Daily Evacuation Brief | July 21, 2023

Jul 21, 2023

LATEST SIGAR REPORT ON AID IN AFGHANISTAN…‘HORRIFIC’ – The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, John Sopko, described recent revelations his office has received about how the economic aid that is being distributed in Afghanistan as horrific. While speaking at an event in London yesterday, Sopko said his office had made new discoveries concerning the United Nations operations in Afghanistan. While deferring to go into details he said that many in the US Congress had questioned whether the Taliban were benefitting from the aid. Presumably, the information he gathered will show that aid is being directed to the Taliban. The US remains the largest single donor to UN programs in the country and says it has contributed nearly $2 billion since August 2021. If widespread abuses are reported, it could jeopardize further US contributions and may also affect other nation-states who contribute to the UN. A new proposed law that has already been approved by the US House of Representatives and is under consideration by the US Senate would prohibit any US funding that would directly or indirectly go to the Taliban.
US SPOKESMAN SAYS NO PLANS TO REOPEN US EMBASSY IN KABUL – A State Department spokesman said the US is not considering reopening its embassy in Kabul and said the Taliban regime is a long way from gaining international recognition. Some rumors circulated in the Spring that such a move was being contemplated but no government employee ever substantiated them. The confusing security situation and the Taliban’s inability to provide security for diplomats were illustrated several times in 2022 and early 2023. The US announced that Qatar would handle some diplomatic functions for the US but it is not clear what was agreed between the countries.
PAKISTAN CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE SPREAD OF CRIMEAN-CONGO FEVER AFTER AFGHAN NATIONAL DIES IN PESHAWAR – The Afghan man died from the disease on 8 July and health officials say that at least 8 other cases have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Apparently, one of the treatment facilities being used to house the patients lacks an isolation ward and the staff is attempting to control the spread by keeping them in a separate room. An additional patient who was diagnosed with the disease and who had been admitted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex reportedly escaped the facility and his whereabouts were unknown.
SUICIDE ATTACK IN KHYBER PAKTUNKHWA CLAIMS 6 LIVES – 2 suicide bombers struck the Tehsil Administrative building in the Bara Bazar District. The blasts killed both bombers, and 4 police, and wounded another 8 people (some non-combatants among them). News outlets have published reports saying the attack was a cross-border incident but no official statement has verified if the bombers came from Afghanistan.

NEXT 24 HOURS

MORE PROTESTS EXPECTED AT SWEDISH EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD – Sources in Rawalpindi said that additional protests could take place in and around the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad after a government-sanctioned protest took place in front of the main Mosque in Stockholm and a protestor was filmed stepping on a Quran. At-risk Afghans are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

The Swedish Ambassador was called before the Foreign Minister again to hear a complaint about another desecration of the Quran that took place yesterday in Stockholm.
Additional US military forces are being deployed to the Persian Gulf region to ostensibly defend maritime shipping routes from Iranian provocations. A US Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Unit will now proceed to the Gulf and join the increased air and naval forces that had been previously deployed.
6 people were arrested in Gilan Province when police closed a Yoga club for performing Yoga in a mixed-gender setting. The male instructor and 5 female participants are currently being held.

PAKISTAN

The remains of some of the Pakistani nationals who died in the Greek shipping tragedy arrived in Lahore yesterday. More bad news is expected on Saturday as further identifications have been made and many are said to have come from Pakistan.
Former PM Imran Khan has again called for an investigation into the ‘Cypher Controversy’. Analysts say Khan is desperate to implicate the current acting PM and the US in the events surrounding his removal from office.
Russia is demanding an explanation after a Russian journalist was escorted out of a press conference for the visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

The world needs a new plan to deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif - The Interpreter

For millions of war-weary Afghans, the only source of basic healthcare and education for years has been a particular European aid organisation. And now the de facto Taliban authorities have effectively shut down its operations, mad at the burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden.

AFGHAN NEWS

US Body Reports 'Horrific Information' About UN Operations in Afghanistan

By Akmal Dawi - VOA

A U.S. watchdog says it has disclosed to Congress information about diversion and control of international humanitarian assistance by…

Women's Beauty Salons Banned for Neglect of Guidelines: Ministry

By Asma Saayin - TOLO News

The Ministry of Vice and Virtue said that women's beauty salons were banned because they neglected to bring into effect the…

The Stunning Work of a Pulitzer-Winning Photographer Killed by the Taliban

By Matt Growcoot - Peta Pixel

In 2021, while on assignment for Reuters news agency in Afghanistan, Pulitzer-winning photographer Danish Siddiqui was killed after the Afghani special forces he…

REGIONAL NEWS

Iran’s foreign minister says team will visit Afghanistan to assess dams

By AMU TV

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Wednesday that a technical team from Iran will imminently travel to Afghanistan to assess the condition of…