Today's D Brief: ISIS vs. Taliban; 'Horrible mistake' in Kabul; UNGA preview; Killer robots in Iran; And a bit more.
By Ben Watson
September 20, 2021 10:39 AM ET
The D Brief
ISIS is attacking the Taliban in Jalalabad, and seems to be exaggerating its impact—claiming nearly three dozen were killed in at least five attacks Saturday, attacks which locals said killed just four people, according to the Washington Post. (Reuters put the death toll in Saturday’s attacks at three people killed and “about 20” wounded.)
Surprise: Taliban fighters miss war against the U.S., some of them told Susannah George of the Washington Post on Sunday. Said one fighter to George: “Many of my fighters are worried that they missed their chance at martyrdom in the war. I tell them they need to relax. They still have a chance to become martyrs. But this adjustment will take time.” Worth the click, here.
Also unsurprisingly: The Taliban are telling Kabul’s female government workers to stay home, CNN reports in some of the latest known restrictions to follow a return to Taliban rule. On Sunday, women in Kabul protested the Taliban decision to shut down the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and replace it with the comparatively draconian Ministry of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. This time (unlike, e.g., Sept. 5) the Taliban do not appear to have violently broken up the protest, according to Reuters.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/09/the-d-brief-september-20-2021/185452/
