New SIGAR Report: Taliban Benefit from US Aid

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8am: The Taliban’s utilization of humanitarian aid presents one of the challenging issues for countries assisting Afghanistan under the rule of this group. Citizens of these countries urge their governments not to allow their taxes to fall into the hands of the Taliban and other terrorist groups. Some countries providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan have expressed concerns about the Taliban’s access to this aid. Among them, the United States has consistently stated that its aid is distributed in Afghanistan without the Taliban’s involvement, but SIGAR has reported in multiple instances that the Taliban benefit from US aid. According to its recent report, SIGAR stated that American cooperating organizations have provided more than $10 million directly to the Taliban, benefiting the group. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan claims killing dozens of Afghan-based ‘terrorists’ in recent operations

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Ayaz Gul
VOA News
May 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military said Wednesday that its operations against a recent surge in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan, and cross-border militant infiltration attempts, have resulted in the killings of nearly 30 “terrorists” in the last month.

The announcement came a day after a U.S. research group said in a report that “Afghanistan has become a breeding ground for terrorist activities” since the Taliban regained power in 2021.

While sharing details of its ongoing counterterrorism actions, the Pakistani military said it was focused on parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan border provinces. It noted that one of the operations a week ago also led to the death of an army major.

“Of late, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents orchestrated from Afghan soil, wherein terrorists from Afghanistan attempt to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and target security forces as well as innocent civilians,” the statement said.

Islamabad renewed its call for Kabul “to ensure effective border management” on the Afghan side, saying the Taliban government “is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”

There was no immediate reaction from de facto Afghan authorities to Pakistan’s assertions. The Taliban have rejected previous such allegations, saying they are not allowing anyone to use Afghan territory to threaten neighboring countries or beyond.

Pakistan maintains that fugitive commanders and combatants of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a designated global terrorist group, are using havens in Afghanistan to launch deadly cross-border attacks against Pakistanis, including security forces.

The Washington-based Center for a New American Security released its report Tuesday, saying the TTP and other regional militant groups “are active and face few constraints on their activities from the Taliban—with whom they share core ideological beliefs.”

The study warned that terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan “are intensifying and an Afghan-based Islamic State affiliate, the Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K, “constitutes the main international concern.”

It also cited a recent United Nations report that highlighted the Taliban’s close ties to al-Qaida operatives in Afghanistan, noting that “al-Qaida leaders are now part of the Taliban’s administrative structure and are constructing their own training camps in the country.”

On May 10, the United States hosted a bilateral counterterrorism dialogue with Pakistan, where the two sides agreed to intensify collaboration in the fight against the TTP and IS-K.

A post-meeting joint statement said the two countries “recognize that a partnership to counter” the TTP and IS-K and other regional terrorist groups “will advance security in the region and help “address transnational terrorism threats.”

Related

The Heavy Shadow of ISIS On Kandahar: Mullah Hibatullah Fails to Control the City

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Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada

8am: In recent months, the people of Kandahar have been discussing ISIS activities in the city. It is said that the Taliban stationed in this city are also deeply concerned about the increasing ISIS activities and fear the possibility of ISIS launching attacks. A few days ago, one of Kandahar’s residents described the security situation in the city as reminiscent of the Republic era, where both civilians and security forces feared Taliban attacks, and now the Taliban fear ISIS attacks in the city. Click here to read more (external link).

Following Attack On Foreign Tourists, Russia Warns Citizens Not To Travel To Afghanistan

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Afghanistan International: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “strongly” urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan due to an attack on foreign tourists in the country. In a statement, the ministry expressed concern over “terrorist attacks” on foreign tourists in Afghanistan. On Friday evening, May 17, armed assailants attacked foreign tourists and their companions in the Bamiyan province. Meanwhile, Joe Sheffer, founder of the Safarat tourism agency, told AFP that if the attacks continue, “Afghanistan’s tourism industry will be over.” Sheffer said that after the armed attack in Bamiyan, several clients canceled their trips to Afghanistan, and the agency is reviewing its operations in the country. Click here to read more (external link).

Ban on Entry and Sale of Religious Books: Shia Community in the Country Demands Removal of Taliban Restrictions

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8am: Some followers of the Shia faith in the country criticize the Taliban’s ban on the entry of Jafari jurisprudence books into the country and the collection of such books from state and private university libraries. According to them, access to religious information is the right of every citizen, and the Taliban’s restrictions on the entry of Jafari jurisprudence books into the country and the prohibition of teaching the jurisprudence of this faith in universities disrespect religious freedom. However, Shia scholars interpret citizens’ criticisms of the Taliban’s discriminatory actions as valid and express hope that the Taliban will bring about changes in their domestic policies and respect all religions. Click here to read more (external link).

NRF Claims Killing Taliban Member In Baghlan

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Afghanistan International: National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) announced on Monday that it attacked a Taliban outpost in the Pul-e Hesar district of Baghlan province. The Front claimed that one Taliban member was killed and two other members were injured in this attack. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Resistance News

Health Ministry: 8,000 Cases of Severe Diarrhea in Past Month

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Tolo News: In the past month, the number of severe diarrhea patients in the country has reached eight thousand. According to the Ministry of Public Health, this statistic indicates a slight increase in the number of diarrhea cases in the country. Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said: “Approximately eight thousand cases of diarrhea have been recorded with us. The conditions of these patients were not severe; they were provided with normal services.” Farooq has been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kabul for two nights. He says that his father fell ill due to consuming unsanitary food. Click here to read more (external link).