Since the AfghanTalibans reconquered Kabul, the peace & security situation (along with economic stability) of the country has been a major challenge to cope for the new government. Different armed groups and rebels (Daesh, TTP, NRF etc) have been continuously threatening the grip of Afghan Talibans over the administrative matters as well as the hyper militancy of these groups has not only been a challenge towards peace stability but also a hindrance for Islamic State of Afghanistan towards international relations and recognition. This report includes major security developments witnessed throughout previous one week.

On 6^th of December, an IED explosion was reported in Seyedabad area of Mazari Sharif, (Balkh province). Reportedly, the target was a vehicle, and several people had been killed and injured. Spokesman of the Balkh police Asif Waziri confirmed that 7 people were killed and 6 others were injured in the explosion which targeted a shuttle bus of the Hairatan oil company. Plus on the same day nine people were reportedly injured in an IED explosion near the money exchange market at Talashi Chowk area (PD1)in Jalalabad District, Nangarhar Province at around 1400 hours. Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the explosion. It claims that the store was ran by a "spy" of the Afghan Taliban, who died along with a Hunfi scholar Molvi Nusratullah also died during the explosion. Moreover it was reported that on 8^th December, Haji Bashir, a former important member of Haqqani Network/ current member of ISKP was arrested by Afghan Intelligence. He is charged with Killing of Rahimullah Haqqani. Haji Bashir is the nephew of Sheikh Farooq and Sheikh Shahabuddin Dilawar both of whom are high ranked Salafi leaders among IEA . The  question that  how an important member of Haqqani is working for ISKP now has raised many eyebrows. Haji bashir was arrested some time earlier too  in similar charges (of murders) but influence of Sheikh Farooq got him released.  Haji bashir's son Zahidullah is still working as secretary of Sheikh Shahabuddin Dilawar. However some authentic sources reported that both Sheikh Farooq and Shahabuddin are unaware of Haji Bashir’s activities. Also that apart from a confessional video there is no proof of Haji bashir involvement in killing of Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani. In addition, on 11^th December, Afghanistan’s Intelligence Agency  conducted a raid on ISKP hideout in PD4 of Jalalabad city, in which two ISKP militants were killed one was arrested. One Kalashnikov, one M16, IEDs & ammunition, were also seized. No collateral damage was reported. ISKP also claimed that the group targeted a vehicle of the Afghan Taliban in Kunar on 10^th  December with an IED which resulted in the deaths of two Afghan Talibans and one was wounded. Apart from that, in most latest and unfortunate incident on 12^th of December, (allegedly) ISKP militants attacked a Chinese hotel named ‘Longan Hotel’ in Kabul city where Chinese diplomats and investors were staying. As a result of explosions and firing done by the militants, more than 21 casualties are reported so far including 3 dead and including  2× foreigners who got injured as they jumped from rooftop trying to escape the attack. 

According to sources within IEA, at least three attackers were killed by security forces on Monday after they opened fire the hotel popular with Chinese nationals. IEA’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid also officially confirmed the killing of 3× attacker.  The hotel premises was soon recaptured by Afghan security forces after a clearance operation. This incident came in less than 24hrs after Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu met and demanded better security from Afghanistan’s government during his meeting with Afghanistan’s deputy foreign minister Stanikzai.

Moreover, after the official order of the Emir of Afghanistan (Haibatullah Akhundzada) regarding the implementation of Islamic Laws in courts, many reports across Afghanistan have been received stating the implementation of the orders by local courts of Afghanistan. On 7^th December, a court in Parwan announced that 18 men and 9 women were flogged for various charges in Charikar city of Parwan province. On the same day reports regarding punishment of flogging of 3 people was received from Paktika Province as well as 3 people, including a woman, from Nangarhar province. Sources in Governor office in Nangarhar informed that the primary court in Gushta district had flogged two men and a woman who were accused of having illicit relationship, in public. Moreover IEA’s Public Execution and flogging of  convicts was widely condemned by the western community. After the UN, the United States, UK and the European Union, also condemned IEA’s punishment of convicts in public. Responding to the western criticism, the spokesperson of government of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement said that “some countries and institutions still do not have proper recognition and research about Afghanistan. Afghanistan is an Islamic country, more than 99 percent of its people are Muslims, they have sacrificed a lot for the implementation of Islamic laws and system. On the other hand, there are death sentences all over the world, even in America and Europe.  The fact that Afghanistan is being criticised for applying Islamic punishments shows that some countries and societies are either unaware ignorants or have problems with Islam. And it indicates they does not respect the beliefs, laws and internal affairs of Muslims, which is an interference in the internal affairs of the countries and is reprehensible”. According to another news received fro Kabul on 11^th December Supreme Leader/Emir of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan Haibatullah Akhundzada  met with the provincial chiefs of the Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. In this meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Emir of IEA advised the provincial chiefs to have patience and perseverance in carrying out their duties. The provincial chiefs of 34 provinces, also shared their views and suggestions on the relevant topics with the Emir, who assured them of solving their problems and providing all kinds of support to them.

