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White House receives ‘intel’ on Chinese bounties against US forces
The Trump administration is reportedly declassifying as-yet uncorroborated intelligence, that claims China offered to pay non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack US forces, two senior administration officials tell Axios.
The Chinese embassy in Washington DC did not respond to a request for comment by Axios and according to the report outgoing President Donald Trump is not believed to have discussed the matter with China’s President Xi Jinping.
It was not immediately clear whether any members of Congress or President-elect Joe Biden have been briefed, though Biden now has access to the President's Daily Brief.
The intelligence was included in the president's briefing on December 17, and Trump was verbally briefed on the matter by National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, officials told Axios.
According to the Axios article, administration officials across multiple agencies are currently working to corroborate the initial intelligence reports.
Axios was not able to visually inspect any reports detailing the intelligence but they reported stated a summary was described by the officials over the phone.
Axios meanwhile stated that if this intelligence were to be confirmed, it would represent a dramatic strategic shift for China, and sharply escalate tensions between China and the US and on the other hand, if the intelligence does not prove accurate, it raises questions about the motivations of the sources behind it as well as the decision to declassify it.
China has long played a quiet diplomatic role in Afghanistan, inviting Afghan Taliban officials to Beijing to discuss plans for a peace deal and encouraging an Afghan-led solution, though Chinese-made weapons and financing have at times also flowed into the conflict there.
But one senior official told Axios "like all first reports, we react with caution to initial reports" but "any intel reports relating to the safety of our forces we take very seriously."
Another source said: "The US has evidence that the PRC [People's Republic of China] attempted to finance attacks on American servicemen by Afghan non-state actors by offering financial incentives or 'bounties'," and said the National Security Council "is coordinating a whole-of-government investigation."
He would not say whether he was referring to the Taliban, or give details about who “non-state actors” were, Axios reported.
The timing of the alleged bounty offer is unclear. The source would say only that this happened some time after late February when the US struck its deal with the Taliban.
This latest development comes just days after Afghan security officials announced they had discovered an alleged Chinese spy ring operating in the country apparently seeking to target Uyghurs.
Last week, officials confirmed that Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) detained 10 Chinese nationals on charges of espionage after busting the alleged spy ring.
The Hindustan Times reported that Beijing had tried to persuade the Afghan government to keep the case under wraps as it is a huge embarrassment for the communist country, people familiar with the matter told the Indian daily.
A senior diplomat in Kabul told the Hindustan Times that two of the 10 Chinese nationals were in touch with Haqqani Network and that Li Yangyang, one of the detainees, had been operating since July or August.
The Times reported the alleged spy was arrested by the NDS on December 10.
Another detainee, Sha Hung, reportedly ran a restaurant in Kabul’s Sherpur area, in the city center.
The Times stated that while both Chinese nationals were in touch with Haqqani Network, Li was gathering information about al-Qaeda, Taliban, and Uyghurs in Kunar and Badakhshan provinces.
Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu has reportedly been briefed about the situation by Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who in turn allegedly threatened Beijing with criminal proceedings unless it apologizes formally and admits to the violation of international protocol.
Afghanistan shares its border with China’s Xinjiang, home to Uighur Muslims who seek refuge in the country.
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McCall claims Daesh has been revived in Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has however repeatedly said that Daesh has been eliminated in Afghanistan.
Michael McCall, the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee said over the weekend that the US is witnessing a resurgence of Daesh in the Afghanistan region.
In a discussion with America’s ABC television, McCall said one thing he was “worried about, is with the fall of Afghanistan and the debacle, ... we are seeing a resurgence of ISIS and ISIS-K (Daesh) in the Khorasan region between Afghanistan and Pakistan that concerns me greatly.”
McCall added that eight people with ties to Daesh recently entered the United States.
“We know that eight ISIS individuals have entered the United States. ... So you really have two types of threats.
“One is operational; the other one is inspired attacks, radicalized over the internet. They're both equally lethal, and they need to be focused on to stop it," he said.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has however repeatedly said that Daesh has been eliminated in Afghanistan.
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ATN to broadcast DP World ILT20 live across Afghanistan
Season 3 of the DP World ILT20 will also welcome several exciting fresh additions
Ariana Television and Radio Network (ATN) kicks off 2025 with another thrilling sporting event; this time the exciting Season 3 of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20).
Once again, ATN has secured the legal rights to broadcast matches live on Ariana Television.
The tournament, which will run from this Saturday, 11 January, to 9 February, is only in its 3rd season but has solidified its position in the global cricketing events as it has already been established as the second-most watched league in the world.
Last year, Season 2, recorded a whopping 220 million viewers tuning in to watch the thrilling event.
Season 3 is however set to be bigger and better with a wider broadcast penetration both in traditional and non-traditional cricket markets around the world.
The DP World ILT20 Season 3 will be launched with a grand opening ceremony which will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.
The event will begin at 6:30pm local time and will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The first match of the season will see defending champions MI Emirates taking on hosts Dubai Capitals in a rematch of last year’s grand finale.
The six DP World ILT20 franchises have retained some of the biggest names in T20 cricket for Season 3.
Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will continue to represent the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford remain with the Desert Vipers.
The Dubai Capitals have retained David Warner and Rovman Powell, with Chris Jordan and Shimron Hetmyer staying on for the Gulf Giants.
MI Emirates will feature Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hossein once again, and the Sharjah Warriorz have brought back Adil Rashid, a Wildcard pick in Season 2, alongside Johnson Charles.
England’s Jason Roy returns to the league, now with the Sharjah Warriorz, after making two appearances for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders last season.
Sharjah has further bolstered their squad with the addition of New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who will lead the team in his first season with the league.
Former West Indies captain Jason Holder is set to join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders after playing for the Dubai Capitals in the previous season.
Season 3 will also welcome several exciting fresh additions. Fakhar Zaman and Lockie Ferguson will feature for the Desert Vipers, Shai Hope joins the Dubai Capitals, and Roston Chase joins the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Matthew Wade and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran will add strength to the Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants, respectively, while Romario Shepherd is set to debut for MI Emirates.
For more news and updates, be sure to follow Ariana Television’s social media platforms.
Schedule below
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WFP warns millions in Afghanistan in urgent need of aid
The WFP estimates that $718 million is needed over the next six months to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.
The World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions are in desperate need of assistance.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, WFP highlighted the grave choices many Afghans families face, such as deciding between feeding their children or keeping them warm during the harsh winter months.
Expressing concern about the country's economic turmoil, the organization has urgently appealed for international support.
The WFP estimates that $718 million is needed over the next six months to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.
The UN agency also revealed that over five million Afghans are living in extreme food insecurity, uncertain of when or where their next meal will come from.
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