Daily Evacuation Brief | November 21, 2023

Nov 21, 2023

SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN BORDER CROSSING CLOSED BY PROTESTORS – Protestors have blocked the Spin Boldak crossing on the Pakistan side of the border and say they intend to keep the border closed until they reverse the unpopular policy of disallowing Afghans who do not have valid passports from crossing unhindered. The protests reportedly began late on the 19th when locals erected barricades across the roads leading to the gate. Initially, border security forces acted as if they would intervene and disperse the mob but then retreated to their buildings and simply kept an eye on the activities. A partial strike of select industries in Chaman was also announced but it is not clear what services or industries are involved at this point. Leaders of the demonstration say they expect to meet with leaders from Islamabad to force a reversal of the policy. Citizens on both sides of the border say the new policy has decimated their ability to earn a living and are appealing to both Kabul and Islamabad to shape a new policy that reinstates the ‘free travel’ arrangement that has been in place for decades. *NOTE - In yesterday’s issue, we reported on a possible protest but indicated it would take place on the Afghan side of the crossing. We were wrong.
TALIBAN USING PAKISTAN/IRAN/TURKEY DEPORTATION PROGRAMS TO SNARE FORMER AFGHAN MILITARY MEMBERS – Multiple reports have surfaced of former members of the Afghan military being arrested as they go through ‘processing’ at border crossings. A source in Khost said that several lists have been provided to select GDI teams who are stationed at the main border crossings. The GDI agents are using the lists (some with photos that appear to have been stored in the former regime’s archives) to discover those who had fought against them in the Republic. The source said that only men were listed on the documents provided to the team at Torkham. Another source in Kabul said that a supplementary list was being compiled that also included some former police officers. However, this list had yet to be sent to the border crossings and was waiting for a final review by Ministry of the Interior officials. The source in Khost said that those unfortunate individuals who have been discovered crossing at Torkham were placed on a ‘special truck’ and sent to an undisclosed location. The source thought the destination was not far as the truck would often return within about six hours of departing. It is not known how many arrests of former military personnel have been made so far.
PAKISTAN INCREASING SECURITY FOR CHINESE NATIONALS UNDER PRESSURE FROM BEIJING – In a closed meeting last week, Pakistan’s Ministry of the Interior decided to apply protective measures normally reserved only for Chinese nationals working on the all-important Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to other Chinese nationals working in technical and financial sectors. One of the provisions for this new order is that Chinese nationals working in these areas must travel only in bulletproof cars. The new measures come from the recent meeting in Beijing between the leaders of both countries. However, an unnamed source in Pakistan said that recent intercepts indicated that both the TTP and separatists in Balochistan were targeting Chinese nationals as a means of embarassing Islamabad. It is important to note that many of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are located in Balochistan.

NEXT 24 HOURS

NO THREATS REPORTED

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

The well-known rapper, Toomaj Salehi, has been granted bail and released after over a year of imprisonment. The rapper reportedly underwent torture and abuse during his confinement for supporting protestors in last year’s demonstrations.
Flooding was reported in several Provinces across Iran but the Southwest took the brunt of a series of thunderstorms. Many roads remain closed after the spate of storms dropped several centimeters of rain.
An Iranian activist had her passport and electronic devices confiscated immediately after arriving in Tehran from a trip abroad. Parastoo Forouhar said that authorities at Tehran’s airport did not provide a reason for taking her property but did say that it was eventually returned to her.

PAKISTAN

The acting Minister of the Interior, Sarfaz Bugti, told members of the Senate that the elections would be held on 8 February 2024 and that there was no intent to change the dates.
Former Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, warned that Pakistan could experience a round of strikes if voters deemed the upcoming elections to be less than transparent.
A recent research project determined that Pakistan has a significant gender gap when it comes to voter representation. At least 10 million more men than women are registered to vote in the upcoming election.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid holds press conference in Afghanistan. Photo Credit: Fars News Agency

Why The Taliban Struggles For International Legitimacy

By Anwar Iqbal - EurAsia Review

The Taliban’s quest for international legitimacy has encountered formidable challenges, hindering their efforts to gain recognition on the global stage. Human rights issues, marked by restrictions on freedom of speech and strict interpretations of Islamic law, have fueled skepticism about the Taliban’s commitment to fundamental rights.

AFGHAN NEWS

Over 400 people killed in Daesh attacks in two years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

By Milad Sayar - AMU TV

In the two years since the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan, Daesh’s Khorasan branch, ISIS-K, has conducted at least 16 major attacks in…

Situation of children continues to remain grim in Afghanistan

By ANI

In its observance of children’s rights around the world, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted the plight of Afghan…

Online abuse targeting Afghan women increased since Taliban takeover, says report

By Harshit Sabarwal - WION

Online abuse targeting politically active women in Afghanistan has significantly increased since the Taliban took over the…

REGIONAL NEWS

Deportees from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey Called for Halt to Expelling Refugees

By TOLO News

The Afghans who were deported by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey called on host countries to stop expelling the…

Pakistan: Targeted Killings Of Terrorist Facilitators

By Nilesh Kunwar - EurAsia Review

On June 23, 2021, an explosive laden vehicle exploded near the house of Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT] co-founder and 9/11 Mumbai attack mastermind…

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN

'I Had Official Invitation for Trip to Netherlands’: Omar

By TOLO News

“I had an official membership based on an invitation to an official trip to participate in a meeting that was held in the Netherlands, and another issue is how an…