Daily Evacuation Brief | October 29, 2022
LAST 24 HOURS
TARGETED KILLINGS OF TTP LEADERS REPORTED IN AFGHANISTAN – A foreign source with knowledge of the situation reported that 2 senior Commanders of Tehreek-e-Taliban had recently been assassinated in Kandahar and Nangarhar Provinces respectively. In both incidents, the gunmen responsible for the killings were unidentified. Pro-Taliban social media sites have claimed it is the work of ISIS-K, but no proof was provided. No further information was available.
HAQQANI / BARADAR RIFT WIDENS – As more information becomes known about the suicide bombing of the Al-Fatah Mosque (Ministry of the Interior) on 5 October, the evidence is beginning to point to a targeted assassination attempt of Sirajuddin Haqqani. Several local outlets have continued to report that the Minister had left the Mosque minutes before the explosion. While most have attributed the attack to ISIS-K, some analysts are speculating it may have a more inter-factional dimension than previously thought. While we have yet to fully analyze the recent appointments made across the Taliban regime, a cursory examination suggests that most of the appointees are thought to be loyal to the Kandarhari/Baradar faction of the Taliban.
PAKISTAN’S FORMER PM AND HIS LONG MARCH – Former Prime Minister Imran Khan led a large number of his supporters from Lahore to Islamabad to demand early elections be held. While the protest is being couched as a peaceful one, the memory of the violence that broke out during a similar march in May seems to have provoked the sitting Government to take serious security precautions. The number of visible police along the route of the march and in Islamabad is said to be nearly double that of what was employed in May. Khan has promised to avoid areas where supporters could clash with police but with the sheer numbers involved and heightened tensions, it could easily get out of hand. At-risk Afghans sheltering in Pakistan are advised to remain off the streets and far away from any potential flashpoints between police and demonstrators. In addition, some at-risk Afghans and evacuation groups have reported major disruptions to cellular communications and internet access. The duration of the protests is currently not known but it is likely that many protesters will remain in Islamabad over the coming days.
POSSIBLE MOSQUE BOMBING IN KABUL – Early reporting indicated a blast had taken place at the Sheikh Mohammad Rouhani Mosque (5th Police District) on Friday afternoon. The Taliban seemed to confirm the news but did not provide details on the numbers killed or injured. Unconfirmed accounts of the explosion say that between 7 and 10 worshippers had been injured. No group had immediately taken credit for the attack and no additional details were available.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN SITUATION – Using May’s event as a guide, it seems clear that some of Khan’s supporters will likely stay in Islamabad to continue protests over the next several days. While there was not much residual violence from the previous march, things could be different this time and at-risk Afghans are encouraged to maintain situational awareness before venturing out and/or exposing themselves.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
By Ali Imran Atta - The Daily Times
Post Unites States withdrawal on August 30, 2021, Kabul may have signed a few traditional and economic pacts with its neighbours but has not yet won international legitimacy. Despite the international community’s perpetual refusal to recognize them, the Taliban’s top leadership continues to demand legitimacy on its terms, both domestically and internationally.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghanistan army reaches strength of 150,000 members: MoD
By Ariana News
Afghanistan’s army has reached a strength of 150,000 members, and the number is expected to increase in future, Latifullah Hakimi, Inspector General of…
Balkh Residents Complain of Increased Kidnapping, Murder
By TOLO News
The increase in cases of kidnapping and murder, especially of doctors, is causing alarm among residents…
Taliban approves conservation work on historic Afghan synagogue, mikveh
By Jackie Hajdenberg - The Times of Israel
Though the Jews of Herat in western Afghanistan haven’t lived there in decades, the city’s historic synagogue, thought to have been built…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan ex-PM Khan and supporters set off on march to Islamabad
By Al Jazeera
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and thousands of his supporters have started a march to the capital to…
Afghanistan: Taliban uses Hamas meeting to send a message to the Muslim world
By Ali M Latifa - Middle East Eye
Earlier this week, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted out a picture of him meeting with Hamas leaders in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Foreign journalists feel the pinch as Taliban tighten grip on Afghanistan
By RFI
Foreign journalists, who until now were tolerated by the regime, say it’s getting harder to report…
Afghanistan Discussed at Central Asia-EU Meeting
By Imran Danish - TOLO News
The participants of the first regional Central Asia-European Union (EU) high-level meeting expressed their common concerns over…
THE DAILY WTF
Putin’s Next Desperate Ukraine Move: Get Afghan Commandoes
By Jack Buckby - 1945
The Wagner Group is a private paramilitary organization from Russia that provides mercenaries to support Russian military…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 87.22 AFN (as of 29 OCT 2022)