Apart from that Afghanistan has been also facing difficulties at managing peace and security situation at its borders. IEAs border forces lately have been into conflicts at Irani, Pakistani and Tajiki borders. On 7^th December, an Iranian border guard was killed in a clash between the IEA’s Army and Iranian border guards on the border of the two countries.  Confirming this news, Iranian media stated that an Iranian border guard was killed in a clash with (referring to Afghan Talibans as) "armed criminals".  On the other hand, on 11^th December, in the wake of a clash between Pakistani & Afghan Security Forces over border maintenance construction  at Spin Boldak-Chaman Border, at least 6 Pakistani civilians lost their lives & 10 got injured. The casualties happened when mortar shells in cross fire hit a local market at Pakistani side of the border. IEA forces and Pakistani troops exchanged direct fire starting at 1330 Hours local time, and heavy artillery was used for a duration of one hour. Unfortunately, at 1530 Hours  forces of Afghanistan targeted civilian populations with mortars and artillery which led to the martyrdom of 6 and injuries to a further 30. Pakistani border forces responded in a befitting manner in which 5 Afghan soldiers got killed while more than 15 were reported seriously injured. Afghan forces had after facing Pakistan’s response sent additional troops with armed vehicles and heavy weapons towards the Spin Boldak-Chaman border to take part in any further fighting with Pakistani border forces. However the clash was ended after the involvement of high officials from both side into the matter. Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) Floor, the defence minister of Pakistan Mr. Khuaja Asif said that during a border security committee meeting, the Afghan side accepted mistake of its Border Forces and assured that such an incident will not occur again. Also Spin Boldak-Chamman at Pak-Afghan border has been reopened on Monday (12/12/2022) which had been closed one day earlier following a clash between IEA and Pakistani border forces.

Moreover in the latest issue of the ISKP group's Al Naba weekly, the ISKP released proofs of the attack on Pakistan's Charge d'Affairs in Kabul - photos showing surveillance of the Charge d'Affairs and the ISKP attackers in action. The main story on the cover page of the 15th issue of the ISKP's Khorasan Ghag magazine is the firing on Pakistani chargé d'affaires  in Kabul. The ISKP called the attack a revenge for the insult of an Afghan woman in the Torkham crossing point, by a Pakistani official. The group rejected IEA’s claim for arrest of the attackers on embassy, as untrue, and warned the Afghan government about further attacks in the near future. The story of an ISKP fighter, describes a warrior from Bajaur, Rizwan alias Molvi Ihsanullah Shakir, who fought for TTP before joining ISKP in Nangarhar. He was two times imprisoned by Pakistan and finally killed in a war front, fighting with American forces/ANSF, in Mamand Valley of Nangarhar. The magazine also announced 2 upcoming products, a video& a booklet, both focusing on propaganda against the Afghan Taliban. During the past week, three attacks with four casualties were attributed to the ISKP including, the attack on Pak embassy and 2 blasts in Jalalabad. Jalalabad explosions separately targeted a Sikh's shop & a money changer's office in the city. Also Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) published a new 33-pages booklet addressing religious scholars in Afghanistan. Pamphlet denies that ISKP is a Salafi movement arguing it is open to all 4 major Islamic sects, mentioning past ISKP leaders & groups with different affiliations. It rejects the claim that the group is attacking Islamic scholars, madrassas, and mosques by stating that the group targeted only those individuals who were slandering ISKP. It mentions past killings of scholars such as Mufti Noman, Dr. Atif, Niazi, and Rahimullah Haqqani. It ends by warning scholars and civilians to stay away from Afghan Taliban and those who slender the group's name, threatening more operations. Also most recently on 10^th December, ISKP published a new 77-pages pamphlet criticising the Afghan Taliban's acceptance of International Laws and willingness to join the United Nations. It also argues that by accepting international boundaries, the Afghan Talibans are preventing the holy process of  migration of Muslims to Afghanistan especially after Afghan Taliban's promise of not to allow foreign groups in the country. The text also criticises Afghan Taliban for their relations with China, particularly stating that they are suppressing protests in  support of Uyghur Muslims.

Analysis

Monday’s attack in Kabul  seemingly targeting Chinese nationals appears to be the latest in a string of violent acts directed at the few countries that IEA can count amongst its allies. Pakistan, Russia, China, and Iran,, have all been accused of supporting the Afghan Taliban at various points over the last 20 years. The Russians were even accused of putting up a bounty on American troops in Afghanistan. Recent times have witnessed attacks and clashes of these countries with Afghan Taliban which suggests that apparently IEA’s good terms with these countries doesn’t suite some international state/non-state actors. I as an observer believe the attacks on the Afghan Taliban's supporters highlight a growing danger for the country, and one which they believe will only increase as Daesh and other opposing groups try to show that the Talibans are incapable of securing the country. Moreover earlier on Monday (12^th December), reports of clashes between Indian and Chinese forces at Arunachal border were received. In my opinion Indian agencies in collaboration with (America) might probably be the master planners of yesterday’s attack on Kabul’s hotel. As India is the main monetary and strategic supporter/donor of TTP. Plus due to the fact that many of the TTP members reportedly are fleeing in notable numbers away to join Daesh or collaboration and the strategic collaboration between TTP ans ISKP militants; and that all three of them i.e India, Daesh and TTP have strategic differences with Afghan Taliban, I reckon that this might be either a joint collaboration of militants in order to undermine Chinese interests in Afghanistan. Moreover undermining China’s approach in Afghanistan also befits Americans as they do not want major Chinese involvement in Afghanistan. So American CIA  might also  possibly be involved indirectly through Daesh factor as Americans do not want IEA to have international recognition hence hampering its way towards that by getting it into a clash with its allies/supporter states. In addition Afghanistan should expect more such attacks against its allies. It is  also warned that many of the Afghan Taliban’s foot soldiers, who haven't benefitted much directly from it seizing power, could be tempted to join opposing, possibly even more extremist groups.