Daily Evacuation Brief | January 15, 2024

Jan 15, 2024

SUICIDE BOMBER NARROWLY MISSES TALIBAN GOVERNOR OF NIMROZ PROVINCE – On Sunday afternoon, gunfire and an explosion were reported by locals in the Provincial Capital, Zaranj. Shortly after the blast, eyewitnesses reported that an attack on the Provincial Governor had taken place at his office building. The unidentified suicide bomber was able to pass through two Taliban security checkpoints and nearly gain entry to the offices at approximately 1300hrs local time. Security forces engaged the man and fired on him. The gunfire detonated a presumed suicide vest and 3 members of the Governor’s security detail were injured in the blast. Taliban security forces immediately doubled existing security across Zaranj and several mounted patrols have been reported since the event took place. A source in Kabul said that there was concern from the Foreign Ministry about the location of the attack and that ‘all efforts’ should be made to assure Iran that the Taliban would find the perpetrators. Reports in Iranian media quote officials saying that 2 suicide bombers had been ‘neutralized’ across the border in Sarawan (Sistan and Balochistan). It is possible the attacks could have been coordinated. No group has yet claimed credit for the attack.
TORKHAM REMAINS CLOSED – The impasse over the new passport/visa rules put in place by Pakistan has continued and commercial trucks are lining up on both sides of the border while officials from both countries attempt to resolve the issue. The closure has already had an effect on commodity prices in Afghanistan with perishable foodstuffs rising in cost by as much as much as 20% over the past two days.
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR ARRESTED AND HELD IN KABUL – Jawad Noorzad Kakar was detained by the Taliban on 11 January in Kabul. According to friends and colleagues, he was targeted by the Taliban for offering online education to women and girls through the Roshan Afghanistan Online University. A source in Kabul said that Kakar does face potential charges but that his arrest was ordered because senior Taliban officials wanted to understand how online education is being implemented throughout the country. The source said that Kandahar has made several calls on Kabul to ‘stop the internet’, but that several key Ministers (Defense and Interior among them) have pushed back against such edicts and predict a massive anti-Taliban response if the citizenry loses access to the internet.
5 PAKISTANI SOLDIERS KILLED IN BALOCHISTAN – A clash between the Pakistan Army and suspected terrorists took place in Kech District and an IED targeted an Army vehicle on Sunday. 3 of the militants were killed and 5 soldiers died in the exchange.

NEXT 24 HOURS

INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES LIKELY TO PERSIST IN NIMROZ – Residents of Zaranj can expect to see an elevated Taliban security posture for the next few days and it is possible that house-to-house searches will take place. While there has been no official word about who may have been behind yesterday’s assassination attempt, the likely candidate seems to be ISIS-K. ISIS-K typically uses terror cells to pull off its attacks and there are almost certainly more plotters involved.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

Iranian Member of Parliament, Abbas Golroo accused Israel’s intelligence agency of being behind the Kerman bombings. Golroo presented no proof of Israel’s involvement and has a history of releasing inflammatory remarks that turn out to be false.
Two female journalists who had been sentenced to prison for reporting on Mahsa Amini’s death were released on bail Sunday. Both have appealed their convictions.
Iran led all OPEC members by increasing its oil production in 2023 and produced approximately 2.5 million barrels of oil per day.

PAKISTAN

Another resolution that would delay the upcoming February elections was presented in the Senate yesterday. The most recent resolution (the third) cites deteriorating security and bad weather in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as causes to stave off the balloting.
A former politician from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Iqbal Wazir, was set on fire by citizens who were outraged over a perceived violation of the local Jirga’s traditions. Pakistan observers say the act was political.
In early polling, many say that candidates supported by former PMs Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif are the frontrunners in many districts.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

Signs Suggest ISIS-K Is Growing In Strength, Further Inflaming Middle East

By Amira Jadoon & Nakissa Jahanbani - Talking Points

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the terror group Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K, has sought to internationalize its operational and recruitment campaign. Utilizing a sweeping propaganda campaign to appeal to audiences across South and Central Asia, the group has tried to position itself as the dominant regional challenger to what it perceives to be repressive regimes.

AFGHAN NEWS

Nimroz Governor Escapes Suicide Attack, 3 Guards Injured

By TOLO News

A suicide bomber seeking to target the governor of Nimroz, Mohammad Qassim Khalid, was gunned down before reaching his…

Concerns mount as Taliban’s dress code detentions reach Kunduz

By Milad Sayar - AMU TV

Women’s rights activists have voiced alarm as reports indicate that the Taliban’s campaign of detaining women and girls for non-compliance with their prescribed dress code has expanded to include areas in…