT THE UNITED NATIONS – The Islamic Emirate spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, implored the UN to hand over its seat to the Taliban on the UN’s International Day. Mujahid said that withholding the seat is an ‘injustice’ to the people of Afghanistan. It is not clear what will be done with the seat but few believe the Taliban will be allowed to take the seat with the current domestic policies in place and the fact that it is an imposed government and does not enjoy the full support of the citizens of Afghanistan.


• IRAN POSITIONING TO FOLLOW PAKISTAN’S LEAD AND MAY BEGIN DEPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES – On Wednesday, the Iranian Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, slammed the Taliban for failing to stem the flood of refugees headed to Iran. During a respite from a cabinet meeting, Vahidi spoke to several reporters and said that all undocumented Afghans needed to be expelled from Iran. He then went on to caution against vilifying Afghans currently in Iran. The Afghan refugee situation in Iran is confusing as throughout 2023, the hardline press has steadily called for greater government intervention to stop the influx of refugees. Then, at the end of September 2022, a bizarre amnesty plan was discussed in the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the parliament to grant Iranian citizenship to all legal Afghan immigrants currently in the country. Once the amnesty plan was made public in the summer of 2023, there was an immediate uptick in xenophobic press articles about Afghans. On Sunday, parliament ordered the Interior Ministry to set up a National Immigration Organization to begin tracking data for both legal and undocumented Afghans in Iran. The steps Iran is currently taking are eerily familiar to those enacted by Pakistan in recent months.


• ANOTHER 4.3 EARTHQUAKE REPORTED IN AFGHANISTAN – The latest quake’s location has yet to be ascertained but it occurred in the early morning hours on Thursday and struck at a depth of 150km. There have been no reports of damage or casualties as of publication.

Kandahar: An ALF strike team reportedly struck a Taliban security checkpoint in front of the provincial prison in Kandahar City (6th police district). ALF sources said they killed 1 Taliban and 2 others were injured in the fray.

• PAKISTAN TIGHTENING SECURITY AND SCREENING PROCESS AT BORDER ENTRY POINTS – Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency has set up a system to verify visas at Torkham Gate. The kiosk is meant to check visas of Afghans who attempt to cross into Pakistan. A source in Rawalpindi said the oversight was needed due to the problem of border security personnel taking bribes to let people in. A similar system is planned for Spin Boldak Gate in the South. The measures are being implemented as the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) met to make final plans for the upcoming deportation operation. In a meeting yesterday, it was announced that undocumented Afghans found in Punjab would be taken to Rawalpindi for processing and would be deported from there. In addition, it has been decided that Afghan nationals who were currently being held in prisons for criminal acts would be sorted according to ‘minor’ and ‘major’ crimes. Those awaiting trial for minor crimes would be deported while those accused of major crimes would await trial. There are concerns that the holding center in Rawalpindi has a maximum capacity of 20,000 people and that overcrowding will cause significant problems.


• PAKISTAN DESIGNATES ‘DEPORTATION CENTERS’ TO HANDLE AFGHANS – Centers are expected to be established to process and hold deportees awaiting expulsion. Undocumented Afghans in Punjab and Sindh Provinces will be sent to centers in Rawalpindi and Karachi. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will host 2 centers (Nowshehra and Chamkani). Baluchistan will house 3 centers (Quetta, Pishin, and Qilla Abdullah). Sources in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi have expressed concerns that the designated ‘centers’ only exist on paper and very few preparations have been made at this point to contain the hundreds of thousands who are expected to be brought to the centers. The sources also say they expect to see severe problems with feeding the Afghans, drinking water, and medical treatment who will be interned in the centers.


• TALIBAN/PAKISTANI OFFICIALS MEET AT BORDER TO DISCUSS DEPORTATION OPERATION – The information Minister for Balochistan’s caretaker government announced that a meeting took place yesterday between Taliban and Pakistani border officials to discuss the upcoming deportation operation. Among the topics discussed were provisions for those Afghans who had been in Pakistan seeking medical treatment and treatment of women/widows who did not have male chaperones. According to an eyewitness present at the meeting, the discussion was a one-sided affair, and Taliban objections to specific points of concern about the operation were simply ignored.

• TALIBAN AND PAKISTANI FORCES EXCHANGE FIRE AT BORDER – Reports of a cross-border exchange of fire between both Pakistani and Taliban border elements near the Chaman Spin Boldak crossing caused a temporary closure of the border today. At least 2 people were killed and another was wounded during the incident, both of those who died were Pakistani nationals and one was said to be a child. Pakistani authorities have called on the Taliban to hand over those responsible to face justice.


