Daily Evacuation Brief | July 12, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA ETHNO-CENTRIC DISPUTES ERUPT INTO VIOLENCE – For five days now, a land dispute in the Kurram District has been witness to tribal violence. As of Tuesday evening, 11 people had been killed and over 50 were wounded in the fighting. The affected areas are Pewar, Balishkhel, and Khar Kallay and police, military, and civilian leaders have been negotiating a ceasefire. A temporary ceasefire had been in place on either Saturday or Sunday but conflicting reports say that one side violated the truce and the fighting has resumed.
ROCKETS REPORTEDLY FIRED AT TALIBAN FORCES FROM PAKISTAN – Video of a purported rocket attack against Taliban security forces near Parachenar has been shared on social media. It is not clear who fired the rockets or why. No casualties were reported and it is unclear if the Taliban are viewing the incident as an accident or if the ordinance was targeting their forces.
THE CENTRAL BANK CLAMPS DOWN ON MONEYCHANGERS AND LOAN SHARKS – A new policy unveiled on Monday now requires all moneychangers and those who disburse private loans (also called - Street Loans) to be registered with the Central Bank and must show a permit to customers or face legal consequences.
SQUATTERS CAMP RAZED IN KABUL, 1,700 LEFT HOMELESS, 2 CHILDREN FEARED DEAD – The Norwegian Refugee Council said that employees on the ground witnessed the destruction of a settlement in the Pul-e-Shina neighborhood may have resulted in the deaths of 2 children and that 1,700 people are currently homeless after their homes were destroyed. The Taliban deny any deaths or injuries resulted from the operation and said the area was occupied illegally. Information concerning the reported deaths was still being gathered.
REPORTS SUGGEST A TTP COMMANDER WHO PLANNED ATTACKS AGAINST CHINESE INSTALLATIONS WAS KILLED IN KUNAR – Unconfirmed reports have begun to circulate that Tariq Rafiq, a TTP Commander who is thought to be behind several high-profile attacks against Chinese personnel and facilities in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been killed in Kunar Province. A Pakistani news outlet and an anonymous government official say his death has been verified, but no official confirmation has yet been given. There is also no information surrounding the circumstances of his death.
TALIBAN SUSPENDS ALL SWEDISH AID PROGRAMS AFTER QURAN BURNING IN STOCKHOLM – The Taliban regime announced it was suspending all Swedish humanitarian operations as of yesterday over the burning of the Quran that took place two weeks ago in Stockholm. The move will affect at least one NGO that provides education and health across 15 Provinces. The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan has asked for dialogue with the Taliban to discuss the situation.
NEXT 24 HOURS
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA EXPECTED TO SEE MORE VIOLENCE – The tribal dispute that began last Friday has ignited again and 2 additional deaths were confirmed yesterday morning. Even with government intervention, the two opposing sides do not appear ready to honor a ceasefire. Roads have been blocked in several areas of the District and entire communities have been cut off from transport. At-risk Afghans in the affected zones are urged to remain in their lodgings and others who may be planning travel to or through the area should delay their plans.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The Supreme Leader has urged the nation’s justice system to ‘purge’ dissenting online voices. In justification, he claimed the opposition voices on the internet were damaging the ‘psychological security of Iranian society’.
The journalist, Nazila Maroofian, was arrested for a second time on Tuesday. She had first been arrested in November of 2022 for covering the protests. She was released on bail in January of this year. It is not clear why she has been placed under arrest this time.
Citing concerns over threats from Iran, the Biden administration asked Congress to pay for additional security for former Defense Department officials who could be targeted.
PAKISTAN
Saudi Arabia deposited an additional $2 billion dollars into the Central Bank, further shoring up Pakistan’s internal finances. The deposit is said to be part of the deal for the IMF bailout loan.
FIA agents have made another arrest in the human trafficking case that was unrelated to the Greek ship tragedy. Altaf Hussain was arrested in Karachi and accused of forging documents and sending money abroad to Canada.
Sindh Province is bracing for a series of storms this coming week that could drop as much as 10 centimeters of rain. The national emergency management executive is expected to issue an alert today.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Gulf Engagement in Flux as Taliban Supreme Leader Consolidates Power
By Umer Karim - Arab Gulf States Institute
In addition to reshaping Afghanistan’s domestic politics, the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan radically changed the country’s relations with international stakeholders, including the Gulf Arab states. While the Gulf states have generally adopted a policy of engagement with the Taliban government, the political and diplomatic modalities of engagement have varied from state to state. And Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada’s moves to consolidate power suggest that foreign leaders are going to have to engage with Kandahar.
AFGHAN NEWS
Hundreds violently evicted from Afghan settlement in Kabul, two children killed: NRC
By Kate Oglesby - Al Arabiya
The NRC received reports from its teams on the ground in Afghanistan that the demolition of a settlement in Kabul left around 280 families without homes, with…
TTP terrorist responsible for attacks on Chinese in Pakistan killed: Report
By WION News
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist Muhammad Tariq Rafiq, believed to be responsible for the planning and execution of attacks against the Chinese…
Taliban ban Sweden’s activities in Afghanistan after Quran burning
By La Prensa Latina
“After insulting the Holy Quran and the Muslim faith in Sweden, the Islamic Emirate (as the Taliban government calls itself) suspends Sweden’s activities in…
REGIONAL NEWS
Afghan Refugee Crises In Pakistan: An Escalating Impact On The Nation’s Future – OpEd
By Hafiza Okasha - EurAsia Review
According to official reports, about 250, 000 Afghans have resided in Pakistan after the Taliban seized power in August…
India Refuses To Recognize Taliban’s Choice For Afghan Embassy In Delhi – OpEd
By Abdul Mussawer Safi - EurAsia Review
The Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed Mr. Qadir Shah to the post of Chief Envoy from his previous position as Trade Counselor at the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US needs 'official presence' on ground in Afghanistan, says ex-CIA official
By Middle East Eye
In a panel discussing US policy on Afghanistan, hosted by the Washington-based think tank, the Middle East Institute, Douglas London said the US needs to be…
An Australian Regiment Is Yet To Answer for Abuses Committed in Afghanistan
By Soraya Lennie - New Lines Magazine
Last year, on one scorching day in April, New Lines traveled by car with Haji Abdul Ahad Bahai through Tarin Kot, the capital of the…
THE DAILY WTF
Sopko Said Corruption 'Undermined' Foreign Effort in Afghanistan
By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News
The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John Sopko said that corruption was the greatest challenge in Afghanistan and…
“Ya think” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.30 AFN (as of 12 JUL 2023)