Af/Pak & Other News (8/19/2021)

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The Taliban have declared the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,' the same name it used when it brutally ruled the country in the 1990s

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-taliban-have-declared-the-islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-the-same-name-it-used-when-it-brutally-ruled-the-country-in-the-1990s/ar-AANutNE



Afghans clash with Taliban for 2nd day; Biden vows to get U.S. evacuees out

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/19/afghanistan-taliban-protesters/2891629373558/



Taliban crush opposition across Afghanistan, as chaos builds at airport

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/19/asia/taliban-afghanistan-opposition-thursday-intl/index.html



Read What The Taliban Told NPR About Their Plans For Afghanistan

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1028780816/transcript-taliban-spokesman-suhail-shaheen-interview



Armed US fighter jets launched from a Navy aircraft carrier are flying overwatch for evacuations in the Afghan capital

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/armed-us-fighter-jets-launched-from-a-navy-aircraft-carrier-are-flying-overwatch-for-evacuations-in-the-afghan-capital/ar-AANvrSH



The Dangerous Road to the Kabul Airport

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/18/world/asia/kabul-airport-afghanistan-maps.html



Taliban fighters have created a ‘gauntlet’ outside Kabul’s airport making escape nearly impossible

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/taliban-kabul-airport-afghans-escape-impossible/



Hardline Haqqani Network Put in Charge of Kabul Security

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/hardline-haqqani-network-put-charge-kabul-security



Taliban 'intensifying' search for Afghans who helped US: UN document

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210819-taliban-intensifying-search-for-afghans-who-helped-us-un-document



Taliban commander rules out democracy in Afghanistan: 'It is Sharia law and that is it'

https://thehill.com/policy/international/568551-taliban-commander-rules-out-democracy-in-afghanistan-it-is-sharia-law



‘Cannot Ensure Safe Passage’: US Tells Americans in Kabul to Get to Airport On Their Own

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/2000-evacuated-kabul-24-hour-span-pentagon-says/184637/



Pentagon Leaders: Not Enough Capacity For Rescue Operations In Kabul

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/pentagon-leaders-not-enough-capacity-for-rescue-operations-in-kabul/



Biden’s Afghanistan Disaster Will Become A Hostage Crisis

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/bidens-afghanistan-disaster-will-become-a-hostage-crisis/



US contractors rush to get former employees out of Afghanistan

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/08/18/us-contractors-rush-to-get-former-employees-out-of-afghanistan/



21st Century Dunkirk: The story of how air traffic controllers used social media DMs to help rescue friends trapped in Afghanistan

https://warisboring.com/21st-century-dunkirk-the-story-of-how-air-traffic-controllers-used-social-media-dms-to-help-rescue-friends-trapped-in-afghanistan/



The US Is Removing Records of Its War in Afghanistan From the Internet

https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7enzb/the-us-is-removing-records-of-its-war-in-afghanistan-from-the-internet



The State Department Has Abandoned Its CH-46 Helicopters In Afghanistan

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42060/the-state-department-has-abandoned-its-ch-46-helicopters-in-afghanistan



Austin promises ramped up evacuation efforts from Afghanistan for 'as long as we possibly can'

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2021-08-18/afghanistan-austin-milley-kabul-airport-taliban-military-evacuations-2596523.html



Biden says US troops could be in Afghanistan past 31 August deadline – video

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2021/aug/19/biden-says-us-troops-may-stay-in-afghanistan-past-31-august-deadline-video



US Sends Top Special Operations Generals — and Mostly Untested Troops — to Kabul

https://coffeeordie.com/generals-troops-operations-kabul/



About 100K Afghans Seeking Evacuation Via U.S. Visa Program, Refugee Assistance Group Says

https://www.newsweek.com/about-100k-afghans-seeking-evacuation-via-us-visa-program-refugee-assistance-group-says-1621161



Pentagon says 7,000 civilians taken out of Kabul

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-0485402ef4a864d68d4a64982c2d3bdf



Trump’s Pledge to Exit Afghanistan Was a Ruse, His Final SecDef Says

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/trumps-pledge-exit-afghanistan-was-ruse-his-final-secdef-says/184660/



