The Afghan Digest

Share this post

Daily Evacuation Brief | August 4, 2022

afghandigest.substack.com
Daily Evac Brief

Daily Evacuation Brief | August 4, 2022

Aug 4, 2022
Share this post

Daily Evacuation Brief | August 4, 2022

afghandigest.substack.com

LAST 24 HOURS

  • Taliban security forces claim to have been conducting a clearing operation of an ISIS safe house in the Karta-e-Sakhi neighborhood of Kabul when the militants began firing on Taliban forces. An active gun battle ensued, and eyewitnesses say that light and heavy weapons were used by both sides. A Taliban spokesman said the fighting ended in the afternoon with 2 Taliban security personnel killed (1 male, 1 female), 3 militants killed, and a final militant captured and under arrest. A heavy Taliban presence remains in the area, and pedestrians and vehicles were being turned away. No further information was available, and there was no explanation as to why a female Taliban security personnel involved in the clearing operation.

  • A contingent of Sikhs departed Afghanistan today due to security concerns in the country and will seek asylum in India. 

  • Another religious scholar, Abdul Matin Mohammadi, was killed by unidentified gunmen in the Firozkoh district of Ghor. Mohammadi was seen to have been shot and killed by two men riding a motorcycle as he was returning home from a local mosque. No arrests have been made. 

    • A Ministry of the Interior source claims that the Afghan people think the recent spate of murders targeting Afghan religious leaders are a reprisal for anti-Taliban sentiments that some of these figures shared with the authorities. The source went on to say that the killings do not appear to be organized by a central authority and are likely local affairs conducted by disparate groups.

  • More fighting was reported in the Khenj district, but reports have been extremely contradictory and it is unclear where the fighting is taking place currently. At-risk Afghans in Khenj are encouraged to shelter in place for the near term.

  • The Taliban shut down speculation that a new water rights deal with Iran was likely upcoming. The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water said the accord signed in 1973 would be respected and that there was no current interest in negotiating a new deal. Iran has signaled a desire to address the accord and has continually called on the Taliban to abide by the agreement. In recent months, Tehran has accused Kabul of failing to adhere to the accord, in particular regarding the Helmand River. Many international observers are closely monitoring the situation and have sounded alarm bells saying the dispute could develop into conflict. For its part, Kabul has announced plans to build a series of hydroelectric dams in the country to meet growing energy demand and reduce dependency on regional power providers.


NEXT 24 HOURS

  • The security forces currently deployed in and around the Karta-e-Sakhi neighborhood in Kabul have left a detachment in place. A local source claims they are looking for a second house and a vehicle possibly located nearby that was intended to be used in a bombing attack. Security forces were not conducting searches when last reported but appeared to be waiting for orders. At-risk Afghans are encouraged to avoid the area while the operation is ongoing.


SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS

A couple of men sitting on a couch

Description automatically generated with low confidence

Al Qaeda’s Next Move

By Cole Bunzel – Foreign Affairs

Ayman al-Zawahiri was the ultimate survivor—until he wasn’t. For 20 years, a parade of other jihadist leaders—including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Osama bin Laden, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and Anwar al-Awlaki—came to violent ends at the hands of U.S. forces. But Zawahiri stayed alive, seemingly invulnerable to American intelligence and drones.


AFGHAN NEWS

A high angle view of buildings

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Fighting Ongoing in Karta-e-Sakhi Area of Kabul

By TOLO News

Earlier Kabul security department spokesman Khalid Zadran said security forces were conducting a clearing operation when gunfire came…

A picture containing road, outdoor, truck, car

Description automatically generated

Tight-lipped Taliban leaders gather after U.S. says Zawahiri killed

By Jibran Ahmad & Mohammad Yunus Yawar – Reuters

Top leaders of Afghanistan's Taliban were holding discussions on Wednesday about how to respond to a U.S. drone strike in Kabul…

Afghanistan crisis update: Life after a year of Taliban rule

By CAFD

One of the great challenges in the country at present is the status and life chances of women and young girls.


REGIONAL NEWS

A picture containing outdoor, pylon, outdoor object

Description automatically generated

Drowning in Debt; Afghanistan Owes $28 Million to Tajikistan

By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press

In a press conference on August 1, the Tajik energy official stated that transferring money from the DABS company to Barqi Tojik became…

A person addressing a group of people

Description automatically generated with low confidence

A Taliban commander says they can take over Tajikistan in a week

By Asia-Plus

Citing a source in Takhar province, Hasht-e Subh, an independent and nonprofit newspaper in Afghanistan, said on August 2 that one of Taliban’s commanders has warned…


INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

A person in a suit and tie

Description automatically generated with low confidence

US warns Taliban to abide by Doha peace agreement

By Jared Szuba – Al-Monitor

The Biden administration warned the Taliban government of Afghanistan on Tuesday that it would not receive the…

A person with a beard and glasses

Description automatically generated with low confidence

Hanafi: US Drone Strike Violates National Sovereignty, Doha Agreement

By Banafsha Binesh – TOLO News

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, said that the US drone attack in Kabul violates both national sovereignty and…


THE DAILY WTF 

A picture containing car, roof

Description automatically generated

Taliban members beat Afghan journalist Selgay Ehsas, force her to record video message

By CPJ

Taliban authorities must investigate the beating and harassment of journalist Selgay Ehsas, hold those…


Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 90.40 AFN (as of 4 AUG 2022)

Share this post

Daily Evacuation Brief | August 4, 2022

afghandigest.substack.com
TopNew

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Roseline LLC
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing