Daily Evacuation Brief | July 7, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WORRIED ABOUT SPREAD OF CRIMEAN-CONGO FEVER – Hospitals in Kabul reported a sharp rise in those infected with the disease shortly after Eid al-Adha. While an exact count of those infected is not possible, area hospitals reported seeing a daily average of 15 people being admitted each day to their respective treatment facilities. Some of the cases appear to have been transmitted during the slaughtering of animals and a call for better sanitation and disinfection procedures has been raised among the butchers in the city and elsewhere. The disease was first discovered in Afghanistan in late Spring and has stubbornly persisted. It is not known how many have died from contracting the disease but it normally carries a 30% mortality rate and deaths occur in the second week of infection. It is spread most commonly through exposure to the blood of animals (who often do not fall ill themselves) and by tick bites.
UK ENVOY MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER IN KABUL – Robert Chatterton Dickson, current Charge d’Affaires for the United Kingdom in Kabul met with Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul to discuss matters of mutual interest. Concerns were raised about the fate of Afghans who were in Britain and who were now facing potential housing issues. A source familiar with the meetings said that preliminary discussions about a potential visit by a UK investigative team tasked with following up on possible atrocities committed by UK military personnel was briefly mentioned.
TALIBAN PROVIDES EVEN MORE CLARIFICATION OVER CLOSURE OF BEAUTY SALONS – A spokesman for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, Sadiq Akif Mahjer, provided the reasons for the closure of the salons in a video clip released on the Ministry’s social media channel. He said the measure was adopted for two reasons:
They provided services forbidden in Islam such as - eyebrow shaping, makeup, and using other women’s hair in procedures.
The salons placed a financial burden on the family of potential grooms who customarily pay for the pre-wedding salon visit for the bride and her female relatives.
The ban is expected to put nearly 60,000 women out of work in the ailing economy and has been largely seen as another means of removing women from the social fabric of the country. Some protests to the edict had already taken place and more are expected as the financial repercussions of the act place pressures on families already reeling from inflation and the economic stagnation prevalent in Afghanistan.
FORMER AFGHAN LEADERS PEN LETTER TO THE US CONGRESS – The letter was written in response to several remarks made by President Biden after a recent speech concerning the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. In the letter, the former officials urged Congress to enact targeted sanctions being proposed by Senator Risch and take more action against the Taliban.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SEVERE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO POSE THREATS IN PAKISTAN AND EASTERN AFGHANISTAN – Just a reminder to those at-risk Afghans residing in these areas that rainfall is expected to continue throughout the weekend and the sustained precipitation has soaked hillsides which have caused mudslides and landslides in both countries.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The head of the US’s Central Command confirms that military options have been developed to counter Iran’s nuclear threat.
The Iranian navy has reportedly seized a ship in the Persian Gulf that is considered to have been involved in smuggling operations. The US Navy monitored the situation but chose not to intervene.
A meeting in the United Nations Security Council was held yesterday to discuss options for violations of Resolution 2231 by both Iran and Russia over the transfer of drones and missiles between the two countries.
PAKISTAN
The official death toll resulting from the monsoons now stands at 55. Among those killed were 8 children who were buried in a landslide in Shangla. Rain is expected to continue in parts of the country through Saturday.
Former Prime Minister Khan was handed several terrorism charges for his perceived role in attacks against military and intelligence bases that were carried out by his followers last month.
1 Pakistan Army Officer was killed in a security operation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa last night against suspected TTP militants. The incident took place after a deadly suicide bomb blast killed 3 more Pakistani soldiers earlier. 3 militants were arrested.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
ISIS Targets China And Pakistan In Afghanistan: A Growing Threat
By Dr. Sahibzada Muhammad Usman - EurAsia Review
In recent years, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) has emerged as a significant threat in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover of the country, ISIS-K has been escalating its attacks, particularly targeting high-profile locations, symbols, and Shia Muslim minorities. However, there is also evidence to suggest that ISIS-K has turned its attention towards China and Pakistan, posing a new challenge in the region.
AFGHAN NEWS
Security institutions Ask Citizens to Cooperate With Security Forces
By TOLO News
In a ceremony on Wednesday, the Ministry of Interior praised the functions of the security forces and their efforts to ensure security during…
Food prices continue to drop in Afghanistan, WFP report says
By AMU TV
The report highlights that the declining trend in global food prices since mid-2022 has played a significant role in easing inflationary pressures in…
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Cases Increase in Kabul
By TOLO News
Doctors said that after Eid al-Adha, they admitted nearly fifteen suspected patients to the hospital each…
REGIONAL NEWS
China announces land link with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
By Zhao Ziwen - South China Morning Post
The 3,125km (1,940 miles) route uses both railways and roads and passes through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as…
Pakistani barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia stuck in neutral
By Zia Ur Rehman - Nikkei Asia
Pakistan's bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund has brought a degree of relief to the cash-strapped country, but another aspect of Islamabad's strategy for easing its…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
By Reporters Without Borders
The giant counter – which will remain in place and will keep counting the length of Behboudi’s detention until he is released – was unveiled at…
UN Will Hold Another Crucial Afghanistan Talks in Doha; Taliban Representatives Will Also Be Invited
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Scott Smith, Head of the United Nations political office in Afghanistan, announced during a meeting at ARG that a new Doha summit is being prepared and that, this time, representatives of…
THE DAILY WTF
German train driver beaten by Afghan migrant teen
By Thomas Brooke - REMIX News
A 50-year-old German train driver was attacked by a 15-year-old Afghan national at the Lauter train station in the state of Saxony in eastern…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.22 AFN (as of 7 JUL 2023)