Daily Evacuation Brief | November 20, 2022

Nov 20, 2022

ANOTHER BORDER SKIRMISH ON AFGHAN/PAKISTAN BORDER – Taliban and Pakistan border security forces traded fire in Paktia Province on Saturday. The incident occurred as Afghan citizens and Taliban reportedly climbed fences along the Durand Line (Dandpatan District) with wire cutters and attempted to dismantle the barriers. There are conflicting reports over which side began firing first and there has been no word on casualties that either side may have sustained. Both sides reported that an Afghan vehicle was hit by Pakistani rifle fire. The engagement lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Yesterday’s clash is said to be the second over the last four days. No further information was available.
PUBLIC FLOGGINGS IN TAKHAR – 19 men and women were handed down sentences of flogging by courts in Taliqan and the sentences were carried out in the city center. The judgments primarily punished those accused of committing adultery.
AFGHANISTAN REMOVED FROM MEDIA FREEDOM LIST – The Media Freedom Coalition, an international organization that promotes freedom of the press around the world has announced that it revoked Afghanistan’s membership. The organization cited a prohibitive environment, state-sponsored arrests of journalists, and the forced closure of multiple media outlets that did not subscribe to the Taliban’s vision for the future.
ISIS-K CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLERIC’S ASSASSINATION – ISIS-K released a message on several of its social media outlets claiming credit for the recent assassination of religious leader Qari Najibullah Azizi and 2 of his followers.

NEXT 24 HOURS

TENSIONS REMAIN ALONG THE DURAND LINE BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND TALIBAN – While a joint committee has been established between the two countries to probe the impetus for the deadly clashes at Spin Bodak-Chaman Gate, tensions remain elevated along the Durand Line. The latest clash in the Dandpatan District illustrated the long-standing outrage over the erection of the fence. Local sources say rumors about Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees and women, in particular, have enraged inhabitants along the border. Future isolated clashes such as yesterday’s are likely to continue.
CENTRAL BANK AUCTION – The DAB announced it would auction another $15 million dollars on Sunday.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

In a troubling sign that things could take a turn for the worse, the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, announced the regime would ‘finish’ the protests. Protestors have been chanting slogans calling for Khamenei’s death for several weeks now.
More deaths were reported in Western Iran as clashes between security forces and protestors seem to be increasing.

PAKISTAN

A landmine detonated and killed 2 TTP fighters and a Pakistani border guard in South Waziristan. The TTP militants were attempting to surrender when the blast occurred.
Ousted PM, Imran Khan, has called on his followers to gather in Islamabad on 26 November to stage their protest against the current regime.

TAJIKISTAN

Leaders of both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have announced intentions to solve the border dispute that has continued to spur violence by the end of 2022.

SPOTLIGHT - VICTIMS

Afghan Who Lost Her Eye In Bombing Wishes Female Students Could Study What They Want

By Neil Bowdler - RFE

Fatima Amiri lost an eye in a suicide attack on a private college in Kabul on September 30. Just two weeks later, she passed her university entrance exams and plans to study computer science. The Taliban has barred female students from choosing many other university courses, including journalism, economics, engineering, and many social and natural sciences.

AFGHAN NEWS

Computer Science Student Killed and Set on Fire in Afghan Capital

By Saqalain Eqbal - Khaama Press

The victim, Soroush Mohammadi, a computer science student, went missing four days prior to the discovery of his burned remains, according to…

Bid to smuggle arms, ammunition to Iran foiled in Nimroz

By Shema Sediqi - Pajhwok Afghan News

An attempt to smuggle weapons and military equipment to neighboring Iran has been foiled in northwestern Nimroz province…

Female Entrepreneurs in Poor Economy Forced to Lay Off Women Workers

By Bibi Amina Amina Hakimi - TOLO News

Female entrepreneurs in such industries as have raised concerns that there are no markets for their products and they…

REGIONAL NEWS

Pakistan: World Running Out of Patience with Afghan Taliban

By Ayaz Gul - VOA

Pakistan said Friday it would not formally recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government without global consensus and warned the world's patience with the…

First Afghan made ‘Sport Car’ to be displayed at Qatar Exhibition 2023

By The Kabul Times

Mohammed Reza Ahmadi, the CEO of Entop auto studio in Afghanistan has designed and produced the first Afghanistan-made sport car for the Technical Vocational…