From 300,000 to a Few Hundred: What Happened to Afghanistan’s Army

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-08-18/from-300-000-to-a-few-hundred-the-collapse-of-afghanistans-army



The failure of intelligence in Afghanistan - opinion

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-failure-of-intelligence-in-counterinsurgency-opinion-676886



‘A massive policy fail’: CIA warned White House of swift Taliban takeover

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/18/massive-policy-fail-cia-warned-taliban-takeover



Why Didn’t They Fight? Inside the Collapse of the Afghan Army

https://coffeeordie.com/why-didnt-afghan-army-fight/



The Afghan gov't overthrown by Taliban never existed - ex-soldier; Former US soldier discusses how myths, bad data, desire for promotions, corruption and waste underpinned the Afghan war.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/the-afghan-govt-overthrown-by-taliban-never-existed-source-677178



Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban's new U.S.-made war chest

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/planes-guns-night-vision-goggles-talibans-new-us-made-war-chest-2021-08-19/



Russia was ready for Taliban’s win due to longtime contacts

https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-taliban-f25c1a8b030fb0721f9b8891f8d329e8



Russia Gushes Over ‘Fun’ Taliban at Theme Park—Then Reports Taliban Burned It Down

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-state-media-gushes-over-fun-taliban-at-theme-parkthen-reports-taliban-burned-it-down?ref=home



WhatsApp shuts down Taliban helpline in Kabul

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/08/whatsapp-shuts-down-taliban-helpline-in-kabul/



IMF to withhold $460M in funds from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/19/imf-withhold-460m-funds-afghanistan-after-taliban-/



Arrival of the #Taliban leadership in #Kandahar /south #Afghanistan with help of #Qatar'i Air Force today

https://twitter.com/markito0171/status/1427748229089800195



Taliban shifts focus to governing, but protests, empty coffers and isolation pose challenges

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-taliban-resistance/2021/08/18/fa4275a2-003a-11ec-87e0-7e07bd9ce270_story.html



Taliban takeover: How the Chinese shadow looms large over Afghanistan

https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/taliban-takeover-how-the-chinese-shadow-looms-large-over-afghanistan-1842518-2021-08-18



Afghanistan: Pakistan fences off from Afghan refugees

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58187983



Pakistan’s hand in the Taliban’s victory

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/18/pakistan-hand-taliban-victory/



Pakistani Taliban’s emir renews allegiance to Afghan Taliban

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/pakistani-talibans-emir-renews-allegiance-to-afghan-taliban.php



Pakistan cheers Taliban out of ‘fear of India’ – despite spillover threat

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210818-pakistan-cheers-taliban-out-of-fear-of-india-%E2%80%93-despite-spillover-threat



What Pakistan Stands to Gain From the Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan

https://time.com/6091251/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-pakistan/



Iran Braces for Life Next Door to the Taliban Once Again

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-19/iran-braces-for-life-next-door-to-the-taliban-once-again



A New Northern Alliance Against The Taliban Is Forming In Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42051/a-new-northern-alliance-against-the-taliban-is-forming-in-afghanistans-panjshir-valley



After fall of Kabul, resistance to Taliban emerges in Panjshir

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/after-fall-of-kabul-resistance-to-taliban-emerges-in-panjshir.php



The Taliban captured a female Afghan governor who recruited militants to fight the Taliban, report says

https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-captured-female-afghan-governor-072626153.html



Defiant Afghans Challenge Taliban At Independence Day Rallies With National Flag

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-blocking-airport-independence-day/31418029.html



Written in Taliban: U.S. Veterans Voice Anger Over Afghanistan

https://www.thecipherbrief.com/article/afghanistan/written-in-taliban-u-s-veterans-voice-anger-over-afghanistan



What went wrong in Afghanistan? Perspectives on the 'forever war' from those who saw it up close

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-went-wrong-in-afghanistan-perspectives-on-the-forever-war-from-those-who-saw-it-up-close/ar-AANt3dy



‘Now is the time where you bend the rules’ — Inside a US Marine veteran’s fight to get his Afghan interpreter to safety

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-veteran-afghanistan-interpreter/



Turmoil In Afghanistan Spills Into Central Asia

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/aghanistan-taliban-central-asia/31417124.html



Americans could owe $6.5 trillion for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — and that's just the interest

