Daily Evacuation Brief | May 3, 2023

May 03, 2023

INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN DOHA CONCLUDES – The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, made a few remarks after the conclusion of the meeting in Doha regarding the situation in Afghanistan. Few details of the results of the meeting were presented but a detailed report is expected by the end of the week. Among those key points stressed by the Secretary-General were:
- All 23 representatives of countries who attended the meeting agree that stability is a primary concern in Afghanistan.
- Disengagement is not an option at this time for the United Nations.
- Reiterated the ban on women in the aid delivery process was unacceptable.
- Called on donor states who have pledged assistance to make good on their promises and said the UN has only received about 7% of the promised $4.6 billion dollars requested for Afghanistan.
For its part, the Taliban criticized the meeting and declared that, without representation of the IEA, any decisions made regarding the situation in Afghanistan were invalid. A third meeting of the group is planned in the near future.
RECENT BOOK DRAWS IRE/CRITICISM FROM TALIBAN – “The Return of the Taliban”, by Dr. Hassan Abbas, 2023 has created a stir in international circles since its release. The work contends the leadership of the Taliban is acting under the tutelage of a foreign power. Dr. Abbas is a dual US/Pakistan citizen and teaches at the National Defense University in the United States. He served in the Pakistani government under Prime Minister Bhutto and President Musharraf. A source in the Taliban regime asserted that shortly after the book was released, several copies were brought into Afghanistan on an international flight and taken immediately to Kandahar. Unsurprisingly, the spokesman for the Taliban has pushed back hard against the allegations made in the book and has accused Dr. Abbas of working as an intelligence agent (presumably for the United States).
FORMER TALIBAN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR ‘KNIFE ATTACKS’ ON CRITICS OF REGIME ABROAD – A former spokesperson of the Interior Ministry (Saied Khosti) has used his Twitter account to urge Taliban supporters abroad to kill those who actively criticize the IEA. The tweet that was shared on 2 May specifically called on supporters to: “Kill the fugitives one by one with knives. If anyone preaches against the country, go and kill them. They are very ruthless and terrifying animals.” Khosti is currently without a portfolio in the regime and was heavily criticized for his actions in a forced marriage with Elaha Delawarzai.
SECOND GROUP OF AFGHAN NATIONALS EVACUATED FROM SUDAN – Saudi Arabia successfully evacuated 43 Afghan nationals who had been trapped in Khartoum to Jeddah. The Taliban Foreign Ministry failed to say whether additional Afghans remain stranded in Sudan.

NEXT 24 HOURS

NO NEW THREATS RECEIVED

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

An IRGC spokesman said that an ‘incident’ took place at one of its bases in Semnan Province. The ‘incident’ reputedly occurred near a weapons depot where a transfer of ordinance was taking place. An investigation has begun.
Iran and India have issued a joint declaration calling on the Taliban to form an inclusive government.
An oil tanker that caught fire off the coast of Malaysia has been linked to Iran and is thought to have been used to avoid sanctions. The Pablo is an Aframax class tanker and has gone through several name changes and registrations over the last two years. Some crewmen are reportedly missing.
The regime announced it had made arrests in the assassination of a Chief of Police in Sistan/Baluchistan Province last week. Sources say that 3 men have been arrested.

PAKISTAN

The third meeting between leaders of the PTI party and the government took place yesterday in Parliament House.
Pakistan’s official delegation to King Charles’ coronation ceremony began arriving yesterday in London.
Inflation in the country broke another record and currently stands at 36.42%.

UZBEKISTAN

The much-praised ‘constitutional referendum’ wrapped up on Sunday and observers reported an extremely high turnout. The referendum resulted in a YES vote to adopt the new constitution which has been praised as a model for Central Asia.
Uzbekistan’s new Ambassador in Washington DC, Furkat Sidikov, met with President Biden in Washington DC.
The government is considering a deal to use a Russian pipeline for the import/export of natural gas.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

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