Daily Evacuation Brief | July 17, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
Another purported rocket attack directed against Uzbekistan was reported, and local sources claim the rockets fell in both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. There are no reports of damage or casualties yet. The Taliban issued a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledging the incident but did not say who had orchestrated the strike. ISIS-K has claimed credit for previous attacks on both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Deep divisions are opening between the Salafi community and the Taliban over the perceived lack of security provided to religious minorities. Rumors that the recent assassination of prominent Salafist religious leader Sardar Wali was politically motivated have run rampant in the aftermath of his death. Some have implicated the Taliban in the plot, but scant evidence supports this theory and it is not clear what would have motivated such an action. Regardless, the perception that religious and ethnic minorities are not a priority for the Taliban leadership are pervasive.
In a recent meeting between Iranian and Taliban leaders in Kabul focused on water rights and electricity imports, the Iranian Deputy Ambassador interjected an odd statement reaffirming Iran’s pledge of not supporting armed anti-Taliban groups. Many countries have reiterated their pledges not to support Resistance forces over the past two weeks, and this surge of activity suggests the Taliban may be leveling accusations of support through back-channel lines of communication. Sources within the Taliban say the perception among leaders in both the Ministries of Defense and Interior is that the United States and Russia are jointly supporting the Resistance with arms and ammunition, and the delivery of aid is facilitated by Tajikistan. No evidence exists of such support, but Taliban leadership is convinced they are fighting a proxy war in the North.
Locals and sources reported a powerful explosion in Baghlan province during the night. The blast was heard in Dara Khavash (Khost Farang district) and was strong enough to rattle homes in a 50km radius. What caused the explosion or where exactly it occurred is not yet known.
A moderate earthquake struck approximately 50 kilometers south-southeast of Kabul. No casualties or serious damage have since been reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
Sources say that house-to-house searches will soon begin in Balkh province. The orders issued from Kabul suggest the target of the searches is an ISIS-K cell that may be living in Mazar-i-Sharif and is responsible for manufacturing the rockets that continue to be used against Uzbekistan. Ministry of the Interior intelligence officials will lead the effort, but there was no information provided on specific locations or about the identities of those who may be involved in the ISIS-K operation. A source in Mazar-i-Sharif claimed the lack of information has produced consternation among the local Taliban leadership. One unidentified leader called it a stunt and was skeptical about actually finding the purported underground arms factory. At-risk Afghans in Balkh should expect home searches to begin in the next 24 hours, which will likely be random and non-violent.
Resistance forces plan to launch raids against the Taliban units that are stationed along mountain paths leading into Panjshir province in order to interdict NRF supply lines. Sources claim the Taliban outposts are too spread out to support one another and also do not appear to have reliable communications to call in air support or ground reinforcements.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Can the Taliban's Hassib Habibi Save Afghanistan's Economy? Meet the Taliban’s Would-Be Rainmaker
B Ali M. Latifi – Foreign Policy
KABUL—When Hassib Habibi enters a room, it’s easy to be intimidated. His black turban and traditional perahan tunban outfit are accessorized with an AK-47 that hangs from his shoulder. Physically, he looks every bit the stereotypical Taliban fighter, and he knows it.
Once he starts talking, though, a different man emerges. The 31-year-old deputy director of economic cooperation at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs—one of the men most responsible for attracting foreign investment to a pariah state under a pile of international sanctions and opprobrium—eschews the fire and brimstone that characterize most Taliban harangues.
AFGHAN NEWS
Strong quake shakes east of Afghanistan capital
By MEHR News Agency
According to the Afghan local sources, the quake struck at 4 PM Kabul local time and it was felt throughout the Afghan…
Taliban Displaces Thousands Of Afghanistan's Hazara Population With No Food Or Shelter
By Hamedi Ahmadi – Huffpost
Thousands of families from the Hazara ethnic group in Afghanistan, forced to flee their homes after a Taliban military campaign in the…
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
The 580-type passenger bus and a tractor-trailer crashed at roughly 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, 16th July, according to Qari Nazirullah Abedi, the…
REGIONAL NEWS
By Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Since the enemy has failed to pose any serious threat over the last ten months, it is now reaching for such meaningless actions that can never…
Afghans stand in solidarity with Turkey: Stanikzai
By Pajhwok Afghan News
Over 250 people were killed and thousands injured in Turkey in the July 15, 2016 coup attempt to overthrow the Erdogan…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Biden, Mohammed Bin Salman Discuss Afghanistan: Statement
By TOLO News
US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a meeting attended by senior officials from…
Why is Ottawa turning away from Afghans who helped Canada? ‘We’re failing them’
By Saba Aziz , Irelyne Lavery & Abigail Bimman – Global News Canada
The federal government is reportedly winding down the special immigration program to bring 18,000 Afghans who assisted Canada. That includes interpreters for…
THE DAILY WTF
By Chris Jewers – Daily Mail
Photographs, taken on Thursday, showed several pedalos being operated by the jihadi fighters - some of whom were seen carrying military-grade rifles - on Band e-Amir Lake in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.00 AFN (as of 17 JUL 2022)