Daily Evacuation Brief | January 22, 2023

Jan 22, 2023

PASSPORT OFFICES REOPEN BUT RUMORS PERSIST THAT ONLY TALIBAN FAITHFUL BEING SERVED – While the Taliban regime seemed proud to announce that the Passport Directorate had overcome several ‘technical difficulties’ to finally reopen, those who have long waited for their passports to be processed say the offices are focused primarily on serving Taliban security forces personnel and other Taliban supporters. Sources provided photos of personnel stationed inside two passport offices are rumored to depict special personnel who have been placed in the offices to assist in filling in the forms for those among the Taliban who can neither read nor write. An unconfirmed report suggesting that European countries would not issue Schengen visas to Afghan citizens may be in response to the rumors.
IRANIAN VISA PROGRAM SUSPENDED IN HERAT – Residents of Herat and surrounding communities are clamoring for the Iranian Consulate to recommence issuing medical, student, and tourist visas. The Consulate had ceased issuing all but business visas nearly two months ago. The stoppage was reportedly in response to a Taliban decision to close an agency that assisted people to get their visas. Sources had suggested at the time the facility was closed after Iran asked the Taliban to implement policies to slow the flood of refugees to Iran. Currently, local Taliban officials are meeting with the Consul General of Iran in Herat to reopen the process.
RUSSIAN ENVOY TO AFGHANISTAN AGAIN IMPLICATES THE US IN SUPPORT FOR DAESH, CLAIMS AFGHANISTAN RESERVES ARE BEING HELD AS BLACKMAIL – Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Presidential envoy for Afghanistan, has again tried to tie the United States to ISIS-K activities in Afghanistan and claims Russia has proof of US involvement. Kabulov, who has been described as being one of the ‘bluntest knives’ in Putin’s diplomatic drawer made several fantastic claims to media officials leveled at the US. A source within the Ministry of the Interior said that most of the Taliban leadership does not believe such claims privately but will not contradict Russia as it suits their needs at the moment.
2 ADDITIONAL ISIS-K MEMBERS REPUTEDLY ARRESTED IN POLICE DISTRICT 9 – A source said that, after the clash between Taliban and ISIS-K forces in Police District 6, evidence collected near the scene led Ministry of the Interior agents to an apartment in Police District 9. Local eyewitnesses say 3 Taliban security vehicles pulled up to the apartment and ‘men’ (presumably GDI agents) led 2 unidentified people out of the building and into the vehicles. The source said that more intelligence was gained from this arrest and that counter-terrorism officials believe that 2 operational cells are currently in Kabul with a total of approximately 13 ISIS-K members.

NEXT 24 HOURS

ISIS-K SECURITY OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE – After two successful security operations provided critical intelligence to the Taliban, further confrontations are expected in Kabul. While sources could not provide information on locations that were to be the focus of surveillance operations, they were confident that at least 2 ISIS-K cells are in the city and that Ministry of the Interior agents had narrowed their searches down to three unnamed Police Districts.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

The country’s intelligence services stated that all regime officials had approved the execution of Alireza Akbari. The statement is thought to be an attempt to quash rumors of a rift among senior leaders over the incident.
Iranian filmmaker, Jafar Panahi, who has been serving a 6-year sentence for “propaganda against the system” will get a retrial after the Supreme Court overturned his conviction.
An investigation into sexual assaults of teen football players was announced by the country’s Sports Minister after parents of 15 unidentified players complained of abuse at the hands of coaches and possibly club staff.

PAKISTAN

The government bent to international pressure and listed jailed, Abdul Rehman Makki, a terrorist in accordance with a UN Security Council decision.
Trade between Pakistan and the US reported substantial growth, especially in the tech sector.
Militants attacked a police office in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing 2 police officers and wounding another 3. The militants escaped. The attack is the second within two days.

SPOTLIGHT GENDER

Afghanistan: 'We're not giving up the fight'

By Nadia Fasel - Deutsche Welle

In late January 2022, 25-year-old Tamana Zaryab Paryani was arrested and imprisoned in Kabul. She was brutally tortured, abused, and interrogated for three weeks. Here, she tells DW her story.

AFGHAN NEWS

Afghanistan: UN delegation tells Taliban to end abuse of women’s rights

By AMU TV

“My message was very clear”, said the UN deputy chief.

‘Bruce Lee of Afghanistan’: lookalike kung fu king of Kabul forced to flee Taliban regime and dreams of Hong Kong visit

By Kylie Knott - South China Morning Post

In his home outside the capital Kabul, Alizada spent hours practising in a makeshift gym, the walls lined with posters of…

Afghanistan: 32 people die in severe cold in Nimroz

By AMU TV

As many as 32 people and more than 6,668 livestock have died due to extreme cold in Nimroz province of Afghanistan, local officials…

REGIONAL NEWS

Iran’s new ambassador to Kabul officially starts his mission

By The Tehran Times

Hassan Kazemi Qomi was named as the new head of mission for the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kabul on December 17, 2022. Kazemi Qomi will simultaneously retain his…

Iran’s currency falls to record low amid isolation and sanctions

By Al Arabiya

The rial has lost 29 percent of its value since nationwide protests following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini on September…

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

Veterans pin hopes for accountability on House GOP probe of botched U.S. pullout from Afghanistan

By Joseph Clark - Washington Times

The House Foreign Affairs Committee‘s renewed probe into President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan was cheered by the war’s veterans, who say…