Daily Evacuation Brief | December 5, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
TALIBAN RUMORED TO HAVE ARRESTED SEVERAL TTP MEMBERS – Several different open source outlets have reported that arrests of Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) by Taliban security forces took place over the past week. Simultaneously, several social media accounts reported similar information. The reports vary over the numbers arrested and the location of the arrests but most agree that the individuals were transported to a holding facility in Kunar Province. Several known TTP Commanders were reputedly among those arrested. Many observers have openly speculated that Pakistan’s draconian measures with regard to Afghans that have recently been implemented would inevitably provoke a response from Kabul. Sources in Kabul have previously mentioned that senior leadership among the Taliban expressed concerns that if the TTP were ‘served up’ to Pakistan, they would likely choose to join the ranks of ISIS-K. This information has yet to be verified.
TALIBAN MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR CONTINUES TO SEND CONFLICTING MESSAGES – The Minister of the Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, flatly refuted a recent US State Department report that claimed that several terrorist organizations continue to enjoy freedom of movement within Afghanistan. The Minister said the report was ‘baseless’. Less than a day after the Minister refuted the US report, the Ministry of the Interior announced that the recent attacks in Herat against a group of Shiites were ‘an act of terror’. The Ministry did not divulge which group is suspected of carrying out the attack but the conflicting messaging that continues to flow from the Taliban with regard to terrorism remains a concern among neighbors, the region, and the international community as a whole.
ISIS-K PUBLISHES ‘BOOKLET’ THAT DETAILS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF SENIOR TALIBAN OFFICIALS – Al-Azaim (ISIS-K’s online media outlet) has published a propaganda booklet called ‘The Taliban or Sexual Wolves’ that describes the sexual proclivities of senior Taliban officials and accuses several of egregious sexual misconduct that is prohibited under Sharia law. The Taliban regime has been involved in several high-profile and public sex scandals since assuming power. Some of these cases have been condemned and arrests were made but the accused then finds themselves released. There certainly does seem to be a double standard when it comes to disciplining the Taliban’s own when compared to the very public floggings meted out to average Afghans accused of similar conduct. It is unlikely that all of the information presented in the ISIS-K propaganda is true but it is impossible to know with such a lack of transparency in the regime.
AFGHANISTAN CALLED THE ‘FOREVER EMERGENCY’ – Afghanistan was given the moniker by a United Nations representative for UNHCR while describing the competing difficulties of dealing with a recalcitrant regime that sees itself as the only ‘true’ model of Islamic governance on the planet and a donor community that is suffering from ‘Afghanistan fatigue’. While the United Nations representative may face a bit of backlash, his statement is truthful and ought to open the eyes of those in the international community who think the problem will eventually ‘go away’. While ongoing conflict has seriously destabilized other crisis situations around the globe, the UN and other major aid agencies in Afghanistan continue to deal with a zealous autocratic regime that is expected to absorb millions of new ‘refugees’ courtesy of its Eastern and Western neighbors while many nations withdrew promised financial support. While nothing lasts forever, Afghanistan is likely to remain a problem well into the foreseeable future.
NEXT 24 HOURS
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCHES IN BADAKHSHAN – Some searches of neighborhoods were reported in the aftermath of the rocket attack on a Taliban Commander’s residence in Faizabad yesterday. It was not clear who the Taliban were searching for but the activity is expected to continue today and may result in clashes should they find those responsible for the attack.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
President Raisi met with his Cuban counterpart to sign several agreements and to collectively bash the United States.
An investigation into several Iranian officials has intensified in Canada and several dual citizens of both countries are now being scrutinized over ties to Tehran. Additionally, several senior Iranian officials were officially barred from entering Canada.
The head of Iran’s tourism industry said that tourism in the country is at an all-time low and blames several contributing factors for the drought. International tourists expressed concerns over the possibility of being detained while others say tensions in the region forced them to cross the country off their lists.
PAKISTAN
The Election Commission of Pakistan said it would ask the Army to provide additional security for the upcoming elections as it expects to require assistance to buoy the Police by nearly 300,000 personnel.
The Islamic Development Bank signaled it would lend $100 million to Pakistan in support of the country’s polio eradication program.
A strike over increased fuel costs took place in Karachi yesterday. The one-day strike was observed by many industrial outlets in a bid to direct Islamabad’s attention towards the perilous state of manufacturing and other key business activities. More strikes are expected to take place periodically unless the government relents and lowers petrol costs.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
The Taliban’s Enemies Can’t Agree on Anything
By Lynne O’Donnell - Foreign Policy
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan—As the Taliban consolidate Afghanistan’s status as a nexus for much of what is bad in the world right now, from crimes against humanity to the wholesale export of drugs, guns, and terrorism, a bloodthirsty old warlord popped up at a recent meeting of the putative opposition to declare war as the only hope of getting their country back.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban appointed minister criticizes poor quality of education in Afghanistan's religious schools
By ANI
Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Acting Minister of Education Habibullah Agha has criticized the poor quality of education in the country’s…
The hidden dimensions of insecurity in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The Taliban administration in Afghanistan considers one of its achievements in the past two years to be a reduction in conflicts and the establishment of…
80,000 disabled individuals registered with ministry
By Ariana News
The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs reports that they have registered 180,000 disabled individuals across the country and a…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistani trucks restricted beyond Jalalabad
By The Express Tribune
The Afghan government has implemented a ban on Pakistani transporters, restricting them from traveling beyond…
Afghans Banned From 16 Provinces In Iran As Forced Exodus Continues
By RFE
Iran has banned millions of Afghan refugees and migrants in the country from living in, traveling to, or seeking employment in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Japan pledges $58.4 million in aid to Afghanistan
By AMU TV
The Japanese embassy in Kabul confirmed the allocation of these funds in a post on X. The aid is specifically targeted at providing humanitarian assistance and…
Vienna meeting: Massoud urges recognition of Afghan people’s resistance as ‘sacred’
By AMU TV
Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front, on Monday emphasized the necessity of a “common roadmap” for Afghanistan’s future, underscoring the…
THE DAILY WTF
Ministry of Higher Education: Curriculum Review 70% Completed
By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News
The head of the curriculum department of the MoHE, Abdul Rauf Farahi, stated that the purpose of the review of the curriculum is to…
“Sure it is pal.” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 69.78 AFN (as of 5 DEC 2023)