Daily Evacuation Brief | December 29, 2022

Dec 29, 2022

EXPLOSION IN TAKHAR INJURES 5 – A blast was reported on Wednesday in Taloqan City and was initially said to be a roadside bomb. However, multiple local sources have now stated it was due to a gas cylinder that had exploded near a bakery. The 5 casualties have all been sent to the hospital for treatment. Taliban officials continue to claim the blast was caused by a mine but most have dismissed their claims as nonsense.
FORMER PRESIDENT KARZAI CALLS FOR ‘GRAND DIALOGUE’ – He commented in an interview with the Washington Post and said a national discussion was the only way for the country to make its way out of the current predicament. He said he has been speaking with a senior Taliban official and that some plans have been made for an inclusive discussion, but they have not worked through all the details as of yet. Ultimately, the goal seems to be forming an inclusive government and drafting a new constitution. While most agree his proposal is likely the only solution, the Taliban’s ‘old guard’ has adopted an entrenched stance and does not seem willing to budge or share power.
SNOW AND RAIN EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN – The Meteorological Department warns that there is the possibility of snow and heavy rains in the provinces of Herat, Farah, Ghor, Badghis, Daikundi, Bamiyan, Maidan Wardak, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Ghazni and Paktika in the next 24 hours. Transportation and power distribution networks could experience disruptions.
27 NEW DISTRICTS FORMED BY INTERIOR MINISTRY – The Ministry said that the people of Afghanistan had called for the formation of the new districts and the Supreme Leader had approved the plan. Observers say it is a move to reward Taliban loyalists by giving them leadership positions in the new Districts and will place additional strain on the country’s abysmal economic situation. A source in the Ministry of the Interior claimed the new Districts have been formed mainly along ethnic lines and seemed to favor Pashtun enclaves in Provinces where other ethnic groups have large populations.
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR TEARS UP HIS DIPLOMA ON TV IN PROTEST — Professor Ismail Mashal was being interviewed by TOLO News when he tore his diploma up on TV and delivered a scathing rebuke to the Taliban’s policies. It is not clear if he has been detained by the Taliban for his actions at this point.
INDIAN-MADE COUGH SYRUP REPORTEDLY KILLS 18 CHILDREN IN UZBEKISTAN, MAY HAVE BEEN RE-EXPORTED TO BALKH PROVINCE – 18 children have reportedly died after taking an Indian-made cough syrup. The cough syrup is called Doc-1 Max and is manufactured by Marion Biotech Pvt Ltd. India launched an inspection of several drug factories after learning of the cases. Healthcare officials in Balkh Province are attempting to find out if the medicine had been brought across the border.
NRF APPOINTS NEW COMMANDER IN ANDARAB – Ramzan Aziz “Andrabi” has been named the new Commander of the Andarab sector after the death of the former Commander, Khair Mohammad “Khairkhah”.

NEXT 24 HOURS

SUPREME LEADER TO CONFER WITH RELIGIOUS ADVISORS — Recent reporting indicated a letter signed by approximately 40 senior Taliban leaders was given to the Supreme Leader with a recommendation that he reverse the harmful gender policies recently implemented. While sources say the Supreme Leader initially scoffed at the letter, he is said to be calling in several of his closest advisors to take a second look. The informal ‘council’ is expected to last for a few days and will involve a conference call with an unknown foreign religious leader who is known to Akhundzada.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

An international compact between Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine are taking legal action against Iran for the downing of Flight 752 in 2020.
Iranian chess players have come under fire from regime loyalists for refusing to wear the Hijab during matches at a competition in Kazakhstan.
An Israeli Minister opined that attacks were possible within 2 to 3 years.

PAKISTAN

Security officials are considering installing vehicle scanners on select transportation routes in the country after the Jammu incident.
Government finance officials have said there is no risk of default on Pakistan’s debt in the coming months. Reiterate that further actions are needed to maintain solvency.
New banknotes will begin to be issued across the country today. The deadline to exchange old notes was originally set as 31 December 2022, but has been extended for an unspecified period of time. The new notes bear the signature of Governor Jameel Ahmad.

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS

Does US-Uzbekistan Dialogue Reflect America’s Blueprint For Central Asia? – Analysis

By James Durso - EurAsia Review

The United States and Uzbekistan recently concluded the second meeting of their Strategic Partnership Dialogue. As Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and borders Afghanistan and the four other Central Asian states, U.S. policy regarding the republic is likely to be Washington’s blueprint for the region.

AFGHAN NEWS

Taliban district governor accused of ‘murdering’ two women in Samangan

By Bilal Khodadad - AMU TV

Two women were killed in Samangan province in the north of Afghanistan allegedly on the orders of Mullah Shamshad, Taliban’s district governor for Roi Do Ab district in…

Ex Soviet soldier who stayed after invasion dies in Afghanistan

By The National News

Bakhretdin Khakimov, believed to be in his 60s and known as Sheikh Abdullah after converting to Islam, died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a…

Delawar Says Religious Scholars Will Address Women’s Employment in NGOs

By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News

Following the suspension of women's employment in non-government organizations (NGOs), the acting minister of mines and petroleum, Shuhabuddin Delawar, said on…