Daily Evacuation Brief | August 24, 2022

Aug 24, 2022

`LAST 24 HOURS`

PROTESTS AT REFUGEE CAMPS — Afghan refugees languishing in the Humanitarian City in the UAE held protests over the lack of movement on their immigration cases, most of which are pending with the United States. Rumors about impending deportations have been escalating over the past month, and many of the families who are stuck in the country have expressed deep concern they will be forced back into danger under the Taliban.
NEW TALIBAN STRATEGY IN THE NORTH — Recent military movements in northern Afghanistan suggest the Taliban’s newly appointed special commander for the region, Abdul Qayyum Zakir, is shifting forces around in an attempt to launch a new offensive. A source in the Ministry of Defense has said the new strategy will no longer include direct assaults on NRF strongholds but will instead employ a “side strategy”. The source could not elaborate on what this strategy entails.
ADDITIONAL FLOODING DEATHS — Flooding reportedly killed another 32 people over the last 24 hours, and floodwaters have been slow to recede in the east and southeast of the country. Travel is said to be extremely dangerous, and many vehicles have been lost to fast-flowing water.
BORDER CLASHES — Two separate border incidents have been reported over the last 36 hours, one on the Afghanistan-Uzbekistan border in Balkh and one on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Paktia. See the Conflict Tracker below for details.

`NEXT 24 HOURS`

Taliban forces in Panjshir will continue their retrograde operations in an attempt to concentrate their forces in preparation for a shift in their objectives in the province. Fighting is expected, but it will likely be light and spread across a wide front.

`SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS`

VOA Exclusive: Former CENTCOM Commanders Say the US Not Safer Following Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan

By Carla Babb – VOA

The United States is not safer following the pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and President Donald Trump's and President Joe Biden's determination to withdraw all U.S. forces from there led to Kabul's fall, according to the last commanders to oversee a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

"I do not believe we are safer as a result of our withdrawal from Afghanistan," McKenzie, who advised American presidents to keep a minimum of 2,500 U.S. troops in the country, told VOA.

`AFGHAN NEWS`

Afghan Delegation Visits Turkey to Discuss Refugee Situation

By TOLOnews

According to reports, hundreds of Afghan refugees were deported from Turkey to Kabul daily.

Residents Given 10 Days to Leave 'Govt Land' in PD 17: Kabul Municipality

By TOLOnews

According to the Kabul Municipality, the residences which are located alongside the Sarai-Shamali and Kotal-e-Khairkhana streets must be destroyed to pave the ground…

A person in a military uniform holding an object in front of a crowd

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How the Taliban’s more effective and ‘fairer’ tax system helped it win control of Afghanistan

By The Conversation

Long before the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban had developed a remarkably state-like system of taxing citizens on everyday goods like…

`REGIONAL NEWS`

Afghan refugees, migrants protest once again in UAE over resettlement woes

By The New Arab

Afghan refugees and migrants living in limbo at a United Arab Emirates facility for nearly a year since being evacuated from Afghanistan held fresh protests this…