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54 developments across 40 briefings for this country.
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Islamabad’s accusations against the Afghan Taliban partly serve to divert attention from Pakistan’s inability to prevent militant attacks within its own territory.
Assessment development · updated through
Islamabad’s accusations against the Afghan Taliban partly serve to divert attention from Pakistan’s inability to prevent militant attacks within its own territory.
Open source reportGeography
Marker precision is disclosed on selection. Country and regional centroids show geographic scope, not an exact incident site.
Afghanistan dossier
35 mapped developments across 1 map positions. Centroid markers show geographic scope, not an exact incident site.
Ghazni
A mine apparently dating to the Soviet war exploded in Ghazni, killing at least nine children and highlighting Afghanistan’s continuing unexploded-ordnance threat.
Approximate map position: country centroid. The extracted place did not have provider-resolved coordinates.
Chronology
Kabul is a convenient scapegoat to blame its internal failures on.
Islamabad’s accusations against the Afghan Taliban partly serve to divert attention from Pakistan’s inability to prevent militant attacks within its own territory.
Open source reportPakistan carried out another round of cross-border airstrikes targeting Pakistani Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched airstrikes against Pakistani Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban government said the attacks killed civilians and violated Afghan sovereignty and airspace.
Open source reportThe EU hosted a delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban government for the first time since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
The EU hosted a Taliban government delegation for the first time since 2021. The agenda included restoring consular services and building trust for the return of failed Afghan asylum-seekers, with rights groups objecting to the engagement.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban enforcers detained at least 30 women in Herat over "noncompliance" with its strict female dress rules... The arrests sparked protests that security forces met with excessive force, killing a child and beating up dozens of demonstrators.
Taliban enforcers detained at least 30 women over dress-rule violations. Security forces killed a child and beat dozens of demonstrators during ensuing protests.
Open source reportDespite flare-ups like this, the neighboring countries are still technically observing a tenuous ceasefire that China helped mediate in March.
Pakistan and Afghanistan continue technically to observe a tenuous ceasefire mediated by China in March, despite cross-border attacks.
Open source reportPakistan carried out another round of cross-border airstrikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad claimed killed at least 26 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in three Afghan provinces. Afghanistan said the strikes killed at least 13 civilians, including 11 children.
Pakistan struck Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in three Afghan provinces. A claim of at least 26 militant deaths to Islamabad and a conflicting claim of at least 13 civilian deaths, including 11 children, comes from Afghanistan.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of targeting a university in Kunar with mortar and rocket strikes that killed seven and wounded 85.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of mortar and rocket attacks on a university that killed seven people and wounded 85. Pakistan’s military denied targeting the university but did not deny conducting a strike or identify another target.
Open source reportImmediately after their temporary Eid ceasefire ended, Pakistan and Afghanistan resumed attacks. Pakistani strikes killed two in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan vowed an "appropriate response."
Attacks resumed immediately after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended, with Pakistani strikes killing two people in Afghanistan and Afghanistan promising a response.
Open source reportThis time, neither side seems ready to talk peace. But neither can afford to wage a full-blown war over their differences either, so their fight will probably grind on as a low-level war.
Neither side is currently prepared for peace but that both lack the capacity to afford a full-scale war, making a prolonged lower-level conflict more likely.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban government said Pakistan attacked five of its border provinces over the weekend, and its defense minister warned that "if Kabul is attacked, Islamabad will be attacked."
Pakistan attacked five Afghan border provinces. According to Afghanistan’s defense minister, a threat to attack Islamabad if Kabul is attacked; renewed cross-border violence followed the collapse of an earlier ceasefire.
Open source reportBagram holds significant symbolic importance for the Taliban: the captured U.S. base holds Afghanistan's largest runway and hosts annual military parades each year on the anniversary of the Taliban's return to power.
That Bagram’s large runway, former role is a U.S. base, and use for Taliban military parades make it more valuable to the Taliban than the ammunition depots targeted by Pakistan.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban government said its military fired anti-aircraft missiles that successfully deterred Pakistani jets threatening Bagram Air Base.
A Taliban government claim that Afghan forces fired anti-aircraft missiles and deterred Pakistani jets threatening Bagram Air Base. Pakistan conducted an earlier wave of cross-border strikes against ammunition depots.