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-iraq-wars-debt-6-trillion-interest/



Cost of caring for Iraq, Afghanistan vets could top $2.5 trillion: report

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2021/08/18/cost-of-caring-for-iraq-afghanistan-vets-could-top-25-trillion-report/



The War In Afghanistan Was A Generational Experiment On The Effects Of Roadside Bombs. I’m Part Of It.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/08/19/the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-generational-experiment-on-the-effects-of-roadside-bombs-im-part-of-it/









HAL orders 99 F404 engines to support Tejas production

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/hal-orders-99-f404-engines-to-support-tejas-production/145127.article



IAF Starts Inducting DRDO-made Chaff Technology to Deflect Incoming Missiles

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30262/IAF_Starts_Inducting_DRDO_made_Chaff_Technology_to_Deflect_Incoming_Missiles#.YR5umd9lBaQ



India and other Quads Tracking Chinese Submarines

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/08/india-and-other-quads-tracking-chinese.html









‘Lion of Herat’ Reportedly in Iran Following Taliban Capture

https://coffeeordie.com/ismail-khan-herat-iran/



Iran ramps up uranium enrichment as nuclear talks stall

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/08/iran-ramps-uranium-enrichment-nuclear-talks-stall









Saudi Arabia operating new air-defence radar

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/saudi-arabia-operating-new-air-defence-radar




FNSS from Turkey displays new version of Shadow Rider UGV

https://www.armyrecognition.com/idef_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_media_partner/idef_2021_fnss_from_turkey_displays_new_version_of_shadow_rider_ugv.html



Roketsan showcases Akya heavy class torpedo

http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/august/10577-idef-2021-roketsan-showcases-akya-heavy-class-torpedo.html



Tübitak Sage displays Togan air launched mortar munition

https://www.armyrecognition.com/idef_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_media_partner/idef_2021_tubitak_sage_displays_togan_air_launched_mortar_munition.html



Turkey Unveils Serial Production Version of Kaplan MT Tank at IDEF-2021

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/19/turkey-serial-production-kaplan-tank/



MKE displays Close Air Defence System YHSS for first time

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/august/10574-idef-2021-mke-displays-close-air-defence-system-yhss-for-first-time.html



Tübitak Sage showcases SARB-83 penetrator bomb

https://www.armyrecognition.com/idef_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_media_partner/idef_2021_tubitak_sage_showcases_sarb-83_penetrator_bomb.html










Daring Israel and US to act, Hezbollah says Iran fuel tanker to sail to Lebanon

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-says-iran-fuel-tanker-to-sail-to-lebanon-dares-israel-and-us-to-act/









Russia supports withdrawal of foreign fighters from Libya

https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-africa-russia-libya-013b0186473ac7b91a19a6ea2e73172b




Here are Morocco’s top priorities for modernizing its Air Force

https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2021/08/18/here-are-moroccos-top-priorities-for-modernizing-its-air-force/





Chadian military parade reveals new equipment deliveries

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chadian-military-parade-reveals-new-equipment-deliveries









Ukraine anniversary parade to unveil new generation of military hardware

https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-anniversary-parade-to-unveil-new-generation-of-military-hardware/



Senior Russian security official questions U.S. commitment to Ukraine after Afghan exit

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/senior-russian-security-official-questions-us-commitment-ukraine-after-afghan-2021-08-19/



MiG-29 Crashes, 3rd Russian Military Plane Accident in a Week

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30259/MiG_29_Crashes__3rd_Russian_Military_Plane_Accident_in_a_Week#.YR5uj99lBaQ



Chief test pilot among crew lost on crashed Il-112V

https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/chief-test-pilot-among-crew-lost-on-crashed-il-112v/145122.article



New satellite images show Russia may be preparing to test nuclear powered 'Skyfall' missile

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/18/politics/russia-skyfall-missile-test-satellite-images/index.html



Russian warship fires warning shots at S. Korean fishing boat

https://navalpost.com/russian-warship-fires-warning-shots-at-s-korean-fishing-boat/



Russia Integrates Kh-35U Anti-Ship Missiles Into Su-34 Bomber

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/19/russia-su-34-anti-ship-missiles/