• TALIBAN TELL PAKISTAN THE PLAN TO EVICT AFGHANS IS UNACCEPTABLE – The Taliban roared back at Pakistan over claims that Afghan nationals in Pakistan constituted a threat to national security and pointed to the decades that Afghans have resided in Pakistan without taking part in anti-government sentiment. The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid called the threat of deportation…unacceptable. For its part, Pakistan pointed to those militants it has either killed or captured in recent attacks along the frontiers and claimed that over 35% of them were Afghan citizens. Both sides are making preparations to deport/receive the Afghans as plans have been announced to establish refugee camps in Afghanistan and committees are being formed in Pakistan to carry out the deportations.


• AFGHAN EMBASSY IN NETHERLANDS OFFERS CONSULAR SERVICES – The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Afghan consulate in Amsterdam had reopened and was already assisting Afghan citizens in the Netherlands with consular functions. The consular section will be open Monday through Wednesday and Thursdays will be reserved for those Afghans who make appointments to be seen.


• THE US WALKS A FINE LINE WITH BI-LATERAL RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN OVER DEPORTATION THREATS – A State Department spokesman deflected questions over what the US was planning to do with regard to the threat of deporting Afghans from Pakistan on 1 November. At a briefing on Tuesday, the spokesman said only that “Pakistan has been an important partner when it has come to the resettlement of Afghans who are fleeing and looking to resettle.” The administration has made it clear that it would like to be free of the problem of the refugees but has also voiced a commitment to make good on promises to evacuate those with valid claims for asylum, parole, and special immigrant visas.

• 1 TALIBAN BORDER GUARD KILLED IN WEDNESDAY’S TORKHAM CLASHES – Taliban authorities said that 1 border security member had been killed and 2 others were wounded in the gun battle that erupted on Wednesday at the border crossing. Pakistani authorities added that at least 4 Afghan children who had been acting as porters at the crossing had also been killed and 4 Pakistani nationals had been wounded. The Taliban claim that Pakistani border forces initiated the melee and several eyewitness accounts in the press seem to support this contention. The crossing remained closed for the second day after the events and both sides were negotiating to reopen the commercial transit point.


• SITUATION IN CHITRAL REMAINS CONFUSED – Rumors continue to swirl on social media and in the press about the developments in North Waziristan’s Chitral after a large-scale attack by TTP militants on Pakistani security forces manning two outposts reputedly repulsed an attack. Many pro-TTP accounts contend that nearly 100 Pakistani soldiers/police have been taken prisoner and several towns have been ‘liberated’. Several photos of men in Pakistani Army uniforms who appear to be in restraints have surfaced on many websites. Pakistani reports claim that a major search operation is underway to try and capture those members of the TTP who were attempting to recross back into Afghanistan. A few videos were shared on social media that purportedly were taken in Chitral yesterday and depicted a TTP commander (Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud) calling on his followers to fight the Pakistani military.


• AHMAD MASSOUD ADDRESSES THE UK PARLIAMENT, WARNS WORLD OF THREAT OF TERRORISM – The leader of the National Resistance Front and son of noted leader Ahmad Shah Massoud addressed members of the UK parliament on the anniversary of his father’s murder. He warned those in attendance that Afghanistan has become a sanctuary for both international and regional terrorist groups.


• TALIBAN CLAIM TO HAVE ARRESTED A JAMIAT-E ISLAMI COMMANDER IN BADAKHSHAN – Local sources reported the news that Taliban security personnel raided the house of Sayed Abdul Hamd yesterday evening and placed him under arrest. Hamd is reputedly a senior commander of the ethnically Tajik group.


• INTERNATIONAL EVACUATION EFFORTS RAMPING UP – Pakistan announced it had accepted an offer from Canada to evacuate as many as 6,000 Afghans who were living in the country. It appears Canada intends to resettle these people by the end of the year. France recently received several Afghan women and is being pressed to accept more under a program that would offer asylum to females from Afghanistan based on the policies the Taliban have implemented which curtail their human rights.

• TORKHAM BORDER CLASHES, CROSSING CLOSED – Early reports suggest an exchange of fire took place between Taliban and Pakistani border security personnel on Wednesday. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Pakistan may have initiated the firing when Taliban border guards attempted to erect a checkpoint in the demarcation zone. As of publication, the gate remains closed and shops on both sides of the border were shuttered. There were no officially reported casualties. Local eyewitnesses say that both sides were negotiating to reopen the border. Pakistan is said to have sent reinforcements to the border crossing as an additional security measure.