Open source reportPakistan's defense minister warned Afghanistan's Taliban government in a social media post that "our cup of patience has overflowed" and declared an "open war." However, its strikes today were quite limited in scale and scope, and didn't seem like the opening salvo of a full-scale war.
The strikes are limited and argues that Pakistan cannot afford a wider war because of internal insurgencies and the need to maintain readiness regarding India. An “open war” declaration comes from Pakistan’s defense minister.
Open source reportPakistani jets bombed Kabul and Kandahar today in retaliation for Afghan attacks on Pakistani border positions hours earlier.
Pakistani jets bombed Kabul and Kandahar on February 27 in retaliation for Afghan attacks on Pakistani border positions hours earlier.
Open source reportIt's hard to imagine a second round of talks breaking through the intractable impasse that doomed the first one.
Renewed talks are unlikely to overcome disagreement over Islamabad’s claim that the Afghan Taliban protects Pakistani Taliban militants, although both sides appear interested in avoiding war.
Open source reportThat may be a way to save face after Taliban leaders realized how much Afghanistan's economy and people now depend on the internet for basic and Taliban-tolerated (for men, at least) functions like trade, travel, and communications.
The Taliban’s denial may be face-saving and that leaders may have restored service after recognizing the country’s dependence on internet access for trade, travel, and communications.
Open source reportInternet service returned to Afghanistan after a two-day outage that media reports tied to a Taliban edict against "immorality."
Internet service returned after a two-day outage that media reports associated with a Taliban edict, while a Taliban spokesman denied that the government intentionally caused the disruption.
Open source reportA foreign ministry spokesman said it was against the U.S. having "any military presence" in Afghanistan, but was open to "political and economic relations based on mutual respect and shared interests."
The Taliban government rejected any U.S. military presence in Afghanistan while expressing openness to political and economic relations based on mutual interests.
Open source reportPres. Trump floated the idea of reestablishing a U.S. military base at Bagram in Afghanistan as part of an effort to counter China's growing influence in the region.
President Donald Trump floated reestablishing a U.S. base at Bagram to counter China’s regional influence, while noting that it was unclear whether the Pentagon was actively planning such a move.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban government severed fiber-optic internet service to Balkh province "for the prevention of vices." Balkh residents can still get their vices on mobile internet, which remains up.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government cut fiber-optic internet service in Balkh province while mobile service remained available. Critics who say the restriction will disproportionately affect women and girls studying online.
Open source reportreports are emerging that some (all-male) first responders abided by Taliban-directed cultural norms and refused to help women and girls trapped in the rubble, leaving them to wait for female rescuers.
Some male first responders declined to assist women and girls trapped in rubble because of Taliban-directed gender rules, leaving them to await female rescuers. Women may represent a disproportionate share of the 2,200 deaths and 3,600 injuries, although no gender breakdown was cited.
Open source reportthe population they serve has expanded by over two million in recent months as Pakistan and Iran both evicted Afghan nationals. Even more Afghan deportees are on their way home now
Pakistan and Iran have removed more than two million Afghan nationals in recent months. Pakistan set September 1 as a deadline for additional Afghans to leave or face arrest.
Open source reportA shallow (i.e., worse), 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan, killing at least 600 - and probably far more.
A shallow magnitude-6.0 earthquake killed at least 600 people and suggests the eventual toll could be higher. Hospitals were already understaffed and underequipped following the suspension of U.S. aid funding.
Open source reportWang flew to Kabul to offer Afghanistan's Taliban government new Chinese investment - particularly in infrastructure and mining (especially of lithium, iron, and copper) - and to invite Afghanistan to formally join the Belt and Road Initiative.
Wang Yi offered the Taliban government Chinese infrastructure and mining investment, particularly involving lithium, iron, and copper, and invited Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative formally.
Open source reportThe secret-until-now Afghan Relocation Route program aims to relocate another ~6,900 Afghans - including 600 Afghan soldiers whose data was disclosed in the leak - before it closes, at a total cost of about £850 million ($1.1 billion).
