Daily Evacuation Brief | July 29, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
After a lull in the action, Resistance forces and the Taliban have recommenced combat operations in Panjshir. Two medium-sized engagements have been reported so far. Taliban forces have redeployed with high-speed troop convoys racing along the roads in the province. Several small engagements have been reported near the sites of formerly reported Taliban checkpoints along the main roads in the province. Sources close to the Resistance claim the Taliban waited until the security conference in Uzbekistan had concluded before escalating the fighting in the province.
Rebel Hazara Taliban Commander Maulvi Mehdi Mujahid’s forces are said to have taken up positions surrounding Balkhab in Sar-e-Pol province. It is not clear what his intentions are as conflicting reports from sources say he may rejoin the Taliban, while others say he plans to attack the remnants of the Taliban units stationed in Balkhab. No further information was available.
People in Samangan province have begun reporting that their cell phones are now being scrutinized by the Taliban security forces when they are stopped on the street or are having their homes searched. The activity is prevalent in Aybak but is said to be spreading to other cities and towns. At-risk Afghans are encouraged to sanitize their electronic communications regularly.
NEXT 24 HOURS
With the significant concentration of Maulvi Mehdi’s forces in Sar-e-Pol province, there is potential for violence in the coming days. Mehdi’s intentions are currently unclear, and he is thought to have rallied between 1,000 to 2,000 of his former fighters. Taliban sources claim the Taliban garrison in Balkhab is aware of the troop buildup in the mountains but have not taken any actions to increase their troop strength at this point. Several calls to the Ministry of Defense have been made, but we are unaware of the nature of the calls.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
By John Simpson – The New Statesman
It was the most shameful capitulation of its kind in my lifetime. Worse than Dien Bien Phu in May 1954. Worse than Phnom Penh in April 1975; worse than Saigon, only 13 days later. Unlike those other military defeats, where governments and armies were out-thought and out-fought, the fall of Kabul was an entirely unforced error.
AFGHAN NEWS
Complaints Persist About Slow Passport Distribution
By Banafsha Binesh – TOLO News
Citizens complain that after registering for passports they have been waiting for months to receive…
Islamic Emirate’s Leader Calls for Implementation of Sharia
By Farshad Daryosh – TOLO News
Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, held a gathering with…
IS terrorists in Afghanistan increased to 6,000 since Taliban takeover: Russia
By ANI
The number of Islamic State terrorist organization members in Afghanistan increased three times to 6,000 since the Taliban came to power last…
Hours-long power cuts give Kabul residents nightmares
By Atifa Suhrabi – Pajhwok Afghan News
Residents of capital Kabul complain about prolonged power outages and accuse the Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS) or power utility…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iranian President Says Iran Will Not Cede Its Rights to Helmand River Waters
By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press
Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, reportedly instructed the Iranian Foreign and Energy ministries to work toward reclaiming Iran’s water right in the Helmand River…
Afghan Officials: Iran Deported 5,600 Afghans in Past Week
By Imran Danish – TOLO News
“We have asked countries, especially Iran, where Afghan immigrants live to respect the rights of Afghan immigrants based on the Islamic and international law,” said…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
SIGAR finds Pentagon failed to control disbursement of Afghan defense force salary funds
By Ariana News
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) issued a report this week in which it stated the Pentagon made $232 million in questionable salary payments…
Humanitarian corridors shepherd 300 Afghan refugees to Italy
By Emma Wallis – Info Migrants
More than 300 Afghan refugees will have arrived this week in Italy via humanitarian…
THE DAILY WTF
Human rights ensured in Afghanistan; U.S. should lift sanctions
By The Kabul Times
The IEA is committed to manage a country of free terrorist activities and assures the world, particularly the neighboring countries that Afghanistan’s territory would never be used against them and no…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 90.37 AFN (as of 29 JUL 2022)