Daily Evacuation Brief | June 20, 2022

Jun 20, 2022

`LAST 24 HOURS`

Another explosion rocked Kabul when a roadside bomb exploded in the Pul-e-Khwaja Baghra neighborhood in central Kabul, killing two occupants of a passing vehicle. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
The Taliban Minister of the Interior met with his Uzbek counterpart in Kabul on Sunday, reportedly to primarily discuss security. A source close to the Uzbek delegation said that Uzbek backers are concerned regarding the future of the railway project that will link Uzbekistan with Pakistan, fearing that the Taliban’s ineffectual response to dealing with ISIS-K’s growing threat may force the postponement of major investment projects. It is believed that Uzbekistan is not the only neighboring state that has this opinion.
In response to fears of additional ISIS-K attacks against Sikhs in Afghanistan, India has issued e-visas to over 100 of the purported 140 Sikhs who remain in Afghanistan and intends to evacuate all who desire asylum over the coming days.
Previous reporting about tightened security around the Khair Khana neighborhood in Kabul appears to have been a precursor to a resumption of house-to-house searches. Several sources provided video evidence of the operation, and several youth are seen to be arrested in the clips. Local residents have stated the searches are focused on finding Panjshiri males who may be of fighting age.
Another Taliban commander, Azizullah Asifi, has reportedly defected to the ranks of the National Resistance Front in Baghlan. Asifi led his men across the battle lines in Khost to join the NRF.

`NEXT 24 HOURS`

Heavy rains are expected to continue across much of the country. The potential for widespread flooding is high.
The Central Bank plans to auction another $12 million USD to bolster the Afghani.

`SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS`

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New anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan: Genesis of a low-intensity conflict?

By Roshni Kapur – The Observer Research Foundation

Although it has been 10 months since the Taliban’s return to power, many Afghans still do not accept the group’s legitimacy. Taliban 2.0 has proven to be not much different from its previous avatar in terms of harbouring an ultra-conservative ideology, policies, and practices. The Taliban is implementing policies to further consolidate their power, even though they undermine good governance and rule of law. Instead of starting a meaningful dialogue and providing security, the group’s hardliners have steered the government towards regulating the lives of their citizens, particularly women and girls. The Taliban’s repressive and mono-ethnic policies have worsened the country’s ethnic and sectarian divide. As a result, Afghanistan’s conflict is far from over and has evolved into a new form. As the Taliban transitions from a guerilla force into a legitimate government, resistance groups are making their presence noticed by mounting attacks against the former.