Daily Evacuation Brief | April 15, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS:
The NRF assassinated a Taliban intelligence official last night in the 15th district of Kabul. The official was suspected of conducting low-level liaison with a VAJA (Iranian Intelligence) operative in Kabul and was in possession of several sensitive recordings.
Unknown resistance groups fighting in the North claimed to have liberated significant territory in the Kohistan district. Local observers also claimed that resistance groups had driven the Taliban out of the Khavash Valley and fighting there is continuing. This information has yet to be confirmed.
The 24th delivery of cash assistance, totaling $32 million dollars arrived at the Central Bank. The Central Bank announced it was relaxing daily withdrawal limitations imposed shortly after the US withdrawal.
Another evacuation flight departed the UAE for the United States with approximately 170 Afghans on board. The next flight is scheduled for the end of the month and is a welcome sign that the US is attempting to alleviate congestion at the Humanitarian City.
NEXT 24 HOURS:
Tensions are expected to continue in Takhar province after an inter-Taliban skirmish between Tajik/Uzbek Taliban units and a Pashtun Taliban force which had been sent to disarm the Tajik unit. Sources familiar with the situation claim the Taliban are “driving the Tajik Mujahadeen into the arms of the resistance”.
More fighting in Badakhshan is expected and resistance groups have moved several heavy weapons systems into the region with the aim of neutralizing the Taliban air support. Several sources have verified that Taliban reinforcements are being pulled from garrisons across the north and sent to Andarab in Baghlan province. Heavy fighting has been reported over the last 48hrs.
In response to the recent announcement from the Central Bank regarding removing restrictions imposed on daily withdrawal amounts, crime is expected to increase and at-risk Afghans should be wary of their surroundings if visiting financial institutions.
ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT:
The New Taliban’s Opium Ban: The same political strategy 20 years on?
By Jelena Bjelica – Afghanistan Analysts Network
Seven and a half months after they took power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have officially banned opium. Observers had been waiting to see if they would implement their promise to ban narcotics made shortly after they captured Kabul. The ban has come at the beginning of the opium harvest and at a time when Afghans across the country are already suffering under the strain of economic collapse…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.09 AFN (as of 15 APR 2022)
AFGHAN NEWS
Central Bank Lifts Restrictions on Withdrawal of Salaries
By Amina Hakimi – TOLO News
Business people said they have been facing economic challenges and the banking restrictions…
First group of Afghans stranded in Pakistan returns home
By Yousuf Zarifi – Pajhwok Afghan News
The first group of Afghans who were stranded on the Pakistani side of Torkham border has returned to…
Women and Journalists Are Targets of Violence in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan, Report Says
By Alice Speri – The Intercept
Eight months after a U.S.-supported government in Afghanistan was defeated by the Taliban, violence against civilians and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Top Diplomat: Iran Supports Formation of Inclusive Gov't in Afghanistan
By Fars News
Amir Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on Wednesday…
Minister Khairkhwah meets Uzbek ambassador
By The Kabul Times
Acting Minister of Information and Culture Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwah and Deputy Minister of Culture and art Mullah Atiqullah Azizi met the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
(No Photo)
Welcome.US helps refugees, such as Afghans and Ukrainians, settle in the U.S.
By NPR
A year after President Biden announced plans to withdraw from Afghanistan, NPR's A Martinez talks to…
THE DAILY WTF
U.S. Embassy Staff Destroyed Passports as Taliban Took Over, Trapping American Allies in Afghanistan
By Ryan Mills – National Review
For months, Rabah has been in hiding, moving from place to place in Afghanistan, trying to stay one step ahead of the…