Daily Evacuation Brief | November 22, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
2 DEAD IN AN EXPLOSION REPORTED IN POLICE DISTRICT 4 – A blast was reported yesterday evening (approximately 2050 hrs local) in the Parwan 3 neighborhood of Kabul. Taliban police responded to the scene but no information was provided about what may have caused it. A police spokesman said 2 people had been killed when a Corolla-type vehicle blew up. The identities of those killed were not released and no further information was available.
LARGE EXPLOSION REPORTED IN TAKHAR – Local eyewitnesses reported a massive explosion had been observed in the capital city of Taloqan. No information about where the blast occurred and whether it was planned or accidental has yet been released. No further information was available.
CASUALTIES REPORTED FROM MOST RECENT AFGHAN/PAKI BORDER CLASH – Previous reporting indicated a clash had taken place along the Durand Line. Pakistan has now reported 7 people were wounded in Kurram District as a result of gunfire. Among those wounded, 3 were reportedly members of the Pakistani Army, 2 were non-combatant adults, 2 were children, and livestock had been killed. An official statement from the Government of Pakistan claimed that civilian residential areas had been targeted by the Taliban and alluded to reports of ‘shelling’ which may indicate mortars or artillery may have been used in addition to small arms. Talks between local leaders from both sides of the border were underway. Pakistan reported the impetus for the fighting was an illegal incursion into Pakistan by Afghans and the Taliban who claimed to be building a road. As of this morning, the Taliban had moved the heavy machinery used to construct the road back to the same location which saw the commencement of hostilities. While the border crossing at Spin Boldak-Chaman was reopened, the border area along the Durand Line may see further violence.
TALIBAN CAPTURE 12 NRF MEMBERS IN KAPISA – The Ministry of the Interior released a statement that it had captured 12 members of the Resistance Front, including 3 key leaders on Sunday. In addition, they released video footage of confessions and the men looked to have sustained several visible injuries. Local residents told a news outlet that 10 of those captured had nothing to do with the NRF and they were not affiliated with any group. At this point, it is not clear who the Taliban arrested. The detentions come after earlier arrests in the Province netted an additional 11 people who were charged with assisting the NRF. The NRF has not yet confirmed the reports.
SPIN BOLDAK-CHAMAN BORDER CROSSING REOPENS – As promised, the border crossing reopened to all traffic on Monday. Several photos alleged to depict the Taliban handing over a man to Pakistani authorities were circulated on social media late on Sunday night. Additional security forces have been observed on both sides of the border but traffic was passing through normally on Monday.
RUMORS OF A TTP BREAK WITH AFGHANISTAN’S TALIBAN – Multiple sources have claimed that trouble is brewing between the TTP and Kabul. Some in the TTP are inclined to believe that Kabul is assisting Pakistan to disrupt the TTP and believe the mysterious killings of 2 TTP leaders in Afghanistan are evidence of collusion. While the rumors have not been confirmed, there was ample evidence the TTP were dissatisfied with negotiations between Kabul and Islamabad earlier in the year and felt their concerns had not been addressed. A schism between the two could complicate Afghan/Pakistan relations and cause chaos along the border.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SECURITY OPERATIONS LIKELY IN KABUL AND TAKHAR – While the causes of the two blasts reported yesterday are unclear, rumors that ISIS-K had been planning retaliatory strikes against the Taliban have been circulating since the ‘clearing operations’ in Kabul and Herat earlier this month resulted in the deaths and arrests of several ISIS-K militants. It is possible the Taliban may conduct additional clearing operations in both locations and at-risk Afghans should expect heightened security checkpoint protocols in the meantime.
THE SWISS-BASED GROUP IN CHARGE OF MANAGING AFGHANISTAN’S FROZEN ASSETS MEETS FOR FIRST TIME IN GENEVA – An announcement about how the first tranche of Afghanistan’s frozen funds will be used is expected in the next twenty-four hours. Insiders say the initial funds are likely to be used to stabilize the national currency. Whatever the announcement entails, it will likely draw criticism from China, Russia, and other Central Asian actors who have consistently labeled the economic tactic as illegal.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iran proposed setting up a joint intelligence committee focused on combatting terrorism in the wake of the Moscow summit. A source in the Palace said senior Taliban members laughed at the recommendation and said something to the effect of “Their house is burning down.”, “How can they help us?”.
In another dire warning, the Supreme Leader’s primary advisor announced that the national protests would come to an end soon.
The members of the Iranian National Soccer team declined to sing their national anthem before their match with England. Many have suggested the move was to show solidarity with Iran’s protestors.
PAKISTAN
Bizarre accusations that London was the place where the assassination plot to kill ousted PM Khan was initiated were announced by a man claiming to represent the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N - current ruling party). The PML-N denounced the man and said he has nothing to do with their party.
Probes of family members of the outgoing Chief of Defense, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, allege blatant corruption and fraud allowed the family to amass billions during his tenure. Investigations are expected once he retires.
UZBEKISTAN
Afghanistan’s national power company says that Uzbekistan has reduced electricity exports from 430 to 200 megawatts due to an undisclosed technical issue. The reduction is expected to cause ‘brown-outs’ and/or power cuts in select areas of Afghanistan.
A summit of terrorism experts from Mongolia and several Central Asian states concluded in Tashkent. The goal of the summit was to explicitly plan for increased terrorism in the region and to identify likely targets. Although Afghanistan was not specifically mentioned, most observers attribute the increased emphasis on terrorism as a result of the Taliban takeover of the country.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Ground Zero: The Evacuation of the CIA’s Afghan Proxies Has Opened One of the War’s Blackest Boxes
By Fahim Abed - The Intercept
On a rainy Saturday morning in May, Hayanuddin Afghan, a former member of a CIA-backed militia that was once his country’s most brutal and effective anti-Taliban force, welcomed me to his new home in a hilly neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghans will ‘struggle for their lives’ this winter, Red Cross says
By The Morning Star
MORE Afghans will be struggling for survival as living conditions deteriorate in the year ahead, a top official of the International…
As an Afghan Shia father, I fear for my children
By Hujjatullah Zia - Al Jazeera
Sectarian violence in Afghanistan is showing no sign of abating but our spirit has not been…
Govt must bring about immediate reforms: Analysts
By Abdul Raqeeb Sail - Pajhwok Afghan News
Some analysts say it is essential that the caretaker government brings about fundamental reforms with immediate effect and say a…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan reopens border crossing with Afghanistan after shooting
By Abid Hussain - Al Jazeera
Pakistan has reopened a key border crossing with neighbouring Afghanistan a week after an Afghan gunman killed a Pakistani security…
Potzel to discuss region’s cooperation with Afghanistan during Dushanbe visit
By Ariana News
In a tweet on Sunday, UNAMA said the deputy head had arrived in Dushanbe for meetings with officials from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan where he…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
U.S employers urge Congress to pass Afghan Adjustment Act before December
By Khaama Press
A number of large employers including Door Dash, Uber, Airbnb, The U.S Chamber of Commerce and several other organizations called on the Congress to pass Afghan Adjustment Act before…
Once the pride of Canada’s Afghanistan mission, Kandahar’s Sarpoza prison has vastly deteriorated
By Emerald Bensadoun - The Globe and Mail
The reconstruction of the prison, used to hold Taliban insurgents until the collapse of the Afghan government last August, was seen as a model example of…
THE DAILY WTF
IEA Stand Against Any Partiality, Discriminations: Kabir
By Bakhtar News Agency
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, in a meeting with a number of Shia elders and Hazara community said…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.80 AFN (as of 22 NOV 2022)