• TTP LAUNCHES LARGE ATTACK IN CHITRAL – A spokesman for the Pakistani military said that two of its security outposts in the Kalash Valley had been attacked by a large force of TTP militants. The spokesman confirmed that 4 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that 12 TTP fighters also lost their lives in the action. Of note, the spokesman claimed that Pakistan had conducted surveillance of the forces as they moved from Afghanistan to aggress the Pakistani bases. For its part, the TTP claimed to have inflicted ‘heavy casualties’ on the Pakistani military and also claimed to have captured the outposts during the attack. Several rumors have circulated online that the TTP had occupied several villages and towns in the area and that they had taken approximately 100 prisoners during the melee. However, no evidence has yet been provided to confirm this information. Additional clarity will likely be forthcoming over the next twenty-four hours.


• TAJIKISTAN BORDER GUARDS KILL 3 INFILTRATORS AT BORDER – A spokesman for the Tajik government said that its border security forces had engaged and killed 3 members of a terrorist group who had infiltrated the country from Afghanistan. The men were killed yesterday but Tajik authorities said they had crossed into Tajikistan on 30 August and were planning a terror attack that would coincide with the September 9th national holiday. It is important to note that the 3 men were identified as Tajik nationals. It was not clear which terrorist organization the 3 may have been a part of.

• POSSIBLE ARRESTS OF 2 AID WORKERS IN GHOR PROVINCE – Several rumors have been circulating that Taliban security personnel may have arrested 2 aid workers from the International Assistance Mission in Ghor yesterday. 1 of the workers was said to be an Afghan and the other was thought to be a foreign national. This information has yet to be confirmed.


• FRANCE SPIRITS 5 AFGHAN WOMEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY – The 5 Afghan women arrived in France on Monday and were evacuated as part of a new program that was established by a presidential order that mandates special consideration be given to women who held important positions and/or who may have had close contact with Westerners. Women in these categories are considered to be especially at risk, not from arrest at the hands of the Taliban, but for having no future in the tyrannical system due to past work/associations. At least one of the women arrived with accompanying children. Organizers of the program say that France will likely evacuate more women in similar circumstances. The program was said to have been developed after an Afghan refugee NGO in France, Accueillir les Afghanes, called on the government to establish a protocol for women in dire straits.


• SEVERAL ACTIVISTS IN THE UK CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE UK-BASED ISLAMIC SCHOLARS WHO RECENTLY VISITED AFGHANISTAN – About 50 activists representing academia, journalism, human rights, and civil society penned a letter to the British government decrying the visit as a Taliban-backed propaganda stunt that was intended to soften criticism of the regime. The signatories went on to call for an investigation into future trips made by such groups. It is not clear if there is a means of preventing such trips under current British law.


• MORE JOURNALISTS SET FREE – After a widespread crackdown on the media in August 2023, the Taliban have slowly begun releasing those who found themselves under arrest. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) announced yesterday that 3 of the journalists had been released over the weekend and that 9 had been released since the August roundup began. The IFJ welcomed the news and called on the Taliban to release all others still in custody.

• CONCERNS RAISED IN IRAN ABOUT A RUMORED DEAL BETWEEN TALIBAN AND 2 TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT SECURITY IN WESTERN PROVINCES – Security in Herat, Farah, and Nimruz Provinces could soon fall under the responsibility of Jaish al-Adl and the Rigi Network (two terror organizations) if reports from the Iranian newspaper, Jumohri-e-Islami are correct. Journalists for the paper said sources had indicated that a recent deal had been struck between the Taliban and both organizations to provide security in the three Provinces. It is not clear if their roles would be to augment Taliban security forces or to manage all security on behalf of the Taliban. Regardless of their roles, the news will likely make Tehran nervous as both organizations have been accused of planning and carrying out terror operations in Iran.


• MORE CHINESE WORKERS TARGETED IN IED ATTACK IN PAKISTAN – The Balochistan Liberation Front has claimed credit for an IED blast that reportedly targeted a vehicle carrying several Chinese workers along the Karachi-Quetta highway Sunday evening. It is not immediately known whether any casualties occurred as a result of the incident.


• PAKISTAN’S ANTI-CRIME OPERATION ACHIEVING RESULTS – The large-scale police/military operation across Sindh Province has turned in some impressive results since launching a few days ago. Street crime has reportedly dropped significantly and police have seized significant amounts of narcotics from several raids over the last forty-eight hours alone. Weapons, foreign currency, fake medications, and stolen cell phones have also been recovered. Citizens interviewed in Karachi appear to be grateful and are largely supportive of the operation.


