Daily Evacuation Brief | June 4, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS:
The Taliban has begun setting up bases in the Hindu Kush Mountains in an attempt to counter Resistance forces’ ability to maneuver between valleys. Sources within the Resistance claim the outposts are poorly defended and will be vulnerable to attacks, leading Resistance leaders to reportedly call the bases a “Gift from God”.
Non-combatants in Jowzjan province have been involved in several armed scuffles with “nomads” who are reputedly being granted rights to land in the province by local Taliban leaders, according to political sources in the province.
A spokesman for the TTP delegation that has recently arrived in Kabul announced to an Indian news agency that a 3-month ceasefire deal that includes areas immediately adjacent to the Durand Line has been struck with Pakistan. The TTP has specifically agreed not to attack Pakistani security forces or non-combatants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
An unconfirmed report stated that 5 Pakistani soldiers were killed in an IED attack in Panjgur, Balochistan. Although we have not confirmed which group is responsible, it is notable that a provisional wing of the TTP is believed to have broken from the main group in protest to the TTP’s ongoing negotiations with Pakistan authorities, which they view as concessionary. It is possible that attacks such as these will occur more frequently as the hardliners attempt to derail peace negotiations.
The Afghan Digest continues to receive many reports of forced relocations of non-combatants in Panjshir. Apparently, suspected collaborators and local leaders are often pointed out by Taliban loyalists or individuals seeking favor with the Taliban. The accused are then arrested and moved by truck to other provinces without trial. This policy has been in place for several weeks, but seems to be occurring increasingly often with a surging numbers of arrests. One source said it may be due to complaints over atrocities that have occurred since the fighting in the North escalated.
A noted spokesman for the Hezb-e-Islami party has reportedly resigned and joined the Resistance in response to the internal ethnic policies that have been issued from Kandahar.
NEXT 24 HOURS:
Night raids are expected in Police Districts 11, 15, and 17 for the next four days in Kabul. The Taliban continue to search for and have arrested several Panjshiri youth. According to one source in the Ministry of the Interior, close to 400 have been arrested since combat operations against the Resistance in Panjshir began in earnest. At-risk Afghans are cautioned to maintain a low profile, conceal their home province if they are from the north, and avoid wearing Panjshir-style clothing if they must go about the city.
India is expected to make an official announcement about whether New Delhi plans to reopen diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan.
The Taliban in Panjshir are expected to launch additional assaults on NRF positions in Chamalordeh and Karbashi. A source states the local Taliban commander has received information that the units defending the areas are running out of ammo. Sources within the Resistance claim they have large stockpiles of ammunition and are dug in with good fields of fire. The reality of the situation remains unclear.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS:
Taliban Faces Threat From Islamic State, New Resistance
By Edith Lederer – The Diplomat
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are maintaining close ties with al-Qaida as they consolidate control over the country, and their main military threat is coming from the Islamic State extremist group and guerrilla-style attacks by former Afghan government security personnel, U.N. experts said in a new report.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban formally hand over operations, security of 4 Afghan airports to UAE
By Islamuddin Sajid – Andalou Agency
State-run firm based in Abu Dhabi takes charge of international airports in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif…
Young Afghan Boys Work in Dangerous Mines As Afghanistan Prioritizes Coal
By Kern Hendricks – Vice News
Noorullah says he’s 18, but he looks years younger, despite the layer of coal dust on his…
The Afghan Journalists Who Stayed
By Masood Farivar – VOA
A week after Taliban militants swarmed into the Afghanistan capital last August, journalist Hujatullah Mujadidi received…
REGIONAL NEWS
Turkmenistan discusses international efforts to resolve Afghan crisis peacefully
By Khayal Khatamzadeh – Trend News Agency
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hadjiev took part in the…
Iran should closely monitor Taliban: Ex-diplomat
By Iranian Labour News Agency
Documents and components show that Al-Qaeda is running the Taliban but the U.S. is merely monitoring the situation in Kabul and didn’t do anything, a former Iranian diplomat…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
German Bundestag to investigate botched Afghanistan evacuation
By Julia Dahm – Euractiv
German lawmakers have agreed to launch an inquiry committee that will examine the withdrawal of German troops and the unsuccessful evacuation of…
By Madeline Heim – Appleton Post-Crescent
In addition to running his own clinic in Afghanistan's capital city, he also provided dental services at a local hospital and trained dental students at…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghan Musicians Who Fled Taliban Face Deportation From Pakistan
By Abubakar Siddique - Radio Free Europe
Soon after seizing power in August, the Taliban outlawed music and footage emerged of its fighters publicly beating and humiliating…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.00 AFN (as of 4 JUN 2022)