Daily Evacuation Brief | July 6, 2023

Jul 06, 2023

POWER OUTAGES WILL INCREASE IN KABUL, POSSIBLY OTHER PROVINCES – The national power utility announced that power outages would be extended soon as consumption has outstripped importation limits under current agreements. Power supplies have been a continuing problem for Kabul since the Taliban came to power and the regime has constantly alluded to ‘technical difficulties’ that have affected delivery to urban areas. Sources in Kabul say that Da Afghanistan Bareshna Shirkat (DABS, the national power company) is facing a lack of trained technicians and is suffering from several unqualified directors who have been inserted into the organization by the Taliban. It is not currently clear what the extended outages will look like for citizens.
TALIBAN LOBBIES HARD TO BE INCLUDED AT UPCOMING SCO MEETING IN KAZAKHSTAN – Members of the Taliban have demanded to be included in the upcoming SCO meetings in order to provide its take on the concerns about security and domestic policies. Most observers see the demand as ‘whistling in the wind’ as the SCO member states appear to have attained consensus over the necessary pre-conditions to engage with the regime. It is unlikely the Taliban will receive an invite.
DEADLY FLOODING IN PAKISTAN AS MONSOONS ARRIVE WITH A VENGEANCE – The flooding resulting from heavy rains has killed at least 23 people so far and the rains are not expected to stop for another 36hrs.
SUICIDE BOMBING IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA KILLS 4, INJURES 14 OTHERS – A vehicle loaded with explosives targeted a security checkpoint in Miran Shah on Wednesday. 3 Pakistani security personnel and 1 boy were killed in the blast while the majority of those wounded were believed to be non-combatants. No group has yet claimed credit for the attack but suspicion fell heavily on the TTP as being behind it.
PAKISTAN ORDERS MILITARY TO CONSERVE FUEL, CANCELS TRAINING EXERCISES – Officials said the strategic reserve of petroleum needed to be preserved and the Ministry of Defense has called for a halt of all training exercises in order to conserve supplies on hand.

NEXT 24 HOURS

MORE RAIN, MORE FLOODING EXPECTED IN PAKISTAN – The weather system that has brought the monsoons to the region is expected to persist in Northern Pakistan and Northern Afghanistan for at least the next 36 hours. Rains are expected to be heavy and are reportedly falling in sheets in the mountains. Flooding will continue to be a threat and travel is being discouraged by the national meteorological department. At-risk Afghans in Pakistan are urged to delay travel plans until the threat of flooding has passed.
POSSIBLE TERROR THREAT IN GHAZNI, CURFEWS MAY CONTINUE – Sources in Kabul say that a threat was received about a possible ISIS-K terror attack in the Province and that is what prompted the recently imposed curfew. The sources said the identities of several Afghan and Pakistani nationals who are involved in the plot are known and security forces are looking for the men.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

Iranian navy ships were chased away from 2 oil tankers by US Navy vessels. The Iranian ship opened fire on the second vessel before being chased away by a US Navy destroyer.
Nearly 2,000 Iranian-backed militia members were recalled to Deir Ezzor in Syria as a shadowy new Commander takes over the force and plans a large-scale operation against remnants of ISIS.
Local media in Tehran are reporting that an organized criminal group is targeting young girls in the capital for their hair. The group forces the girls into cars where their hair is cut and put into bags. It is believed the hair is then sold to the beauty industry.

PAKISTAN

An Islamabad court expects former Prime Minister Khan to appear today for the Toshakhana corruption case. The case was sent back to the criminal court from the high court after a successful jurisdictional challenge by the former Prime Minister.
Police in Punjab announced they have arrested the main suspect in an international human trafficking operation that was involved in the Greek shipping tragedy that took many lives. The suspect is expected to be handed over to FIA agents tomorrow.
Authorities in Islamabad say they have arrested 5 FIA officials for reportedly working in Israel in violation of Pakistan’s passport/immigration laws. Citizens of Pakistan are barred from visiting Israel under national law.

TAJIKISTAN

The remains of a Tajik national who killed 2 Moldovan security guards at the country’s international airport last month will be buried in Moldova. The man died from wounds sustained in the airport shooting.
The Ministers of Defense for both Pakistan and Tajikistan concluded bilateral security discussions focused on containing ‘shared threats’ posed by the Taliban’s administration of Afghanistan.

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS

The Taliban Are Now Arms Dealers

By Lynne O’Donnell - Foreign Policy

Under weather-beaten tarps slung across wooden poles, in isolated strip malls deep in the desert, or laid out on dusty carpets along bumpy tracks off the major highways, these ad hoc weapons bazaars are offering rockets and bombs, shoulder-fired grenade launchers, night vision goggles, sniper rifles and scopes, and ammunition. The wares are priced in afghanis, rupees, and dollars; recent price increases reflect the business acumen of one of the world’s richest criminal cartels that has sought to keep tight control on supply.

AFGHAN NEWS

Taliban closure of beauty salons removes last safe haven for Afghan women

By Dominique van Heerden - Sky News

The salons allowed a brief opportunity to step outside the confines of Afghan public life - but now they have been ordered to close in…

Q&A: Nine Out of 10 Afghan Households Lack ‘Adequate’ Food, WFP Top Official Says

By Waheed Faizi - VOA

The deputy executive director and chief operating officer for the U.N. World Food Program, Carl Skau, says that Afghanistan is facing a dire…

Haqqani says IEA will not compromise freedom for recognition

By Ariana News

Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said on Tuesday that the world does not recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) because it is independent and it…

REGIONAL NEWS

12 die, as heavy rain lashes Lahore, floods roads and streets

By Samaa

The latest spell of monsoon rains has once again spelled disaster for Lahore, as the city’s streets have been flooded due to the hours-long heavy rain that…