• GENERAL AMNESTY MUST BE HONORED - HANAFI SAYS – Abdul Salam Hanafi warned the Taliban rank and file that anyone found guilty of violating the amnesty for former government officials would be prosecuted on Sunday. The Taliban have been under scrutiny for reported violations of amnesty since virtually taking power in 2021. Several procedures to prosecute Taliban members who have sought retribution against former officials are being discussed at the International Criminal Court and in other judicial bodies around the world. A definitive report issued by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) last month claimed credible proof of serious human rights abuses against hundreds of former government/military members as well as 218 extrajudicial killings. While the Taliban has repeatedly claimed its members observe all the rights and privileges extended under the amnesty program, very few of its personnel have ever been prosecuted for these crimes.


• A man shot and wounded a Christian priest in Eastern Pakistan after a Muslim man stopped him after a sermon and demanded he recite a Muslim religious text. The priest chose to recite a Christian prayer in response and was shot in the arm.

• TALIBAN CRACKS DOWN ON PRIVATE VEHICLE USE AS TAXIS – Thousands of Afghan citizens have used their personal vehicles to supplement their income by providing taxi-like services throughout the country. The Taliban’s Ministry of the Interior plans to put a stop to the practice and warned citizens yesterday that a vehicle owner must obtain a license to conduct such business or face legal consequences. The edict presents a conundrum for the Taliban as many of their own security forces members have ‘confiscated’ vehicles owned by those from the previous government and often engage in the scheme to make additional money for themselves.


• IRAN SAYS THAT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 AFGHAN NATIONALS REMAIN IMPRISONED IN THE COUNTRY – Iran’s Foreign Ministry made the announcement yesterday after several international NGOs called on the country to provide statistical information about those being held. The official report was unavailable but a spokesman for the Ministry said that over half of those in prisons had been convicted of petty crimes while the other half consisted of serious offenders and those awaiting trial.

• 4,000 PROSPECTIVE MEDICAL STUDENTS TAKE THE FINAL EXAM, ZERO WOMEN – As Afghanistan struggles with a ‘brain-drain’ of health care professionals, Universities are pushing to add more doctors into the ranks of the nation’s health care system. However, only men are allowed to compete for the positions. The head of the Afghanistan Medical Council said that it did not have a procedure that would allow women to take the exam and that a recommendation had been submitted to the supreme leader but was still not approved. Few believe the hard-liner Akundhzada intends to reverse the self-defeating policies regarding women’s roles in Afghan society.


• AFTER RECENT TERROR INCIDENTS ALONG THE BORDER, PAKISTAN AGAIN CALLS ON THE TALIBAN TO TAKE ACTION – Pakistan said it had communicated to the Taliban that they must police the TTP on its side of the border. Officials at the Foreign Ministry invoked the tripartite agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China to drive the point home to Taliban officials. Reports from Pakistan indicated that the Taliban had recently detained as many as 6 TTP suspects. The Taliban subsequently rejected these claims and the Foreign Ministry felt the regime needed to be reminded of their obligations under the trilateral agreement.


• 6 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN MAZAR-I-SHARIF FOR PLAYING MUSIC – The Ministry of Vice and Virtue announced it had arrested 6 people for reportedly playing music during a circumcision ceremony on Friday night. The 6 unidentified men were apparently still in Taliban detention facilities as of publication.


• Security forces disarmed an IED that had been placed on a railroad track in the Sehrish Nagar area of Qasimabad on Saturday. Locals reported two masked men who were seen planting the device to police. Arrests have not yet been made.


• Counter-terrorism officers arrested 5 female members suspected of colluding with ISIS-K in Lahore on Saturday.

• STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS THAT OVER 840,000 AFGHANS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR RESETTLEMENT ARE STILL WAITING – The US Department of State released a report on Thursday that broke down the challenges the Department has faced in dealing with the massive backlog as well as describing new procedures it was forced to adopt. The institution showed the sizable increase in applications it was forced to deal with and said that roughly 30,000 cases were pending prior to the withdrawal which has now skyrocketed to over 840,000 cases. The Department said that approximately 50% of the cases are rejected because they do not meet the requirements of the special immigrant visa program. The report concludes with several recommendations to improve the program.


• MANY AFGHAN REFUGEES IN THE US NERVOUS ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THEIR TEMPORARY IMMIGRATION STATUS – Many Afghans who were brought to the United States under the Humanitarian Parole program are being told their status will affect their employability if authorities do not act in the coming weeks. In addition to facing termination from their jobs, many will be forced to reapply for driver’s licenses which could disrupt their ability to support themselves and their families. Apparently, there was a significant amount of confusion after conflicting forms were sent to the parolees that were difficult to understand. State agencies are rushing to assist those requiring assistance but many states do not have systems in place to rapidly issue new state licenses and identification cards.

