Daily Evacuation Brief | January 17, 2023

Jan 17, 2023

EXPLOSION IN KABUL KILLS 3 TALIBAN SECURITY PERSONNEL – A blast occurred along the Darul Aman Road in Kabul yesterday, in the house of a Taliban security force member. An apartment on the 9th floor of the Kefayat Center, given to the Taliban member, exploded and claimed the lives of 3 security forces personnel. Initial reports claimed it may have been a terror incident, but follow-on reports now suggest it was due to a propane gas cylinder that had ignited in the room.
REPORTS CONTINUE OF PAKISTANI - AFGHAN TALIBAN DIALOGUE OVER THE TTP PROBLEM – After a recent National Security Council meeting in Islamabad had concluded, it is said that Pakistani authorities asked the Afghan Taliban to fulfill obligations under the Doha Agreement and help to neutralize the TTP threat in Pakistan. Reputedly, the Taliban pushed back against the suggestion and recommended dialogue with the TTP should begin between Pakistan and the TTP directly. The situation looks to remain in a stalemate and many regional analysts believe it is only a matter of time before Pakistan is forced to conduct strikes on suspected TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. Most agree, that strikes would likely take place if a major terrorism incident occurs in Pakistan that can be attributed to the TTP.
SAVE THE CHILDREN ACTIVITIES APPEAR TO BE SANCTIONED – The Ministry of the Economy confirmed yesterday the international NGO, Save the Children, had resumed some operations in Afghanistan. The Ministry’s spokesman was careful to emphasize the NGO had agreed to several stipulations under the new Sharia framework of governance in Afghanistan. A long-time observer said the activities that resumed were never banned in the past and were allowed under the regime in the 1990s. International aid experts are cautioning against reading too much into the announcement and do not believe a repeal of the ban on women aid workers is likely under the current political climate. CARE, another well-regarded international NGO announced late yesterday that they would be resuming some of their operations with both male and female staff. CARE will restart health and nutrition programs with assurances from the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health.
RAHMATULLAH NABIL, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE AFGHAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTY – The Afghanistan National Liberty Party has been stood up by the former intelligence chief. Nabil released several statements on his social media accounts and provided a copy of his party’s charter. In essence, the ANLP will advocate for the return of a republic style of governance with a heavy emphasis on decentralized power. It is not clear how much support the ANLP has in the country but Nabil’s well-publicized break with the former President and his long-standing criticism of Pakistan’s interference in Afghan affairs will likely resonate with many who oppose the Taliban regime.
DEATH TOLL FROM THE COLD FRONT NOW STANDS AT 16 – However, many more are thought to have perished in rural areas and a news outlet opined this morning that many deaths have gone unreported among beggars and drug addicts in an effort to save the regime some embarrassment.
CORRECTION - RUMORED SHUTDOWN OF GIRLS EDUCATION IN KHOST PROVINCE, 16 JAN 2023 – In yesterday’s brief, we reported that a girls’ school in Khost had potentially been forced to close by the Taliban. This was incorrect. The school depicted in the video was a Madrassa supported by a local Mosque and the incident depicted involved the arrest of the Mullah for unknown reasons. We do not believe the policy is directed at any other schools at this time.

NEXT 24 HOURS

POSSIBLE RESHUFFLING AT THE TOP OF THE CENTRAL BANK – After blowback from controversial posts made on Social Media, the Taliban are considering removing some officials from their roles at the Central Bank.
PASSPORT PROCESS STARTING AGAIN – There has been confirmation that the Passport Directorate, in conjunction with local Police, intends to reopen the issuance process across the country. According to sources, the program will ‘roll out’ to Provinces in a somewhat scheduled manner. The order of reopenings is not known but at-risk Afghans are encouraged to reach out to their local offices to find out when the process may be restarted.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

Iran has refused to release the body of the executed UK/Iranian citizen.
France plans to protest Iran by lighting up the Eiffel Tower with the words: Woman, Life, Freedom, and the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran.
Siamak Namazi, an American citizen who has been jailed in Iran began a 7-day hunger strike.

PAKISTAN

A well-known Lawyer, Latif Afridi, was killed when a lone gunman began firing in the Peshawar High Court yesterday. His killing was not thought to be politically motivated and the gunman was arrested.
Former Prime Minister Khan suggested he would soon ‘turn the tables’ on the Sharif government by building a caretaker government majority in the National Assembly.

TAJIKISTAN

Russian troops from the 201st Military Base have commenced anti-insurgency training operations in the mountainous region of the country. Russia’s Central Military District announced the drills and said that Tajik forces are observing the drills.
Schools have once again extended the Winter holiday period to January 20th due to uncommonly cold weather and fears of sickness spreading among children.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

Taliban Need to Initiate Intra-Afghan Dialogue

By Masom Jan Masomy - Institute for Security and Development Policy

In his recent interview on December 27 with the Washington Post, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai demanded that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) begin a national dialogue, which he described as ‘good’ for both Taliban and Afghanistan. Karzai’s demand has been voiced by many Afghans for some time now, to facilitate taking key decisions about relevant issues. However, it has been nearly one and a half years and the Taliban government continues to remain in international isolation. This situation has not only forced the Taliban government to face harsh challenges but has severely impacted the public in Afghanistan.

AFGHAN NEWS

Muttaqi Assures Kabulov of Working on Inclusive Govt: Report

By Fatema Adeeb - TOLO News

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has reassured the Russian special envoy for Afghanistan Kabulov that “his country’s leadership is listening to the advice from…

Revision of university curriculum underway: MoHE

By Ariana News

According to MoHE officials, there were different curricula, which created “disorder” in the system and now they are trying to align the curriculum in…

16 Dead in Four Provinces amid Severe Cold Wave

By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News

According to the State Ministry for Disaster Management, these deaths happened in Badghis, Nimroz, Faryab, and Ghazni…

REGIONAL NEWS

Pakistan “quietly urging” Kabul to Neutralize Taliban Pakistan

By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press

According to sources, the National Security Council-Pakistan informed the Afghan government that to fulfil its obligations under the Doha Agreement, including bilateral meetings, Kabul would have…

First phase of Afghan-Uzbek free trade zone completed

By Ariana News

He said once complete, the complex will have 4,000 shops, health centers, guesthouses and restaurants where citizens of both countries can shop…

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

Operation Warm Welcome cools: over 9,000 Afghans still in temporary accommodation

By Eoranin O’Connor - Free Movement

…Operation Warm Welcome was launched, to ensure support for Afghan arrivals to rebuild their lives in the UK. More than a year after the fall of Kabul, over 9,000 Afghans remain in…