Daily Evacuation Brief | February 9, 2023
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LAST 24 HOURS
SECURITY INCIDENT AT AIRPORT, TALIBAN USE GUNFIRE TO DISPERSE CROWDS – A rumor began circulating on social media yesterday that Turkey had dispatched planes to Kabul and was interested in transporting volunteers to assist with the earthquake disaster relief effort. A crowd of Afghans descended on the airport, hoping to be evacuated to Turkey. Several groups of people stormed the gates and made it onto the airfield and the Taliban opened fire to disperse the crowd. Some local eyewitnesses claimed to have seen bullets hit some of those in the group. The Taliban released several statements dispelling the rumors. A Turkish aircraft was said to have landed at the airport but was there to evacuate some of the diplomatic staff and their families from the country.
BLAST NEAR MOSQUE IN FARYAB – An IED that had been stashed on a motorcycle was detonated during the early afternoon hours near the entrance to the Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque in Maimana City yesterday. Taliban authorities said no casualties had resulted from the explosion but local eyewitnesses said that 3 Taliban and 3 non-combatants had been injured in the blast. No group has yet claimed credit for the bombing.
CANADA IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE ITS EXPANDED REFUGEE PROGRAM FOR AFGHANS IN THE COMING WEEKS – The program is focused on assisting approximately 45 Afghan interpreters and cultural advisors to bring their families to Canada. The program is expected to launch after a human-rights campaign filed by several Afghan Canadians was adjudicated in a settlement.
MOSCOW CONSULTATIONS ON AFGHANISTAN LAUNCHED YESTERDAY, TALIBAN NOT IN ATTENDANCE – The fifth meeting of national security advisors from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan began yesterday in Moscow. The focus of the meeting was to discuss security matters related to Afghanistan and the Taliban were not invited to the event. While Iran and Russia spent much of their time grinding axes with the US, they also agreed that an inclusive government and commitment to control terrorism are precursors to further engagement. The Taliban had called on Russia to invite their delegation last week but the request was denied.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SEARCHES CONTINUE IN KABUL, AIRPORT TO TIGHTEN SECURITY – Security searches are expected to continue but will be hampered by a lack of manpower as the incident at the airport has drawn over 100 Taliban off the search details to reinforce the guard force there. Sources in the Ministry of the Interior said that Taliban leadership was incensed upon hearing the airport defenses had been overwhelmed so quickly and were looking for answers from security officials in charge of the site. One official is said to have complained that the incident will cause the world to wonder who is in control in Afghanistan. At-risk Afghans can expect more of the same over the coming days with detailed identity checks at Taliban checkpoints and house searches across the city. We do believe the airport and its surrounding neighborhoods will be the focus of searches for today.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The military held an impromptu exposition in Isfahan and unveiled a ballistic missile with the words “Death to Israel” written in Hebrew on its side.
The G-7 said it would consider sanctioning Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean companies for aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Jafar Panahi, the famed Iranian filmmaker who was arrested by the regime has started a hunger strike.
PAKISTAN
International economists say the country is at risk of default and do not see a clear path to meet the country’s financial obligations.
Pakistani security forces said they had killed 12 TTP militants in a gun battle in the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday. They also said an engagement with the TTP on Tuesday night had also resulted in the deaths of 12 more TTP militants.
Several prominent political figures have openly stated they do not believe the current regime intends to hold elections and will use the financial crisis and terror threats as an excuse to push them back.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
China’s Challenges in Afghanistan Are Just Beginning
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza - The National Interest
The recent flurry of attacks on Chinese nationals in Afghanistan has raised concerns inside Beijing’s foreign policy circles. Beijing has a self-made reputation for operating on an astute business model. While Beijing is somewhat risk-averse, it does not let values and norms impede its economic interests. Its conduct and policies toward Taliban-ruled Afghanistan mirror this approach. So far, despite facing some obstacles, China has remained committed to cementing its presence in the country to advance its strategic and economic objectives. The future, however, doesn’t look very promising for Beijing.
AFGHAN NEWS
Crowds flock to Kabul airport for ‘Turkish flights’
By AMU TV
The Taliban opened fire to disperse the crowd when the situation got out of control, sources told…
IED attached to motorcycle detonated in Faryab
By Ariana News
Faryab provincial authorities confirmed that an IED attached to a motorcycle was detonated in Maimana, in Faryab province on…
Islamic Emirate’s Statement on Smuggling of Currency
By Asma Saayin - TOLO News
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued a statement forbidding the smuggling of currency, gold and precious stones into or out of the…
'No Details Found to Prove Zawahiri Was Killed in Kabul': Islamic Emirate
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh - TOLO News
The Islamic Emirate said that they have not found any details to prove that Ayman al-Zawahiri, former leader of al-Qaeda, was…
REGIONAL NEWS
12 TTP Militants Killed in Pakistan’s KP: Security Forces
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Security forces killed 12 Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district on…
Turkey, UAE to Reduce Missions in Afghanistan Over ‘Security Concerns’
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
According to sources, the embassies of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Afghanistan seek to reduce their missions due to security concerns following reports that…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan absent in Biden’s State of the Union speech
By AMU TV
US President Joe Biden did not mention Afghanistan and its situation after the withdrawal of American troops during his 73-minute State of the…
THE DAILY WTF
US Trying to Make Afghanistan Hotbed of Terrorism: Shamkhani
By ILNA
In an address to the fifth round of the regional security dialogue about Afghanistan, held in Moscow on Wednesday, Shamkhani deplored the US government’s constant attempts to…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 90.12 AFN (as of 9 FEB 2023)