Daily Evacuation Brief | October 23, 2023
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LAST 24 HOURS
POSSIBLE DELAYS FOR PASSPORTS – The Taliban are reportedly considering another change at the top of the Passport Directorate which is expected to seriously delay processing for citizens. Reports that many of the District offices have ceased operations have arrived from across the country. Afghans have continued to complain about the Directorate's slow pace, and many do not believe the ‘official count’ of passports that have been given to the press over the course of 2022-23. Many have been waiting for over two years for their documents to be released. The office is said to be rife with corruption as many people either offer to pay bribes to speed up the process or use ‘brokers’ who take money and pay bribes on their behalf. Some rumors have circulated that the latest disruption could be caused by an order to process passports for those Taliban who have volunteered to fight with Hamas. However, nothing has been confirmed at this point in time.
TALIBAN MINISTER SAYS AL-QAEDA IS NOT A TERRORIST GROUP – The Minister for Energy and Water, Abdul Latif Mansoor spoke at a public gathering in Kunduz on Saturday. During his address, he made several comments about al-Qaeda and other unnamed terrorist organizations that appeared to express gratitude for supporting the Taliban during the country's occupation. His comments will likely rankle other Taliban leaders who crave recognition of the regime and want a seat at the international table.
CAMERA INSTALLATION PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE – Work on a nationwide camera surveillance system has continued in late 2023. Officials in Khost Province announced it would begin its second phase of the deployment by setting up systems to monitor critical security and administrative infrastructure. Other Provinces have reported similar progress.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The Iranian Foreign Minister wrote to the Vatican on Sunday to protest the Israeli strikes in Gaza.
2 women reporters who covered the death of Mahsa Amini last year were sentenced to up to 7 years in prison yesterday. The 2 reporters have twenty days to appeal the sentencing.
The teenage girl who was put into a coma after an alleged encounter with Iran’s Morality Police has been declared ‘brain dead’. There has been controversy surrounding her case after her parents disputed the claim that she had been injured in a confrontation.
PAKISTAN
A tropical cyclone that had been building in the Arabian Sea has turned into a cyclone but is expected to change course and bypass Pakistan.
Those wishing to vote in the upcoming elections must register by 25 October. The country’s election authority said it will need time to consolidate and verify previous voting registration lists.
Military trials for those civilians who were accused of attacking military installations during the May 9 riots have already begun. The news was relayed to the Supreme Court yesterday and startled the Justices who were expected to hear petitions that challenge the procedures soon.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
China Envisions A New World Order Via BRI
By Harsh V. Pant - ORF
Reaffirming his nation’s commitment to continue pouring billions of dollars into the economies of developing countries as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – the “project of the century” – enters its second decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined earlier this week at the BRI forum that “China can only do well when the world is doing well… When China does well, the world will get even better.” More significantly, and perhaps expectedly, he took aim at the West when he suggested that “we stand against unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, decoupling, and supply chain disruption.”
AFGHAN NEWS
Families in Herat still struggle in makeshift tents two weeks after earthquake
By AMU TV
Two weeks after a devastating earthquake rocked Herat, numerous families are enduring harsh living conditions in makeshift tents at a camp on the outskirts of…
Facing Winter, Retirees Despair Over Unpaid Pensions
By TOLO News
Payenda is one of these retirees, who has worked at the Ministry of Economy for many years, and she is not satisfied with her life’s bad…
Restricted Rights Put Afghan Women, Girls in 'Deadly Situation' During Quakes
By VOA
Women and girls are in a “not only difficult ... but deadly” situation following recent earthquakes in Afghanistan because of the humanitarian and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Refugee-Focused Attachés in Iran, Pakistan: Ministry
By TOLO News
The deputy minister of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), Abdul Rahman Rashid, said that attachés focused on refugee issues are active in…
Pakistani Rupees Still Used for Business in Khost: Residents
By Sardar Shafaq - TOLO News
Khost residents say that land, cars, produce and other goods are still being bought with Pakistani…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
EU concerned Pakistan’s decision to expel refugees will put women ‘at risk’
By AMU TV
The spokesperson for the European Union’s External Affairs, Peter Stano, expressed his concern over Pakistan’s decision, saying that it will particularly affect women and…
UK's FCDO Advises Against All Travel to Afghanistan
By TOLO News
FCDO said in a statement that travel to Afghanistan is dangerous due to security threats and the possibility of more attacks on religious sites and…
THE DAILY WTF
American freed in Iran deal warns hostage taking "won't end with us"
By CBS News
An American dad who'd been imprisoned on what he calls "ludicrous" charges in Iran before a prisoner swap deal brought him home wants to move on from that chapter in his life, but not without…
“Yep.” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 75.37 AFN (as of 23 OCT 2023)