Daily Evacuation Brief | July 20, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS
A spokesman for rebel Hazara Taliban Commander Mullah Mehdi Mujahid’s forces in Balkhab announced that all communications with the Taliban had ceased and that negotiations did not produce any positive results. Mehdi’s disbanded troops are said to be marshaling in the mountains north of Balkhab.
In Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan swept elections in Punjab and captured a large majority of the seats for his party. The development sets the conditions for potential new national elections. Election monitors noted the current economic situation in Pakistan weighed heavily on voters’ minds. It is unclear if the current government will hold elections, but it is possible that violence may result the longer the decision is delayed. If protests are widespread, it could force a closure of the border and disrupt flights. At-risk Afghans currently sheltering in Pakistan should stay updated on the situation and watch for indicators of brewing violence, such as Khan exhorting his followers to “march on the capital”. Such calls have resulted in violence in the past.
Pakistan and China announced they were discussing offering the Taliban a seat at the CPEC table. It is not clear how serious discussions may be, but a senior US official source opined the act was probably more directed at the US and intended to free up Afghanistan’s frozen assets.
NEXT 24 HOURS
The Taliban started turning traffic back in select locations in both Baghlan and Panjshir provinces, and this activity is expected to continue for at least the next two days. Taliban commanders have complained to the Ministry of Defense that their reinforcing maneuvers are hampered by non-combatant traffic and are asking for a marshal law to be imposed that would allow them to keep all civilian and commercial traffic off the roadways in key areas. A source in the Ministry of Defense stated that the request was received with skepticism and senior leaders in the MoD believe it is an excuse for failing to capture Resistance bases. If imposed, the new edict would strain already problematic transportation system in the region.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By Raashid Wali Janjua – The Express Tribune
Pak-US relations were born out of a transactional necessity. It was this logic that defined their engagement on four occasions despite regular estrangements on account of geo-political differences. In the 60s, it was the Cold War confrontation that kept both countries together, with the US using Pakistan as an anti-communist outpost while Pakistan extracted rents in terms of military and economic aid in order to build up its military and economic sinews against an implacable foe on Eastern frontiers. In the 70s, Pakistan helped the US reach out to China while the US helped Pakistan tide over the post 1971 difficulties. The 80s featured a US-Pakistan anti-Soviet alliance, generously bankrolled by the US, that helped the country build its military and strategic capability despite the gory consequences of a destabilised and militarised FATA region. With the start of the 21st century, it was again Afghanistan that tangled both estranged allies into a counter terrorism alliance, which was finally shelved under Donald Trump.
AFGHAN NEWS
5.1 and 4.3 magnitude earthquakes hit Afghanistan
By ANI
Two earthquakes hit Afghanistan’s East and Northeast region on Monday evening…
The Afghan questions: What do Afghans think about past, present, and future?
By Eureporter
…a survey was conducted in Afghanistan to gather understanding about the common people’s assessment of their past, current scenario, and…
Maternity Care, Once a Sign of Hope in Afghanistan, Is Faltering Under the Taliban
By Jessica Donati – Wall Street Journal
Decades of progress in maternal and neonatal healthcare, once a flagship indicator of the West’s success in Afghanistan, are eroding due to hunger….
Former Afghan MPs Hold Virtual Meetings
By Banafsha Binesh
The MPs issued a statement saying the first virtual session of the former members of the House of Representatives was…
REGIONAL NEWS
Uzbekistan Denies Reports of Missile Attack from Afghanistan
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
A statement from the Uzbek Ministry of Defense refuted reports of the third round of Afghan missile attacks, while the Taliban authorities claimed…
Afghan minister holds talks with Chinese mining firm, progress to be expected
By Yin Yeping – Global Times
An Afghan government official from the mining sector met with the representative of a Chinese mining company Sunday, and they discussed issues ranging from…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Saudi crown prince tells Biden US made ‘mistake’ in Afghanistan: Saudi official
By Ariana News
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pointed to American abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan as he told President Joe Biden…
Tens of thousands of Afghans applying for US visas still face major delays
By Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood and Priscilla Alvarez – CNN
There are tens of thousands of Afghans who have applied for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) whose applications are still being processed nearly a year after the botched…
THE DAILY WTF
West Tries to Undermine Afghan Academic Institutions: Haqqani
By Bakhtar News Agency
Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani the statement in a meeting with the teachers and students of Sheikh Zayed University, on…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.19 AFN (as of 20 JUL 2022)