Daily Evacuation Brief | May 6, 2022

May 6, 2022

LAST 24 HOURS:

Afghans still report difficulty withdrawing funds from ATMs in Kabul, even though the Central Bank still says they are working. Rumors have started to circulate that the Bank is failing, although there is no proof of this claim and restrictions on withdrawing funds were relaxed last month. It is not clear what the problem is currently.
A sizable demonstration was held outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul as delays in receiving student visas continued. Students are increasingly concerned that visas either will not be granted or be so delayed that they miss their upcoming semester.
The Governor of Panjsher played down the problems in the province and the recent desecration of the tomb of the former leader of the Northern Alliance by stating the Taliban had arrested several “tourists” who were causing problems. The Taliban have also denounced the desecrations as reckless and unIslamic.
Fighting between Taliban and resistance forces intensified, and sources are claiming a new strategy has been announced that was agreed upon by several of the factions in the resistance. Scant information about the new strategy is available, but the fighting is now being framed as a “campaign of liberation”. Reportedly, opposition forces have agreed to a shift of tactics whereby they will begin capturing towns and districts rather than the “hit-and-run” strategy they have been using in early 2022. A full-length Whispers analysis will be coming out next week fully tracking the territory captured by opposition forces so far.

NEXT 24 HOURS:

Fighting across the North is expected to continue, and the Taliban have planned an offensive to recapture areas they say have been “contested” in Panjshir and Takhar. Taliban soldiers have already arrived in the area and may attack immediately, but some sources claim troops will not be ordered to attack until Saturday.
Resistance leaders have ordered their troops to intensify ambushes along roads while the ground is wet and the Taliban are unable to deploy into formations.

ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT:

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Uzbekistan Seeks to Engage Taliban Without Alienating West

By Navbahor Imamova – VOA

Uzbekistan has emerged as a key interlocutor with the Taliban, engaging with its southern neighbor across a range of issues while insisting that it will not formally recognize the interim government in Afghanistan before the world community.

Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 86.21 AFN (as of 6 MAY 2022)

`AFGHAN NEWS`

Haqqani in Khost Again Calls for Respect of General Amnesty

By TOLO News

He urged the Islamic Emirate forces to treat the citizens of the country…

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Taliban Spokesman says incident at Masoud’s grave not IEA policy, disrespecting dead not allowed

From Twitter

Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that…

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Aid Delivery to Afghans Was Ineffective Under the Taliban, a Report Suggests

By Saqalain Eqbal – Khaama Press

According to the latest report by the Europe Asia Foundation (EAF) titled “Can ‘Softly-Softly’ Address the Afghan Crisis?” (April 2022), the world’s aid is not…

Full EAF report: https://europeasiafoundation.org/insights/can-softly-softly-address-the-afghan-crisis

`REGIONAL NEWS`

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Pakistani PM orders to dispatch emergency relief goods for flood-hit Afghans

By The Daily Times

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan facing the loss of lives due to severe floods and said Pakistan was…