Daily Evacuation Brief | January 21, 2023
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LAST 24 HOURS
CLASHES IN KABUL’S 6TH POLICE DISTRICT – Explosions and gunfire were reported in Police District 6 of Kabul as Taliban forces fought with suspected ISIS-K terrorists. No reports of casualties have been received yet but the fighting lasted for over an hour and the Taliban have sealed the area off completely. Uncharacteristically, the Taliban have not made an announcement about the operation which suggests the ISIS-K cell may have initiated the fighting. Previous reporting (January 19th) had indicated that search operations had been reported in the neighborhood over the days leading up to the clash. No further information was available.
THE PASSPORT DIRECTORATE ANNOUNCED THE RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS – A spokesman for the Passport Directorate announced that a full resumption of the application and issuance process had started yesterday. While we have only confirmed offices open in 7 Provinces, it is believed that all will soon begin working on the backlog.
INTERNATIONAL NGO REPRESENTATIVES CONCERNED THE WFP WILL COMPLY WITH TALIBAN DEMANDS – A US-based journal, Foreign Policy, has spoken with several of the leaders of humanitarian aid-focused NGOs that were operating in Afghanistan and they voiced concerns about a possible decision from the World Food Programme to force female aid workers to abide by Taliban dress codes. The chief complaint is that female workers will be demoralized by any forthcoming decision and may decide to abstain from work in protest.
BLAST DERAILS TRAIN IN PAKISTAN – In a disturbing incident, a blast detonated near a railway track in Balochistan’s Bolan District yesterday. 8 people were reportedly injured when six cars of a passing train, came off the tracks. Police had yet to comment on the incident and many are concerned it may be terror-related.
NEXT 24 HOURS
FURTHER CLEARING OPERATIONS POSSIBLE IN KABUL – Due to the significant Taliban activity in the aftermath of fighting that erupted in Police District 6, at-risk Afghans are likely to see additional clearing operations in the city over the coming days. A source with the Police said that significant intelligence was gathered from the location of the fighting that has identified a second group in Kabul.
ADDITIONAL FORCES BEING SENT TO TAKHAR – A convoy of military vehicles is expected to depart for Takhar after officials there claimed that more NRF forces were in and around the city than had previously been thought. Approximately 20 trucks are expected to depart with an unknown number of Taliban security forces personnel aboard.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iranian officials lashed out at the EU over plans to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
A detained French-Irish citizen who had begun a hunger strike has suspended it after calls from his family convinced him.
PAKISTAN
The Foreign Minister ruled out talks with the TTP and said Pakistan was focusing on conducting joint counter-terrorism operations with Afghanistan instead.
In an announcement yesterday, Pakistan appears poised to conduct business with Russia using the rouble.
National police announced plans to step up their already considerable anti-crime efforts in the next week.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
After the Kabul Hotel Attack: The Taliban and China Confront Security Challenges in Afghanistan
By Zafar Iqbal Yousafzai - China Brief
On December 12, members of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) attacked a local hotel in Kabul, where several Chinese nationals were staying. The attack injured five Chinese nationals along with 18 other victims, while the three attackers were killed by security forces (China Daily, December 14, 2022). It was reported that Chinese businesspeople run the hotel, which is frequently visited by Chinese diplomats and business people (Global Times, December 13, 2022). In response, People’s Republic of China (PRC) Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated: “China is deeply shocked at the attack, which is highly egregious, and firmly opposes terrorism in any form” (China Daily, December 14, 2022).
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan: Some Taliban open to women's rights talks - top UN official
By Lyse Doucet - BBC
Speaking to the BBC at the end of her trip, Ms Mohammed said most senior Taliban officials she met had been ready to engage over the rights of…
January 20 Marks 7th Death Anniversary of MOBY Group Employees
By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News
The blast happened on January 20, 2016. Family members of the victims called on the Islamic Emirate to…
Taliban Government: A Nightmare For The Afghans – OpEd
By Naseebullah Khan Bazai - EurAsia Review
Sane are those who learn from history and go shoulder by shoulder with the changing world, who know how to handle crises ridden situation and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan 'not interested' in cross-border operation in Afghanistan, says FM
By Yeni Safak
As the neighbors contend with a growing rift over security issues, Pakistan’s foreign minister said it has no intention of launching a…
Moscow Discussed Recognition with Islamic Emirate: Russian Foreign Ministry
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh - TOLO News
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during the visit of its envoy to Afghanistan, the two sides discussed recognition of…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US Launches Private Refugee Sponsorship Prgram
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
The U.S. State Department announced Thursday, 19 January, the creation of a new Welcome Corps program that will allow private sponsorship of…
Ottawa, and the lessons unlearned in Afghanistan
By - The Globe and Mail
Last Sunday, Mursal Nabizada, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, was murdered at her home in…
THE DAILY WTF
Russia Says There Is Evidence US Secretly Sponsoring Daesh in Afghanistan
By Fars News
"Yes, there is such data, they [the US authorities] do it not for good, but for harm, because they really want to avenge their shameful military-political defeat in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.90 AFN (as of 21 JAN 2023)