The former Conservative government obtained a court injunction and relocated approximately 4,500 affected Afghans and relatives. The Afghan Relocation Route is intended to move about 6,900 more people before closing, at an estimated cost of £850 million.
Open source reportThe UK belatedly admitted that it accidentally exposed personally identifiable information for 18-19,000 Afghans who worked with its military during the war and then applied for resettlement in the UK in a 2022 data leak.
A 2022 British data leak exposed personally identifiable information belonging to 18,000–19,000 Afghans who had worked with the UK military and later applied for resettlement.
Open source reportRussia became the first country to officially recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government, nearly four years after it regained control of the country.
Russia became the first country to recognize Afghanistan’s Taliban government and that Russia’s Foreign Ministry anticipated bilateral cooperation across multiple fields.
Open source reportNo country has formally recognized the Taliban government, but Russia seems to be moving in that direction.
Russia may be moving toward formal recognition of Afghanistan’s Taliban government, citing its removal of the Taliban from Russia’s terrorist-organization list.
Open source reportRussia will help the Taliban government fight their "common enemy" of Islamic State-Khorasan... Russia "will provide our best assistance to the authorities of [Afghanistan] through specialised structures."
A former Russian ambassador said Moscow would provide unspecified assistance to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities against Islamic State-Khorasan. Russia recently removed the Taliban from its terrorist-organization list.
Open source reportThe reprieve was apparently part of a deal that U.S. envoy Adam Boehler struck when he visited Kabul last week. In return, the Taliban released a U.S. citizen who had been detained in Afghanistan for over two years.
The United States lifted bounties on Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Azizi Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani as part of an arrangement associated with envoy Adam Boehler’s Kabul visit. The Taliban released a U.S. citizen detained for more than two years in return.
Open source reportThe WSJ reported that the Biden Administration is in talks with the Taliban to free three U.S. citizens from Afghan jail in exchange for the release of Muhammad Rahim al Afghani - a senior Al Qaeda leader with direct links to Osama bin Laden - from Guantanamo Bay.
Wall Street Journal reporting that the Biden administration was discussing an exchange of Muhammad Rahim al Afghani for three U.S. citizens. The Taliban acknowledged holding only two of the three Americans and also sought the release of two additional Afghan prisoners.
Open source reportwomen who are already doctors will probably be allowed to continue practicing, but their ranks will dwindle without a pipeline of new female students to replace those who retire.
Existing female doctors may continue practicing but that their numbers will decline without new graduates, potentially compounding restrictions on treatment by male physicians.
Open source reportAfghanistan's Taliban government announced a new ban on women studying medicine and midwifery - two of the few remaining fields that were still open to female students.
Taliban authorities banned women from studying medicine and midwifery, eliminating two of the few remaining educational fields available to female students.
Open source reportAn apparently lone gunman opened fire at a Sufi shrine in Afghanistan's Baghlan province during a weekly ritual on Friday, killing 10.
An apparently lone gunman opened fire during a weekly ritual at a Sufi shrine, killing 10 people. No motive or claimed affiliation was provided.
Open source reportportray Haqqani as a jihadist-turned-diplomat now quietly advocating from within for more moderate policies than hardline Taliban emir Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada has decreed
Sirajuddin Haqqani as quietly advocating more moderate policies than Taliban Emir Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Open source report"Today in Kabul a female cat has more freedom than a woman. A cat may go sit on her front stoop and feel the sun on her face, she may chase a squirrel in the park... A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today because the public parks have been closed to women and girls by the Taliban. A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl may not in public." •A Taliban spokesman responded that his fellow officials in fact "highly respected" women and would "never compare them to cats."
The post recounts Meryl Streep’s comparison of women’s freedoms in Kabul with those of animals and says a Taliban spokesman responded that officials respected women.
Open source reportA new 114-page Taliban document now forbids women from talking loudly (even inside their own homes), singing or reading the Koran in public, or merely looking at men they don't know. The new edict also forbids Afghan men from trimming their beards.
A 114-page Taliban document that restricts women from speaking loudly, singing or publicly reading the Koran, and looking at unfamiliar men. Men are prohibited from trimming their beards.
Open source reportIran plans to complete an ambitious program to secure its 200 mile (330 km) border with Afghanistan later this year.
