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Daily Evacuation Brief | February 9, 2022

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Daily Evac Brief

Daily Evacuation Brief | February 9, 2022

Daily news about Afghanistan and the surrounding region

Feb 9, 2022
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Daily Evacuation Brief | February 9, 2022

afghandigest.substack.com

Welcome to the Daily Evacuation Brief. For more in-depth intelligence analysis and crisis research, please subscribe to our members-only journal, which comes out twice a week: Whispers (Mondays) & Anatomy of a Crisis (Wednesdays).

Threat Analysis

LAST 24 HOURS: 

  • A “magnetic bomb” was detonated in Kabul targeting was a security force vehicle. No casualties have been reported as of this printing.

  • An international UNICEF employee is reported to have been kidnapped and is suspected of being held for ransom. Although the kidnapping was attributed to the Taliban, sources indicate it is an organized criminal group.

  • The major stock exchange was closed indefinitely. The closure has caused significant money exchange swings on the street. This trend is expected to continue for the next seven days before stabilizing.

  • Taliban representatives are in Geneva to sue for more humanitarian aid and raise their case for recognition.

  • The Taliban in Mazar continued to raid hotels searching for those Afghans awaiting evacuation.

NEXT 24 HOURS:  

  • More security operations are expected in Mazar and potentially other locales.

  • Pakistani military aircraft may fly several reconnaissance flights along the border for the next 48 hrs. Partly as a show of force, partly to confirm targets of suspected TTP fighters.

THREAT ANALYSIS

What is Department 786?

CONTEXT:  Within the last week, the Taliban have established a new unit under the Red Guards titled Department 786. The number 786 is considered a harbinger of good fortune and is often correlated to the Arabic phrase “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” meaning “In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful”. 

Department 786 is thought to be tasked with taking over the role of identifying so-called dissidents who are attempting to flee the country and searching common evacuation locations. This new group’s formation is intended to free up the Red Guards to conduct their priority mission of combating ISIS-K and the NRF.

At this stage, the organization/composition and operational capabilities of Department 786 are unknown.

ANALYSIS:  Although little is known about the Department, it is believed it will be organized along ethnic lines in the vicinities where they will operate. However, the Department’s allegiance will be to the Haqqani network.

We have long felt that the Taliban would develop subordinate, specialized organizations in order to free up their combat forces to focus on conducting counter-terrorism operations against ISIS-K. Our consensus is that Department 786 is one of the early manifestations of this process. We believe other new organizations will follow.

Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 92.94 AFN (as of 9 FEB 2022)


Afghan News

Afghanistan’s biggest stock market closes in Kabul

By Najibullah Lalzoy – Khaama Press

Money exchangers of Afghanistan’s biggest stock market, based in Kabul went on strike on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, and closed the market after the Central Bank of Afghanistan adopted new conditions on the money exchangers…

‘No Mercy’: Taliban May ‘Finish’ Two Suspected Daesh Recruits Detained Near Afghan Border Last Fall

By Oleg Burnunov – Sputnik International

Daesh* Khorasan, the terrorist group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, has conducted multiple attacks in the capital Kabul and other cities since the Taliban** took control of the country in August 2021…

Blast targets Taliban vehicle in north of Kabul

By MEHR News Agency

Tolo TV telegram channel reported an explosion in the Khair Khaneh region in the 17th security district in the Afghan capital of Kabul…


Regional News

Scores of Iran-Bound Afghan Refugees Killed, 100s Beaten: Locals

By TOLO News

Local officials in Nimruz province said that in less than six months "nearly 100 Afghan refugees have been shot dead by Iranian security forces" and their bodies transferred to Afghanistan. According to the officials, Afghan citizens who wanted to enter Iran illegally "were shot by the Iranian military."

The Taliban Navigate Politics in Iran and Pakistan’s Shadows

By Christopher Solomon – Inside Arabia

Nearly six months after taking over control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have made substantial strides in consolidating their power. As they move forward with furthering the interests of their still-unrecognized regime, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), they continue to make gains by slowly – but steadily – honing in on the international community…

China to host gathering on Afghanistan next month

By Najibullah Lalzoy – Khaama Press

Iranian media have reported that China to host a gathering of the Foreign Ministers of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan on the country as early as next month…

Pakistani Taliban Allegedly 'Training' Baloch Militants in Terrorist Camps Along Afghanistan Border

By Dhairya Maheshwari – Sputnik International

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a visit to Balochistan province on Tuesday, days after two deadly terrorist strikes at different military bases killed nine soldiers. The terrorist raids on 2 February have been claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)…


International News Relating to Afghanistan

State Department Puts $10 Million Bounty on ISIS-K's Leader

By Trevor Filseth – National Interest

Sanaullah Ghafari, the mysterious leader of the Islamic State’s “Khorasan Province” (ISIS-K) within Afghanistan, now has a $10 million bounty on his head…

Nine Afghan migrants caught at border in semi-trailer truck leaving the country

By Simona Lacob – Romanian National News Agency

Nine migrants from Afghanistan were found hidden in a semi-trailer truck that was checked at the western Arad County's Varsand Border Crossing Point before leaving the country to head for Germany…


Before you go:

To support our work, become a monthly subscriber or donate here.

All our funds go toward caseworkers supporting evacuations, the evacuations themselves, and/or operational costs to keep this mission going.

Check out our other content:

  • Whispers: The best open source intelligence and analysis on Afghanistan. (weekly- members only)

  • Anatomy of a Crisis: Pragmatic thought leadership on disaster resilience and crisis management from a variety of experts. (weekly- members only)

  • Afghan Voices: Powerful Afghan voices making a difference in Afghanistan and around the world. (biweekly- all subscribers)

  • Changemakers: Changemakers committed to evacuation and resettlement efforts. (biweekly- all subscribers)

We won’t forget our allies.


Postscript.

We believe in sharing many opinions and looking from many different perspectives. This means we do not necessarily agree with everything shared in the news or contributor articles, but we believe it’s important to treat other perspectives with respect and to consider their point of view.

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Daily Evacuation Brief | February 9, 2022

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