Daily Evacuation Brief | March 8, 2023
Daily Evacuation Brief | March 8, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
POLISH CITIZENS MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN – Adrian Wojcik and Roman Bielski are presumed to be missing in Eastern Afghanistan after over a week of failed attempts to establish contact with them. Some reports say the two may have been arrested by the Taliban, but no definitive details were provided. It is believed the two were involved in humanitarian work, but it is unclear which organization they may have been working for.
WOMEN DEMONSTRATE IN KABUL – A day before International Women’s Day, several female protestors marched on the streets of Kabul. The largest rally took place in the Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood. The protestors chanted slogans opposing the gender apartheid policies put in place by the Taliban. There were a few reports the Taliban attempted to break up the protests using their vehicles. No arrests have been reported yet.
EU SANCTIONS 2 TALIBAN MINISTERS – Both the Ministers for Higher Education and for Virtue and Vice were sanctioned by the European Union. All assets in the European Union will be frozen and will be banned from travel. In addition, citizens and entities in the EU will be prohibited from financing either individual.
4.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RATTLES AFGHANISTAN – It is thought the quake struck in Badakhshan Province and no damage or casualties have been reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, POSSIBLE PROTEST CRACKDOWN – As today marks Internation Women’s Day, protests are expected in several cities across the country. The police forces have been circulating instructions on how to deal with the protests and these instructions are rumored to have ruled out violence as a means of disrupting the protests. The few international press members who are in the country will be watching events closely. While it sounds as if the Taliban leadership is discouraging a strong police response, things could easily get out of hand. In addition, terror groups may use the opportunity to launch an attack due to the high probability it would get international media coverage. At-risk Afghans are advised to be extremely cautious around any demonstration sites. Remain situationally aware and be prepared to leave the area rapidly should an incident take place.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
A Canadian woman has gone missing in Iran and her family believes she has been secretly arrested.
Several arrests have been made in the girls’ poisoning case.
The regime now denies it signaled the IAEA it would give greater access for nuclear inspections.
PAKISTAN
Former PM Khan has been granted a respite from being arrested. A court has issued a reprieve of several days before he will be compelled to appear in a corruption case.
The rupee continued its upward trajectory against the dollar. It has advanced for 3 days after weeks of steady declines.
The Government informed the IMF of plans to solicit an additional $2 billion dollar loan from China.
SPOTLIGHT AID
Aid to Afghanistan: An Insider’s Take on the Lessons to be Learnt
By Andrew Rogerson & Yaseen Zazai - CGD
A new paper, by Yaseen Zazai, (the co-author of this blog and a former senior Afghan finance ministry official), takes an insider’s look at the UK’s approach to aid in Afghanistan over the last 20 years. From his unique vantage point, Yaseen argues that there were major positive outcomes and real impact, but that external support was continuously undermined by security concerns, corruption, and excessive layers of international contracting.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghan women call on UN to take a stronger stand against the Taliban
By AMU TV
Members of Afghanistan’s Women’s Movement for Justice staged a protest on Tuesday in front of the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMA) compound in Kabul, and called on the organization to take action against…
ILO: Afghan Women Bear Brunt of Job Losses After Taliban Takeover
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
The ILO, in a new report, found that Taliban curbs on women’s activities and their ability to work had contributed to the…
Ban on female university education is not permanent: Minister
By Ariana News
The ban on women and girls getting a university education is not permanent and those who criticize the Islamic Emirate for the decision do not understand the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Special Envoys from Afghan Neighbor Countries Meet in Tashkent
By Fatima Adib - TOLO News
The first meeting of special representatives of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries been kicked off on…
Afghan Delegation to Visit Pakistan: Defense Minister
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
A delegation from Afghanistan’s government is expected in Pakistan shortly to continue discussions about various topics, including counterterrorism…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
EU Sanctions Two Islamic Emirate Acting Ministers
By Mujeeb Rahman Awrang Stanikzai - TOLO News
The European Council announced on Tuesday it has sanctioned nine individuals and three entities under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, including two…
Afghan student gives befitting reply to Taliban after winning MA gold at Gujarat university
By WION
Slamming the Taliban for imposing conservative rules over women's rights and freedom in Afghanistan, Razia Muradi, an ambitious Afghan woman, proved that women can…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghan Interim Govt Meets Every Condition for Recognition, Says FM Muttaqi
By Nizamuddin Rezahi - Khaama Press
Amir Kham Muttaqi in an interview with BBC said that no single government in the world is not recognized due to the closure of schools or the existing conditions set by the world…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.49 AFN (as of 8 MAR 2023)