Daily Evacuation Brief | July 16, 2022

Jul 16, 2022

Several international organizations have announced agreements to provide humanitarian aid in Afghanistan over the past week. UNDP and the World Bank were the latest to announce $20 million USD in support. It is currently not clear how much say the Taliban has in the distribution of aid, especially given several reports that came out in the wake of the deadly earthquake and leveled criticism at the Taliban and some local aid agencies for mismanagement of supplies.
The Taliban appear to have launched a few limited offensives in the North over the previous 48 hours. Two have reputedly been successful. Sources within the Palace say the Taliban leadership are incensed over BBC’s recent interview with National Resistance Front co-leader Ahmad Massoud. In response, they had ordered local commanders in Panjshir and Badakhshan to target NRF bases, while a coordinated operation to the West attempts to cut off NRF supply lines.
In response to the kidnapping and possible killing of several Pakistani Army personnel, the Pakistani Army has launched a large operation in Balochistan. The operation is expected to target known Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hideouts. It is believed that many of the BLA personnel will attempt to cross into Afghanistan and seek shelter during the operation, which may cause issues between the Taliban and Pakistan.

`NEXT 24 HOURS`

The Taliban are expected to deploy additional troops from Kabul to Paktika, Khost, and Kandahar provinces. Our analysis suggests these deployments may be in anticipation of potential border incursions by Pakistan as they continue their operation against the Baloch Liberation Army. It is currently unclear how many troops have been sent and where they will be arranged.

`REFUGEE SPOTLIGHT`

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The West’s Betrayal of Afghan Immigrants

By Sajjad Shaukat – Pakistan Today

Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August, 2021, due to deteriorated economic and humanitarian conditions, tens of thousands of people, including more than 100,000 urban Afghans, mostly well-off and educated professionals as well as skilled persons, crossed into Pakistan, seeking asylum and a resettled status abroad.