Daily Evacuation Brief | October 15, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
ARRESTS OF PANJSHIRIS IN KABUL – Residents of the Khair Khana, Shahr-e-Naw, and Sarai Shamali neighborhoods in Kabul have reported several arrests being made over the last twenty-four hours. The arrests appear to have been targeted as select houses, guest houses, and apartments were visited by Taliban security forces. The bulk of the arrests targeted people from Panjshir. Current reports indicate that upwards of 100 people have been detained. There is no information regarding the charges made against those who were arrested and their whereabouts are currently unknown. Additional arrests (50) have been reported in the Abshar District of Panjshir and are attributed to retaliation for the killing of 2 Taliban security personnel in the District. Violence against non-combatants has been reported in Panjshir as well but the details are currently not known.. At-risk Afghans in the targeted neighborhoods of Kabul are reminded to avoid wearing traditional clothing from Panjshir in the meantime.
ARRESTS OF HAZARAS IN KABUL – Hazara communities have also been targeted by the Taliban for arrest over the previous twenty-four hours. Local reports say that more than 80 youths have been detained for using Twitter. It is not clear if those reputedly under arrest were targeted specifically or if they were arrested after random phone searches at Taliban checkpoints. The whereabouts of those reportedly under arrest are currently unknown.
AFGHAN WOMAN KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES IN IRAN – A young Afghan woman identified as Setara Tajik was reportedly killed by Iranian security forces in Tehran. Reporting out of Iran did not provide details surrounding the incident but had obtained a copy of the death certificate which attributed the cause of death to multiple blows to the head. The Taliban have not commented on the death.
RUMORS SWIRL ABOUT TOLO NEWS CHIEF – Khlvak Safi, the head of the popular news site, TOLO News is rumored to have left the country. While we have not verified the information there has been growing unease among journalists and news staff over the current information law that is being considered by the Taliban. Mr. Safi has faced criticism over the past year for being seen as supportive of the Taliban regime. However, those close to him have continually pushed back on these claims and have stated in his defense that there was simply no other way to continue operations.
RESISTANCE ATTACKS ON TALIBAN IN KABUL – Reports arrived just before our publication deadline of an attack carried out against a Taliban convoy North of Kabul. The Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the alleged attacks and stated they killed 5 Taliban security personnel. We will update the Conflict Tracker tomorrow if the information is confirmed.
NEXT 24 HOURS
POTENTIAL FOR MORE ARRESTS OF PANJSHIRIS AND HAZARAS – While the exact reason for the spate of recent arrests in Kabul and Panjshir is unknown, it seems clear the Taliban have launched a sizable security operation and at-risk Afghans should expect to see more arrests and search operations in Kabul. Previous reporting had indicated the Taliban was vigorously scrutinizing social media platforms for potential information about dissidents who have made anti-Taliban remarks. While we do not know if this information is being used to target individuals, we continue to urge at-risk Afghans to sanitize their social media accounts during this period of heightened insecurity.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Fall of Kabul: Inconvenient Truths for NATO
By Rachel Ellehuus - CSIS
Since 2001, the United States and its NATO allies and partners had been heavily committed in Afghanistan, where more than 3,500 of their soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is therefore not surprising that the rapid fall of Kabul sent shockwaves across Europe and stirred an intense debate among European leaders about its implications for the transatlantic partnership.
AFGHAN NEWS
Taliban Ban Foreign Journalists on Misreporting Charge
By Akmal Dawi - VOA
After imposing a series of restrictions on Afghan journalists, including mandatory face masks for…
Laws against Sharia to be abolished: IEA supreme leader
By Ariana News
In a voice message published recently, the supreme leader of the IEA has emphasized that all regulations and rules that…
As aid support drops off, Afghan allies suffer
By Beth Bailey - Washington Examiner
According to a famine warning group , Afghanistan will reach crisis levels of acute food insecurity between October and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Stanikzai calls on Pakistan envoy to ‘restore relations’
By Ariana News
Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai told Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to Afghanistan Asad Abbas on Thursday that…
Pakistan busy fighting political battles as Durand line remains gripped by militancy
By ANI
While militancy and violence are on the rise along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the federal government in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US reaffirms over-the-horizon counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan
By Javed Ahmad - Pajhwok Afghan News
US has pledged to maintain the fight against al-Qa’ida, ISIS also known Daesh, and associated forces from…
Afghanistan: German diplomat describes flawed withdrawal plan
By Deutsche Welle
Gregory Bledjian, a former Foreign Ministry envoy in Kabul, told a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday, that the chaos could have been…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban blocks women from college entrance exams in subjects deemed "too difficult"
By Ahmad Mukhtar - CBS News
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have blocked young women from taking college entrance exams for a wide range of subjects, with…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.98 AFN (as of 15 OCT 2022)