News and Analysis 8/21/21

“Groups of armed Afghans attacked the Taliban on Friday, driving Afghanistan’s new rulers out of three northern districts, the first assault against the Islamist militants since they swept into Kabul last week and seized control of the government”:

• Anti-Taliban Fighters Claim Victories as First Stirrings of Armed Resistance Emerge (Washington Post)

Israeli troops fired on protesting Palestinians, wounding 24 people including 10 children, says Gaza Health Ministry …

• Israeli Forces Injure More Than a Dozen Gazans Marking 1969 Arson Attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque (Middle East Eye)

… and Israeli police on Tuesday stormed a ceremony in occupied East Jerusalem held to recognize the achievement of Palestinian students who passed their end of high school exams “claiming it was sponsored by the Palestinian Authority”:

• Israeli Forces Storm Ceremony Celebrating Palestinian Students’ Exam Results (The New Arab)

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist needs public support after facing assault in Texas prison, after “an inmate attacked Dr. Aafia by smashing a coffee mug on her face”:

• Aafia Siddiqui Says She Was Assaulted by Inmate in U.S. Prison (5 Pillars UK)

• Mohammed Sha’bann: 8 Year Old Blinded by Israeli Bombs During Gaza War (Middle East Eye)

The Taliban appear closer to forming a government nearly a week after seizing the capital as one of their leaders, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrived in Kabul to “begin talks with former President Hamid Karzai and other politicians” …

• Taliban Co-Founder Mullah Baradar in Kabul For Government Talks (Al-Jazeera)

… as the U.S. leaves behind “hundreds of thousands of assault rifles, thousands of armored vehicles, dozens of aircraft, tanks, artillery, sniper rifles, night-vision goggles and much more” in sophgisticated weaponry for the Taliban’s use:

• As Taliban Parades Captured Weapons, US Still Trying to Gauge Scope of Damage (Times of Israel)

Hezbolla chief Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday a tanker would set off from Iran “within hours” to bring desperately needed fuel supplies to Lebanon, in defiance of US sanctions …

• Hezbollah: Iran Fuel Tanker Set to Sail to Lebanon, Defying US Sanctions (Middle East Eye

… and if the initial estimates of gas reserves held in the deposit are accurate, “Iran will be able to supply at least 20% of Europe’s gas needs”:

• Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger (Yahoo Finance)

Pakistan’s interest in Afghanistan has been “almost certainly been to continue countering Indian influence and mitigating spillover into the Pakistani territory” according to a US DIA report…

• Pakistan Interest In Afghanistan To Counter Indian Influence, Says US Report (NDTV)

…yet propaganda based journalists continue to call for sanctions against Pakistan despite the fact that other countries, India included, continue to fund their own proxy wars in the Afghan state:

• #SanctionPakistan Trends as Afghans Demand Sanctions against Pakistan for supporting Taliban (OP India)

Abdullah Khan