Daily Evacuation Brief | March 29, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
PROMINENT WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVIST ARRESTED, SPARKS INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY – Matiullah Wesa, founder of the Pen Path and a staunch advocate of education rights for women and girls was arrested in Kabul yesterday. It is not clear what charges he faces and no explanation had been provided by the Taliban as of publication. His arrest launched a massive international response which included many states who have sought to normalize relations with the Taliban. Several international human rights organizations added their voices and called on the de facto regime to provide clarification and information regarding his whereabouts.
TAJIKISTAN MAY BE SOFTENING ON THE TALIBAN – Some analysts and observers are taking the recent visit by a Taliban diplomatic team to the Afghan consulate in Khorog as a sign that Dushanbe may be exploring a gentler approach to the regime. A major factor that may be influencing any notions of normalizing relations is said to be the booming export market Tajikistan has with Afghanistan coupled with a worrisome decline in remittances from Russia. Most say that should the Tajik government accept a Taliban representative in Dushanbe, that would be proof positive the President has had a change of heart.
AN AFGHAN MAN KILLS 2 IN PORTUGAL WITH A KNIFE – Confirmation has been received that a knife-wielding Afghan national has killed 2 women at an Ismaili Center in Lisbon. A third woman sustained injuries in the attack. The man was taken into custody and it is believed he was a student who had been studying English under the tutelage of the victims. No motive has been discovered so far but authorities are concerned the incident targeted a Shiite center and security forces have elevated their security posture.
3 FEMALE PROTESTORS WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED RECENTLY RELEASED ON BAIL – The women had been arrested during a protest on the weekend and were reportedly released on bail after several elders had intervened on their behalf. Sources close to the situation say the 3 were forced to sign a pledge not to discuss the incident with the press. The three were reportedly members of the Afghan Women’s Justice Movement and well-known among the human rights community.
NEXT 24 HOURS
POSSIBLE PROTESTS IN KABUL OVER MATIULLAH WESA’S ARREST – Rumors that public demonstrations may take place to protest the arrest of Matiullah Wesa are circulating on some social media platforms. No official locations or times have been released but some are saying they may begin near the Pen Path foundation’s offices. Due to the proclivity of the Taliban’s security forces to employ violence to disrupt these events, we encourage at-risk Afghans to avoid any areas where demonstrations take place.
WARNING TO AVOID MOSQUES, MALLS, AND AIRPORT FOR NEXT 72 HOURS IN KABUL – An unspecified threat has been circulating on social media sites that are warning citizens in Kabul to avoid these areas. No specific threat has been confirmed and no additional information has been provided. However, we felt obligated to include the information considering the recent threats and actions of ISIS-K.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Canada added additional sanctions against 8 people and 2 business entities in Iran.
The regime warned the international community that offers to restart the nuclear deal talks would not be indefinite.
Observer groups in Syria have sounded the alarm over major reinforcements to Iranian-backed militia groups over the weekend. An accurate estimate of the number who arrived at Al-Mayadeen, Al-Bokamal, and Ain Ali was not available.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan chose not to attend a democracy summit in Washington DC and said it prefers to engage bilaterally with the US on such matters. Observers believe the move was an effort to appease China.
Election battle heats up in the courtroom. The Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court appeared to side with PTI lawyers over the question of who has the authority to delay elections. The remarks appear to challenge the Election Commission’s authorities.
2 Pakistani citizens were arrested in Athens, Greece on suspicions of planning attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets. It appears that both men had lived in Iran for a time before traveling to Greece.
TAJIKISTAN
Some analysts see the recent visit of a Taliban diplomatic team to the Afghan consulate in Khorog as a sign the Tajik government may be softening its stance toward the regime.
Russian military aircraft conducted training operations yesterday. Attack helicopters and transports practiced maneuvers intended to familiarize pilots with operations in mountainous terrain.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Why Biden’s support for democracy rings a little hollow
By Peter Bergen - CNN
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden is hosting a “Summit for Democracy” in Washington, DC. Obviously, the Taliban, the de facto government that rules Afghanistan today, won’t be attending this summit. This makes the premise of the democracy summit ring somewhat hollow because while the Biden administration does an excellent job of trumpeting its commitments to democracy and women’s rights, only a year and a half ago, it cavalierly abandoned 40 million Afghans to the Taliban’s misogynistic theocracy.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban Release Three Female Protester in Kabul on Bail
By 8AM Media
According to informed sources cited by Hasht-e-Subh on Tuesday, Taliban released Rokhshana Saeedi, Malali Hashemi, and Fatemeh Mohammadi, three members of the…
By Sami Yousafzai - CBS News
Afghanistan's Taliban regime arrested a well-known education campaigner this week for his work and for holding "meetings with Westerners," as the…
The Taliban needs to start an intra-Afghan dialogue but with who?
By Obaidullah Baheer - Al Jazeera
For the past year and a half, the Taliban has taken the international community and the Afghan population on a ride – a ride so wild that it has left…
REGIONAL NEWS
The Afghan Foreign Minister Is Wrong About ISIS: It Threatens Regional Security
By Talha Imran - Modern Diplomacy
Recent claims made by the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Muttaqi, that there is no Daesh or ISKP presence in Afghanistan are not only unsubstantiated but also…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Afghan National Stabs Two to Death at Ismaili Center in Lisbon
By Nizamuddin Rezahi - Khaama Press
Sources have confirmed today’s incident at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon to Khaama Press, stating the suspect was an Afghan national armed with…
House Republicans subpoena Blinken for dissent cable on Afghanistan withdrawal
By Melissa Quinn - CBS News
The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has signed a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding internal, sensitive cables…
IN THE FEELS / خوښي
Afghan toddler who became 'face' of chaotic US pullout reunited with family
By TRT World
An Afghan toddler who was bundled onto an evacuation flight from Kabul in 2021 after her parents died in a bomb blast has been reunited with…
THE DAILY WTF
Private Afghan University Sells Library Due to Financial Issues
By Nizamuddin Rezahi - Khaama Press
The library accommodates nearly 3,000 books on different principles including political sciences, international relations, law, religious education, economics…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.67 AFN (as of 29 MAR 2023)