Taliban Mayor in Faryab Province Arrested on Charges of Land Sale Scandal: Government Lands Sold Illegally!
8am: Local sources in Faryab report that Damullah Mohebbullah Mowaffaq, the Taliban-appointed mayor of Maimana, the capital city of the province, has been detained by the group’s intelligence agency on allegations of illegally selling government and private lands. Meanwhile, Mawlawi Rayhan, the former mayor of the Taliban in Ebak city, the center of Samangan Province, was dismissed on charges of misusing buildings in the second and third districts of the city. However, several months have elapsed, and he has yet to be held accountable for his actions. Click here to read more (external link).
July 23 Marks 16 Years Since Death of Last Afghan King
Mohammad Zahir Shah
Tolo News: July 23 marked the 16th anniversary of the death of Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah, who was the last King of Afghanistan as his monarchy was overthrown by his cousin Mohammad Daud Khan on July 17, 1973. Many say that although security was good in those years, economic and political development showed no visible signs of progress. Click here to read more (external link).
At Least 31 Killed Over Past Three Days As Rain, Floods Rage In Afghanistan
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
July 23, 2023
At least 31 people have been killed and 74 others injured in flooding throughout Afghanistan over the past three days of heavy rains, Taliban authorities said on July 23. Authorities added that casualty figures were likely to rise and that hundreds of acres of agricultural land and more than 600 houses have been destroyed. Government spokesman Shafiullah Rahimi said most of the casualties were in Maidan Wardak Province. Authorities warned of the danger of sudden flooding in the Kabul and Helmand regions.
Taliban Strikes Again: Former Local Police Commander Brutally Assassinated in Laghman Province
8am: According to the sources, the incident occurred on Saturday night, July 22, in the village of Ziarat-e Nooralam Sahib, Alingar district of the province. The sources stated that the Taliban members fled the scene after carrying out the assassination. Despite the Taliban leader’s announcement of a general amnesty, the group’s fighters continue to resort to detaining, torturing, and killing former military personnel after regaining control of Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
An Afghan teen makes it to the U.S., but his family is left behind in Kabul
NPR: All told, nearly 80,000 Afghan refugees made it to the U.S. “The majority of people we work with have advanced degrees and careers,” she says. “They find themselves at Target for $16 an hour. And the rent is $2,300 a month. And it’s impossible to make those ends meet.” Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – July 23, 2023
TTP’s Ongoing Activity in Afghanistan and Taliban’s Denial
TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud
8am: The TTP has emerged stronger than before, now possessing safe havens in Afghanistan’s southern and eastern provinces, more advanced capabilities, and American weapons seized from Afghan forces. This has led to a spike in casualties among Pakistani security personnel beyond previous levels. Pakistani strategists anticipated improved security following the Taliban takeover. However, Pakistan’s security predicament has only deepened and grown more complex with time. Click here to read more (external link).
ISS-K at the Center of Intelligence Games
ISIS trainees
8am: ISIS-K is not a simple, ordinary foe, but rather a threat that should have been properly recognized and contained years ago as it first emerged in Iraq rapidly seizing cities. However, from the outset of ISIS’s rise, intelligence games commenced with some countries attempting to exploit the group as a proxy against rivals. This enabled ISIS to expand its reach from Iraq, Syria and Libya into Afghanistan and Pakistan. The concerns of major Asian powers like Russia, China, India and Iran regarding growing ISIS-K activity hints at frightening agendas lurking behind the declared united front against ISIS. The great powers’ real plans must be properly scrutinized and addressed realistically, not just their stated policies opposing ISIS. Click here to read more (external link).
US Made U-Turn in Fundamental Position Toward Afghanistan: Report
Tolo News: The report also said that the US made commitments on behalf of an unwilling Afghan government, most importantly to a large-scale exchange of prisoners. “In effect, the US-Taliban agreement paved the way for the Taliban’s takeover, an outcome that was not given yet seemed highly likely, whether seen from the vantage point of 2018 (when talks started) or 2020 (when they were concluded),” the report reads. “Here lies the core of the US ethical conundrum.” Click here to read more (external link).