Russia is Top Military Threat to U.S. Homeland, Air Force General Says

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/18/russia-is-top-military-threat-to-u-s-homeland-air-force-general-says



Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny tells Russians to sabotage upcoming elections

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/jailed-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalny-tells-russians-sabotage-upcoming-elections-2021-08-19/





Italy Increasing Tempest Funding And Planning New Support Aircraft Acquisitions

https://theaviationist.com/2021/08/18/italy-dpp-2021-2023/




Forget the cake: Drone flies contraband metal saws into a French jail

https://dronedj.com/2021/08/19/forget-the-cake-drone-flies-contraband-metal-saws-into-a-french-jail/









British vessel deployed to assist with Haiti earthquake

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-vessel-deployed-to-assist-with-haiti-earthquake/









China conducts military exercises southwest and southeast of Taiwan

https://navalpost.com/china-exercise-near-taiwan/



China portrays the U.S. as 'weak and unreliable' to draw Taiwan closer, analyst says

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-portrays-the-u-s-as-weak-and-unreliable-to-draw-taiwan-closer-analyst-says/ar-AANtYeJ





China Won't Dial Down Aggression, Taiwan Preparing for the Worst: Official

https://www.newsweek.com/china-xi-jinping-wont-dial-down-aggression-taiwan-preparing-worst-official-1620980





N. Korea issued navigational warning for East Sea in indication of missile launch preparations

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210819002200325





Japan to Deploy Largest Vessel to Guard Senkaku Islands From China Patrols

https://www.newsweek.com/japan-deploy-largest-vessel-guard-senkaku-islands-china-patrols-1621024



Japan’s Sea-based Aegis System Faces Ax

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/japans-sea-based-aegis-system-faces-ax










Emerging Tech Key to Unraveling UFO/UAP Mysteries, Officials Say

https://www.meritalk.com/articles/emerging-tech-key-to-unraveling-ufo-uap-mysteries-officials-say/



World’s Largest Association of Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineers Joins Call for Scientific Inquiry of UFOs

https://thedebrief.org/worlds-largest-association-of-aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineers-joins-call-for-scientific-inquiry-of-ufos/



US and Canada want to collaborate on NORAD modernization

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2021/08/18/us-and-canada-want-to-collaborate-on-norad-modernization/



U.S military is now seeking a ground-effect craft

https://defence-blog.com/u-s-military-is-now-seeking-a-ground-effect-craft/



Pentagon Shifting Approach to Chem-Bio Defense

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/8/19/pentagon-shifting-approach-to-chem-bio-defense



We Were Soldiers: Effort to rename Benning ‘Fort Moore’ gains steam

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/we-were-soldiers-effort-to-rename-benning-fort-moore-gains-steam/



The Air Force’s Investment In Hypersonic Startup Hermeus Isn’t About Producing A Hypersonic Presidential Executive Transport

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/08/18/the-air-forces-investment-in-hypersonic-startup-hermeus-isnt-about-producing-a-hypersonic-presidential-executive-transport/



As BlackSky Tees Up Hourly Imagery, NRO Extends Contract

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/as-blacksky-tees-up-hourly-imagery-nro-extends-contract/



Army On Track to Deliver Laser Weapon Prototype in 2022

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/8/18/army-on-track-to-deliver-first-laser-weapon-prototype-in-2022



US Army wants a high-altitude jammer

https://www.c4isrnet.com/smr/technet-augusta/2021/08/18/us-army-wants-a-high-altitude-jammer/



Army Hammers Out Multi-Domain Ops Doctrine: Capstone FM 3-0 Due Next Summer

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/army-hammers-out-multi-domain-ops-doctrine-capstone-fm-3-0-due-next-summer/



These Marines will spend 2 years testing the Corps’ new ship-sinking missile

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/08/18/these-marines-will-spend-the-next-2-years-testing-the-corps-new-ship-sinking-missile/



Stingray tanker aces Hawkeye refuelling test

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/stingray-tanker-aces-hawkeye-refuelling-test/145153.article



U.S. Navy Awards Contract for Anti-UAV High Energy Laser Weapon System

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30256/U_S__Navy_Awards_Contract_for_Anti_UAV_High_Energy_Laser_Weapon_System#.YR5uvN9lBaQ