Daily Evacuation Brief | May 22, 2023

May 22, 2023

DEADLY ATTACK ALONG IRANIAN-PAKISTAN BORDER IN SISTAN-BALUCHISTAN – 6 Iranian border guards were killed in the clashes with a hitherto unknown terror group calling itself the Army of Justice on Sunday. It is thought the Army of Justice is a Sunni organization and is focused on fighting for the minority Sunni population in Iran. The militants had attempted to cross the border into Iran from Pakistan but details about the clash were limited. Iranian officials released a statement on the attack and said the regime believed the group had attempted to cause a border crisis between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan condemned the attacks and swore to investigate the incident while Iran chastised its neighbor and called on Pakistan to do more in the fight against terrorism. It is not known if the Army of Justice terrorists sustained any casualties in the clash.
HELICOPTER CRASH IN SAMANGAN PROVINCE KILLS 2 – A light helicopter crashed in the Khulm District along the borders of Samangan and Balkh Provinces, killing the 2 pilots on Sunday. The helicopter was reported to be an MD-530 and had been flying a routine patrol out of Mazar-i-Sharif. After the crash, many rumors began appearing on social media that the crash had occurred as a result of Resistance ground fire, poor maintenance, and even as an act of sabotage against the Taliban. The official cause given by the Taliban was the crash was a result of a collision with power lines in the area.
HOUSE SEARCHES IN DAIKUNDI, POSSIBLE NON-COMBATANT EXECUTIONS REPORTED – Several online media reports suggest that 3 Hazara non-combatants were executed in the Kian village of the Khidr District on Sunday. House-to-house searches were underway on Sunday night and continued well into the early hours of Monday morning. A source in Kabul said that an arms cache had been reported last week but was said to have been in another District. The reason for the killings has not been revealed and this information has yet to be confirmed.
TALIBAN DISTRICT GOVERNOR IN PAKTIA RESIGNS – Abdul Hamid Khorasani, a former Taliban Commander and Governor of the Ahmadaba District in Paktia has reportedly resigned his position in protest to the Taliban’s policies regarding ethnic representation in the government ranks. The former Governor is reputedly Tajik and came from Panjshir. This information has yet to be confirmed.

NEXT 24 HOURS

TALIBAN SENDING ADDITIONAL FORCES TO DAIKUNDI – Approximately 30 trucks were dispatched to reinforce units in Daikundi Province. One column was coming from Kabul and the other was said to have been sent from Kandahar. Their objective is not immediately known, but it is possible that the rumored execution of Hazara non-combatants on Sunday may be valid and a security operation will be undertaken. At-risk Afghans in the area should expect to see additional house-to-house searches in the Khidr District.
PAKISTAN – With the former Prime Minister set to appear in front of the NAB on Tuesday, where he says he faces another arrest, we recommend that at-risk Afghans sheltering in the country use Monday to stock up on food and supplies in the event protests break out on Tuesday afternoon.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

2 men accused of participating in the attack on the Shiraz Shrine are scheduled to be executed this week. Several protests were reported across the globe as many condemn the regime’s death penalty practices.
Tehran experienced the second night of protests after the executions of 3 convicted protestors. Youth groups appear to have made up the majority of the protestors which occurred in nearly every central neighborhood across the capital.
A source in Iran says that a military buildup is taking place along the border with Iraq in preparation for combat operations against Kurdish militias. Drone flights have stepped up over the past week.

PAKISTAN

A recent poll of consumers in Pakistan shows that fewer than 20% of inhabitants believe the economy is strong and heading in the right direction.
Former PM Khan has hinted that he will face another arrest on Tuesday when he appears before the NAB for a corruption case. He has also attempted to walk back criticism of the Army after significant pro-Army sentiment has been expressed across the country.
A counter-terrorism operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province resulted in the death of 3 terrorists (presumably, TTP militia) and 2 Pakistani Army soldiers.

SPOTLIGHT ACTIVISM

Jennifer Lawrence Produced ‘Bread and Roses’ After Feeling ‘Helpless and Frustrated’ for Suppressed Afghan Women

By Matt Donnelly - Variety

Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and her producing partner Justine Ciarrocchi touched down at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday to promote their label’s first ever documentary feature, “Bread and Roses” — a harrowing and emotional look at the lives of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

AFGHAN NEWS

Two pilots killed in Afghanistan military helicopter crash

By Al Aribya

Two pilots were killed Sunday when a US-made military helicopter crashed in the north of Afghanistan, the country’s…

Afghanistan Will Reach Self-Sufficiency in Education: Shikib

By Ahmad Yousufkhil - TOLO News

The acting head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Pakistan, Sardar Mohammad Shikib, said that the interim government was fully prepared to…

Paktia youth develops online business system

By Sahel Mangal - Pajhwok Afghan News

An engineer in southeastern Paktia province has created a system for online business, which he activated yesterday during a ceremony in…

REGIONAL NEWS

Afghan, Iran Officials Discuss Border Issues: MoD

By Mitra Majeedy - TOLO News

A senior delegation from Iran, led by the head of the Planning and Operations Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, Bahram…

Iran's House Speaker Says Water Treaty Should 'Remain Undamaged'

By Asma Saayin - TOLO News

Iran’s parliament house speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the historic Helmand water treaty agreement should "remain undamaged” and…

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

Haqqani calls for Afghanistan’s seat at the UN to be given to the IEA

By Ariana News

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) minister of interior, met with the head of UNAMA on Sunday and called on the United Nations to…