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Note: The news is going on hiatus. I will be starting a new job shortly through an International Affairs Fellowship opportunity from the Council on Foreign Relations, and have yet to determine whether I will be able to continue producing these daily news updates while taking on the new position. Updates will resume if and when possible, but this newsletter will sunset at least for now. Thanks very much for reading, and apologies for the interruption in service.
Topline
- The Pakistani government officially declared a national emergency on Thursday in response to record high rains and flooding in Balochistan, Sindh, and other parts of the country; the death toll since June has risen to 937 people. Communications and transit links to Quetta have been cut off by floodwaters as of Thursday. The World Bank, World Food Program, Asian Development Bank, and UK government have collectively pledged $500 million in assistance in response.
- Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Taliban were still investigating the US strike that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul earlier this month and that “his death report is not finalized”, suggesting that the Taliban had not definitively identified his body in the aftermath of the strike.
- Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke by phone with his Saudi counterpart on Thursday, who conveyed intentions to invest $1 billion in Pakistan. Contrary to earlier reports, Qatar has not agreed to make a $2 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan and is instead considering investment purchases of two LNG power plants.
Pakistan — Security
- Military Commanders Meet: Chief of Army Staff Bajwa chaired a meeting of army corps commanders on Thursday; the Pakistani military quoted him directing formations “to maintain operational readiness and efforts to counter terrorism particularly in Khyber Paktunkhwa and Balochistan must continue”.
Pakistan — Politics and Diplomacy
- Crackdown on PTI: PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s brother Yaseen Gill filed a complaint with the Islamabad High Court on Thursday against the lower court judge, Zeba Chaudhry, who had previously approved his transfer to police custody, where Gill and other PTI leaders allege he was tortured. On Friday, the IHC dismissed a contempt of court petition against several government leaders brought by the PTI to mirror charges against Imran Khan. Separately, Gujrat police officials opened counter-charges against interior minister Rana Sanaullah, accusing him of threatening the police and judiciary. [ET] [Dawn]
- Legal Proceedings: The Election Commission has sought a response from PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali on charges that he violated electoral code of conduct restrictions ahead of the NA-108 Faisalabad by-election. [Dawn] [Dawn]
- Other Political Activity: In a statement on Thursday, Nawaz Sharif denied reports of intra-party tensions between him and his brother, PM Shehbaz. Separately, PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali criticized finance minister Miftah Ismail’s actions to raise electricity tariffs.
Pakistan — Economics and Development
- Flooding: The Pakistani government officially declared a national emergency on Thursday in response to record high rains and flooding in Balochistan, Sindh, and other parts of the country; the death toll since June has risen to 937 people. Communications and transit links to the Balochistan capital of Quetta have been cut off by floodwaters as of Thursday. The World Bank, World Food Program, Asian Development Bank, and UK government have collectively pledged $500 million in assistance in response; the Pakistani military announced that it would donate the equivalent of one month’s salary for all army officers. Imran Khan visited flood-affected areas in Khyber Paktunkhwa province on Friday. [AP] [The Nation] [ET] [ET] [Dawn] [Dawn] [Dawn] [Dawn]
- Gulf Investment: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke by phone with his Saudi counterpart on Thursday, who conveyed intentions to invest $1 billion in Pakistan, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Express Tribune reports that, contrary to initial reports, Qatar has not agreed to make a $2 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan and is instead considering investment purchases of two LNG power plants.
Pakistan — Remainders
- Demonstrations Continue in Bajaur [Dawn]
- Protests in Karachi Over Electricity Tariff Rate Increases [Dawn]
Afghanistan — Security
- Zawahiri Strike Aftermath: Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Taliban were still investigating the US strike that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul earlier this month and that “his death report is not finalized”, suggesting that the Taliban had not definitively identified his body in the aftermath of the strike. Mujahid also repeated that “the Islamic Emirate is obliged to provide security all over Afghanistan, to protect itself and its people, and to prevent Afghanistan from being a place from which any country would feel threatened. This is our national responsibility, and we are paying more attention to this”. [Khaama Press]
- ISIS in Afghanistan: RFE/RL notes recent Islamic State attacks on rival Hanafi religious leaders in response to the Taliban’s own crackdown against Salafist clerics.
Afghanistan — Politics and Diplomacy
- Refugees and Repatriation: In a statement on Thursday, the UN High Commission for Refugees expressed concern over reports of forced repatriation from Tajikistan to Afghanistan. Reuters profiles an Afghan family resettled in South Korea.
- Taliban Takeover Retrospectives: PBS interviews former Pres. Ghani.
Afghanistan — Economics and Development
- Flooding: At least 182 people have been killed in flooding across Afghanistan over the past month, Taliban officials confirmed on Thursday; at Thursday’s press conference, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid appealed for additional international aid for relief efforts. [AP] [Ariana News]
Afghanistan — Remainders
- Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to Establish ‘Joint Trade Zone’ in Balkh [Ariana News]
- Ministry of Mines Tendering Bids for Eight Mine Projects [TOLO]