8am: Sources told Hasht-e Subh that the Taliban have murdered Mohammad Asif Sultani, a former soldier in Herat province. The sources say that Mohammad Asif Sultani was an officer at the former National Security Directorate and served as the commander of a unit in Herat province. Since August 2021, the Taliban rebels have murdered nearly 500 former government affiliates, which is released in a report by the New York Times. Click here to read more (external link).
“Our country is occupied by rulers who cannot govern and ensure security”: Noor
Atta Mohammad Noor
Aamaj: The leader of Jamiat-e-Islami’s Noor branch, Ata Mohammad Noor, in his message on arrival of Eid-al-Fitr said that Afghanistan is occupied by rulers who are not able to govern, and ensure security. He added that Taliban have offered safe haven in territory of Afghanistan for terrorist groups of neighboring countries. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Fighters Try to Arrest Their Mayor for Samangan on Charges of Prostitution
8am: Confirming the incident, local sources told Hasht-e Subh that Mawlawi Raihan, the mayor of Samangan, was under siege by Commander Jafar’s forces during the “adultery” act. Click here to read more (external link).
Ghani releases Eid message, urges against ‘monopoly’ of power
Ghani
Ariana: Former Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who is currently living in exile, said in an Eid ul-Fitr message on Saturday that the current situation in Afghanistan is dangerous and that Afghans need to learn from the past and accept each other. Ghani fled the country on August 15 last year which led to the immediate collapse of the former government. Click here to read more (external link).
11 Taliban Fighters Killed in Clashes Between the Taliban and NRF in Baghlan
8am: On Saturday night (April 30), the National Resistance Front (NRF) forces led by Khair Mohammad Andarabi carried out attacks on Taliban bases in the villages of Taghanak and Paskundi in the Pul-e-Hesar district (in the Andarab region) of Baghlan province. According to independent sources, casualties were reported on both sides. Eleven Taliban members and an NRF commander named Sabzali Andarabi were reportedly killed during the clashes. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – May 1, 2022
Taliban supreme leader makes rare appearance to mark Eid al-Fitr
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
AFP via Al Jazeera: Akhunzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshippers in Kandahar without turning to face the crowd, according to social media posts. Taliban officials did not allow journalists to approach him. Two helicopters hovered over the mosque for the two-hour event. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghans celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr across the country
Ariana: Afghans celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday, across all provinces of Afghanistan, including Kabul, after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government declared the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday night. This despite Saudi Arabia announcing Saturday that the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal had not been observed in Saudi Arabia. They declared Sunday the last day of Ramazan and Monday as the first day of Eid ul-Fitr. Click here to read more (external link).
Abdullah Abdullah Leaves Afghanistan
Tolo News: Abdullah Abdullah, the former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, for the first time after the takeover the Islamic Emirate left the country on Saturday evening, but did not specify which country he was traveled to. Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah are among Afghanistan’s political figures who have remained in Afghanistan since the fall of the previous government, although there have been reports in recent months of their being under house arrest and banned from traveling. Click here to read more (external link).
Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Afghanistan Bus Bombing
ISIS Militants
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
May 1, 2022
The Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility on May 1 for a bomb attack on a passenger bus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the previous day.
One woman was killed and three people were injured in the April 30 bombing, Kabul police said.
No group has taken responsibility for an April 29 bombing at Kabul’s Khalifa Sahib Mosque that left at least 10 people dead and 30 injured.
The head of the mosque said more than 50 people were killed in the attack.
Dozens of people have been killed in deadly attacks in Afghanistan that have marred the last two weeks of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends on May 1.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several bombings, many targeting the country’s Shi’ite and Sufi communities.
On April 22, at least 30 people were killed in a blast at a Sufi monastery in Kunduz.
Kabul police were on high alert on May 1, pledging to “ensure security” during the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP