Daily Evacuation Brief | August 20, 2023

Aug 20, 2023

FORMER CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADORS CALL FOR ESTABLISHING TIES WITH TALIBAN – Arif Lalani, a former Canadian Ambassador to Kabul, and Nicola Gordon-Smith, a former Australian Ambassador to the country both say it is time to reopen diplomatic facilities in Kabul. Their arguments highlight the inability of sanctions to moderate the Taliban domestic policies that have resulted in gender apartheid and a steady roll-back of human rights across society.
TALIBAN CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – Yesterday marked the 104th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from Great Britain. The Taliban used the day to implore the world to ‘work with them’ and to remove the sanctions on the country. While the Taliban attempted to use the day as a center stage for its propaganda, human rights critics seized the moment to point out that King Amanullah Khan implemented education reforms for both boys and girls shortly after casting off the British yoke.
IRAQ ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS PROVIDING GRATIS VISAS FOR PAKISTAN, LEBANON, AFGHANISTAN, AND YEMEN – With Arbaeen approaching, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would provide free visas for pilgrims from several countries. Afghanistan was specifically mentioned and it is thought that Iran will similarly offer free transit visas for Afghans to make the Arbaeen pilgrimage. Iraqi diplomatic facilities in Iran and Pakistan have the details for applying for the visas and the government of Iran is expected to announce its free transit visa program in the coming days.
AFGHAN REFUGEE IN UK JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 12-YEAR-OLD ALBANIAN REFUGEE GIRL – Sakhidad Ahadi was sent to jail for reportedly raping a 12-year-old Albanian refugee girl who was staying in the same government-sponsored hotel at the time the crime was committed. Ahadi had been seeking asylum in the UK since shortly after the fall of Kabul and the offenses took place in December of 2022. He was first arrested in January of 2023 and now faces at least 8 years in prison before he can be considered for parole.
PAKISTANI BUSINESS OWNERS AND UNION LEADERS CALL FOR THE REOPENING OF THE ANGOOR ADDA BORDER CROSSING – Union leaders, trade representatives, and business owners attended a meeting at the Rustam Bazar to discuss the continued closure of the Angoor Adda border crossing. The crossing has been closed for several months in response to increased terror activity. The group called a press conference and demanded the Pakistani government reopen the crossing on an emergency basis so that trade could be resumed.

NEXT 24 HOURS

PARWAN SECURITY OPERATION RAMPING UP – Sources in Kabul say that Taliban security forces have moved approximately 300 men to Parwan in an effort to reinforce the local Taliban units in the Province that came under attack recently by Resistance forces. In addition, the local GDI offices have received additional personnel from the Ministry of the Interior who have participated in several of the clearing operations in Kabul in 2022 and 2023. Sources say that house-to-house searches will begin today in certain areas and that additional road checkpoints are being planned to try and interdict Resistance forces.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

The economy Minister announced plans to launch an offshore bank to attract foreign investment. The bank plans to offer a residency permit for deposits greater than $100,000.00s.
The hacktivist group GhiyamtaSarengouni has reportedly released more documents detailing internal governmental discussions about the rise of firearms among protestors, increased spending on the IRGC, and fears over the impacts of social media on the populace.
A student from Azerbaijan was sentenced to two years in prison over a charge of ‘intent to spy’. The student had been enrolled at a medical university in Germany and was arrested in Iran when he returned to visit his girlfriend in March.

PAKISTAN

Security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa clashed with terror suspects in Bara Tehsil and killed 2 and arrested 2 more.
A case of the monkeypox virus was confirmed in a Rawalpindi hospital and the National Institute of Health has launched an investigation to see if other cases may have been spread by the man who contracted the disease.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the caretaker Prime Minister attempted to calm the country yesterday by presenting his regime’s plan to administer the government until next year’s elections.

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS

Why China is still on the sidelines in Afghanistan, 2 years after messy US troop pull-out

By Shi Jiangtao - South China Morning Post

China has made no secret of its joy over the US Afghan debacle, mocking the rival power for failing to learn ‘profound lessons’ from the ‘Kabul moment’. But it has been reluctant to fill the void, with pundits citing ‘no illusions about great influence over the Taliban’ and lingering security risks.

AFGHAN NEWS

IEA marks 104th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from Britain

By Ariana News

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in a statement on Saturday congratulated the nation on the occasion of 104th anniversary of independence from…

Afghan women protest for their right to education and work in Mazar-e-Sharif on August 16.

Ex-Afghan President Calls For Education For Girls On Independence Day

By RFE

On Afghanistan's Independence Day, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for the ruling Taliban to let girls go to school and…

IEA has more than 400,000 security forces: deputy PM

By Ariana News

Abdulsalam Hanafi, the administrative deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, on Saturday, claimed that the IEA has more than…

REGIONAL NEWS

Iranian daily warns against security fallout of Afghans’ increased immigration into Iran

By Iran Front Page

“Using the term ‘foreign nationals’ to refer to those involved in the recent attack on the Shah Cherag holy shrine in the city of Shiraz tells us an…

Khan’s deputy detained after positing challenge to any delay in election

By The Gulf Times

Pakistani opposition leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was detained yesterday, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said, just hours after he said it would challenge any…