Iran planned to complete a security program covering its approximately 200-mile border with Afghanistan later in 2024.
Open source reportPakistan has suffered numerous cross-border attacks by militants taking refuge in Afghanistan
Pakistan has experienced cross-border attacks by militants taking refuge in Afghanistan, contradicting the Taliban’s security claims.
Open source reportA deputy spokesman for the Taliban government reiterated the Taliban's claim that it's in full control of security within Afghanistan and there are no terrorist groups operating in the country.
A deputy Taliban government spokesman reiterated that the Taliban controlled security throughout Afghanistan and that no terrorist groups operated there.
Open source reportChinese engineers and Taliban officials commemorated a groundbreaking on the long-delayed Aynak Copper Project southwest of Kabul.
Chinese engineers and Taliban officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-delayed Aynak copper project and re-inaugurated a 25-kilometer access road opened about a year earlier.
Open source reportthe acting Central Bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) head, Hedayatullah Badri, is now Minister of Mines and Petroleum, replacing Shahabuddin Delawar, who will become the acting head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
Acting central bank head Hedayatullah Badri became minister of mines and petroleum, replacing Shahabuddin Delawar, who was appointed acting head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
Open source reportDelisting could be the first step towards recognizing the Taliban government.
That delisting could precede Russian recognition of the Taliban government and interprets the move is part of Moscow's effort to cultivate international partners following its invasion of Ukraine.
Open source reportRussia's foreign ministry said it's considering removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations in order to facilitate dialogue on "issues such as drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime."
Russia's foreign ministry was considering delisting the Taliban to facilitate dialogue concerning drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime.
Open source reporthis government is considering removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, and could then consider formally recognizing the Taliban government.
A senior Russian diplomat indicated that Russia is considering removing the Taliban from its terrorist list and could subsequently consider recognizing its government. Taliban delegates were invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Open source reportThe Taliban's official statements depicted the blast as a minor incident that randomly targeted civilians, but local reports claimed it was a much more serious attack that targeted Taliban security forces, killing far more than one person.
An explosion killed at least one person, while noting conflicting Taliban and local accounts about its severity, intended target and casualties.
Open source reportIslamic State (IS) claimed Monday's attack on a Shia mosque in Herat, western Afghanistan.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a Monday attack on a Shia mosque in western Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Open source reportA sticky bomb targeted a Taliban convoy in restive Badakhshan province today
A sticky-bomb attack on a Taliban convoy following protests by farmers over the Taliban’s poppy ban. Continued farmer anger explains the attack is not substantiated.
Open source reportThe Special Inspector General for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan's latest report said Islamic State-Khorasan is leveraging instability in Afghanistan to ramp up its recruitment there, and warned that the group's "resurgence" could lead to more attacks abroad.
According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, an assessment that Islamic State-Khorasan is exploiting instability to increase recruitment and could conduct more attacks abroad. Deadly attacks in Russia and Iran as examples.
Open source reportIslamic State (IS) claimed Monday's attack at a Shia mosque in Herat that killed six, including the imam.
Islamic State claimed an attack at a Shia mosque in Herat that killed six people, including the imam.
Open source reportA gunman attacked a Shia mosque in Herat, western Afghanistan, killing six civilians.
A gunman attacked a Shia mosque in western Afghanistan, killing six civilians. No group had claimed responsibility, although Islamic State has previously targeted Shia communities in the region.
Open source reportI will not take even a step away from the Islamic law.
Taliban leader Hibatullah Akundzada delivered a rare Eid address and ruled out compromising on Islamic law. A ban on public stoning for adultery had recently been repealed, while noting that no stonings had occurred since the repeal.
Open source reportThe Taliban's acting telecoms minister confirmed to ToloNews that his government plans to ban access to Facebook from Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s acting telecommunications minister confirmed plans to ban access to Facebook in Afghanistan and that human-rights organizations condemned the plan.
Open source reportA landmine apparently left behind during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s exploded in Ghazni this week, killing at least nine children - and drawing attention to the problem of unexploded ordnance scattered across the country from prior wars.
A mine apparently dating to the Soviet war exploded in Ghazni, killing at least nine children and highlighting Afghanistan’s continuing unexploded-ordnance threat.
Open source report