Daily Evacuation Brief | July 14, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS
The Taliban reportedly arrested Tajik Taliban Commander Mawlawi Aziz in the Kolfgan district of Takhar province. It is believed that Aziz had spoken openly about his dissatisfaction with the Pashtun Taliban leadership in the province and was harboring resentment over several insults that had been directed to his Tajik forces. Aziz is said to have attended a secretive meeting between Uzbek and Tajik Taliban leaders that took place shortly after a bloody dispute broke out between Uzbek and Pashtun Taliban units in Takhar. No further information was available.
More rainfall is predicted for eastern Afghanistan over the next 24 hours. Khost, Paktika, Nangarhar, and Kunar provinces are expected to receive the bulk of precipitation and more flooding is expected.
The Dutch government announced a successful evacuation flight from Islamabad to Amsterdam had landed with 181 Afghan refugees.
Earlier this week, Ahmad Massoud, National Resistance Front Co-Commander and one of the most visible leaders of the Resistance, gave an interview to BBC Persia. Massoud warned that without international engagement the humanitarian and security situation would deteriorate further and become a regional and global issue. He also stressed the need for inclusive governance and true political dialogue to achieve political stability. However, his most illuminating comments were about the immediate goals of the NRF and the strategy they have developed to achieve them. A few of the key points were:
The NRF is force oriented, not terrain oriented. This means they are not focused on capturing territory and prefer direct engagements with the Taliban. Considering the size of Massoud’s force (currently estimated at about 3,000), this strategy represents a realistic understanding of the force imbalance the NRF faces and acknowledges their own limitations.
The political goals are focused on creating a broad coalition of Resistance forces to “bleed” the Taliban until they agree to substantive talks about forming an inclusive government.
Several gender-focused organizations in Afghanistan and concerned citizens around the world have been marking the 300th day since the closure of girls’ schools by launching a social media campaign with the hashtag #LetAfghanGirlsLearn. Thousands of tweets have been posted in the past few days.
NEXT 24 HOURS
A meeting is expected to take place between the Taliban and Pakistani military officials to discuss cooperation in gaining the release of Pakistani Army personnel who were reputedly kidnapped by Baloch separatists in the past 48hrs. Pakistan is expected to ask the Taliban to intervene on their behalf to assist with the effort.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By Mohsen Nagheeby – European Journal of International Law
One tragedy follows another in Afghanistan. Occurring amid many other dramatic events, the diversion of the Helmand (Hirmand) River, which flows through Afghanistan and Iran, by the Taliban in January 2022 was almost lost in the news. This deliberate act can cause huge economic losses, degrade entire ecosystems, and threaten the lives of those dependent upon its waters. The question is whether or not Afghanistan is legally permitted to call upon its sovereign right to divert the natural course of the Helmand River to the detriment of the livelihoods of people in downstream areas of the river in Iran and in Afghanistan and to the detriment of the ecosystem.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan: Taliban bars humanitarian aid from entering Bamyan province
By ANI News
Taliban’s atrocities continue to extend in Afghanistan as the organization barred humanitarian aid from entering Bamyan as it denied the presence of displaced people in the province…
Students Concerned Over Unknown Time of Kankor Exam
By Toba Walizada – TOLO News
Students in Kabul are concerned regarding the unknown times of the kankor university entrance exam. The Ministry of Higher Education said the kankor exam will be delayed this year...
For Now, Ideology Trumps Pragmatism in Afghanistan
By Fazelminallah Qazizai – New Lines Magazine
In the days leading up to a recent grand assembly held by the Taliban government here in Kabul, crisp white flags emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith began to…
REGIONAL NEWS
Uzbek official says Tashkent meeting aims to encourage IEA to form inclusive govt
By Ariana News
Uzbekistan’s acting minister of foreign affairs, Vladimir Naraf, on Wednesday confirmed a delegation from Kabul would participate at…
Vladimir Putin visits Central Asia amid Russia–Ukraine War
By Ayjaz Wani – Observer Research Foundation
Since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first foreign visit to the former Soviet Republics of Tajikistan…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
New Defense Bill Bars US Pentagon from Assisting Afghanistan in Any Way
By Daniel Boguslaw – The Intercept
This week’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act will end U.S. humanitarian aid delivered to Afghanistan using Defense Department resources.
Flight From Pakistan Takes 181 Afghans to the Netherlands
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
The Dutch government announced Wednesday that a group of 181 Afghans had flown to safety following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan…
White House Braces for Anniversary of Afghan Withdrawal: Report
By Madina Morwat – TOLO News
“This was a difficult story for the Biden administration last summer- his- the president’s polls, his ratings, really dropped because of the way that the…”
THE DAILY WTF
All Balkhab’s Reports Lies: Officials
By Bakhtar News Agency
He said the people of Balkhab are tired of spreading inaccurate news from divisive media and the government should stop the activities of these media and…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.98 AFN (as of 14 JUL 2022)