• THE ISIS-K RECRUITMENT STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN – Several sources in Afghanistan have assisted with providing clarity on how ISIS-K intends to destabilize the Taliban regime over the coming year.

1. A Revamped Strategy - ISIS-K has rejected the notion that it will be able to compete with the Taliban militarily. Apparently, this was an early hope in late 2021 and early 2022 but the efforts to mass-recruit followers resulted in significant losses at the hands of the Taliban. Thus, it has now pivoted to a more traditional role of targeting the Taliban hierarchy and critical infrastructure in a prolonged terror campaign. There was a schism between senior leaders within ISIS-K at the outset of the Taliban’s rise to power and those voices that felt that public opinion/sympathy would swell the ranks of the organization and, more importantly, would drive many Taliban and Resistance fighters to bring weapons, vehicles, and material into the crusade won out over those who preferred the more traditional footing. Also discussed at the meeting was the inclusion of Chinese targets in future operations as a perception persists that China is assisting the Taliban with counter-terrorism training and intelligence activities. However, specific targets were not discussed. The reversal in strategy signals a return to its historic role.

2. Recruitment Within the Taliban - The organization has prioritized recruiting mid-level Taliban members to gain access/information about the Taliban hierarchy. In a meeting that took place in Jalalabad in late March 2023, several proponents of this technique pointed out that senior Taliban leaders were becoming more openly corrupt and that mid-level leaders were fast becoming disillusioned with the direction of the regime. ISIS-K apparently had access to financial records from contacts within the Da Afghanistan Bank that detailed several questionable accounts and transfers on behalf of certain Ministers and those with ties to the Taliban which suggested some were involved in corruption. Consensus to adopt this strategy was reportedly achieved at the Jalalabad meeting.

3. Recruitment of Resistance Forces - Also discussed at the meeting in Jalalabad were overtures that had been made to the various Resistance forces over the course of 2022. Apparently, this was the key component of the organization’s initial strategy, as most felt the technical competence of former Afghan military personnel would be critical to engage with the Taliban in direct operations. Many of those in attendance at the meeting complained that the offers they had made to members of the Resistance had been rebuffed. It was decided to keep a few channels of communication open with two (unidentified) Resistance groups but that active recruiting efforts would be dropped.

INTEL SUMMARY: While much has recently been reported about the strength and capabilities of ISIS-K in Afghanistan, it is not clear what is fact and what is fiction. It appears the group has learned several painful lessons from the early adoption of mass recruitment and they have suffered significant losses from a far more effective than anticipated General Directorate of Intelligence over the course of 2022-23. If the information gleaned from the March Jalalabad meeting is accurate, it seems logical to presume that the group will focus on targeted assassinations of senior Taliban personnel throughout the remainder of 2023 and into 2024. To accomplish this, they will attempt to recruit disillusioned mid-level Taliban functionaries to aid them in their goal.


• SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 9 PAKISTANI SOLDIERS IN KP – A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle rigged with explosives targeted a military convoy in Bannu. At least 9 soldiers were killed and 20 more were wounded in the blast. Reinforcements were ordered into the District and a search for possible accomplices was underway but authorities have remained tight-lipped about the tragedy so far.


• Pakistani officials say that a senior TTP leader (Sharka Din aka Umar Khalid) and 3 additional TTP militants were killed in a clash with counter-terrorism forces in an Afghan refugee camp in Pishin. 21 other suspects were arrested in the operation.

• PAKISTAN COUNTER TERRORISM OPERATION IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA RESULTS IN SEVERAL ARRESTS – Police from Doaba launched a successful counter-terrorism operation that resulted in the arrests of 4 TTP Militants near Torawari. One of those arrested was a suspected Commander. Police recovered a treasure trove of intelligence that the group had in their possession. SIM Cards, mobile phones, remote-controlled explosives, and other arms and ammunition were confiscated. The SIM cards and mobile phone recharge cards were said to have come from Afghanistan. At least some of the four militants were known to the Police and had been involved in several kidnapping and extortion scams. The men were taken without a fight and no casualties were reported on either side.


• HUNDREDS OF AFGHANS RETURN FROM PAKISTAN OVER LAST THREE DAYS – News outlets affiliated with the Taliban regime have claimed that nearly 1,000 Afghans returned to Afghanistan by way of Torkham and Spin Boldak gates. It is thought that only about 100 were deported from Pakistan and the remainder were returning home after celebrating Eid al-Adha with friends and relatives.


• RUMORS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT KARZAI IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE TALIBAN – Insiders with access to both the Taliban and former Afghan President Karzai’s staff say the Taliban have directed the leader to refute criticisms of human rights abuses or he will be added to the travel exclusion list.