Daily Evacuation Brief | October 4, 2023
NOTE: The Daily Evacuation Brief will be published at 0200hrs UTC (0630hrs Kabul, 2000hrs Washington DC) from this point forward. Our publishing rhythm has not varied much but we have decided this format works best for all concerned. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.
LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN’S DEADLINE FOR EXPULSION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SET – Islamabad has announced an amnesty period for undocumented immigrants to depart Pakistan that will expire on 1 November 2023. Those desiring to leave the country prior to this date will be granted passage to their country of origin and will avoid penalties/fines. After 1 November, the Government intends to embark on a round of mass deportations. Multiple NGOs have already requested Islamabad to rethink this strategy but the regime has not shown any inclination to reverse its policy as of yet.
RECENT HACK OF GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE CONTINUES TO BEAR FRUIT – As promised, additional leaked documents from the reported hack of the Taliban’s intelligence outfit have been shared to select social media platforms. Analysts queried about the authenticity of the documents shared to date have unanimously attributed them to Taliban offices. Those interested in perusing the documents can do so by following the X (formerly Twitter) handle of @TalibLeaks.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RECOMMENDS THAT AFGHAN WOMEN BE INVITED TO FUTURE MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES ABOUT AFGHANISTAN – The leader of the Women’s Rights Division at the international NGO has called on world leaders to include Afghan women in any future conferences or meetings on the future of the country. HRW exhibited a letter signed by 19 international organizations that had been sent to the UN Security Council requesting action be taken to include Afghan women in the upcoming open debate.
TALIBAN CONFIRM THAT 4 AFGHAN NATIONALS WHO WERE DETAINED BY PAKISTANI POLICE HAVE DIED WHILE BEING HELD – The Taliban’s diplomatic post in Islamabad issued a statement yesterday that confirmed at least 4 Afghan citizens had died while being detained after the roundups began fourteen days ago. The Embassy also confirmed that nearly 1,000 Afghans had been detained during this period and alleged that nearly half had legal and rightful documentation allowing them to reside in Pakistan. In follow-up reporting from AMU TV, a source reported that at least 5 bodies of Afghan nationals had been discovered recently and that the circumstances surrounding their deaths were ‘mysterious’.
NEXT 24 HOURS
RUMORED ENTRY DOCUMENT CHANGE AT PAK BORDER – Several sources in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have said that Pakistan intends to stop honoring Tazkeras at the border and will only allow passport holders to pass through all the border crossing locations. It was not clear when the new rules would take effect (if at all).
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The honeymoon period between Saudi Arabia and Iran appears to be faltering as a furor over a Saudi football club refusing to play a match for political reasons has invited criticism from Tehran and threats of lawsuits against the team at the Asian Football Confederation.
An air strike in Syria that killed 6 pro-Iranian militia in Deir Ezzor Province is being attributed to Israel. The airstrikes targeted 3 camps that are known to house Iranian-backed militias.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced that Iran has continued to ignore calls to honor awards of compensation for the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 in 2020. Iran continues to contend the flight was shot down by error rather than through an official order from the government and is therefore only an accident.
PAKISTAN
8 people have been arrested in Eastern Pakistan for their involvement in a suspected ‘organ trafficking ring’. The group reportedly harvested kidneys from patients for wealthy customers who needed a transplant.
Pakistan’s security forces engaged a terror cell in the Tank region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and reportedly killed 8 militants during the operation.
Former PM Khan’s lawyers have raised concerns that their client could be slowly poisoned while he sits in the Adiala Jail (Rawalpindi).
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
The U.N. Human Rights Council and the ICC Can Do More for Afghanistan
By Marzia Marastoni & Mohibullah Taib - Just Security
The United Nations Human Rights Council’s 54th regular session started on Sep. 11 with an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Afghanistan. Richard Bennett, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has strongly condemned the human rights violations by the de facto regime in the country. He emphasized that these violations have severely impacted the rights, opportunities, and dignity of women and girls, calling on the Taliban to reverse their oppressive policies and allow women to work, run businesses, and access education. “Afghans deserve more. This is not the time for reticence, but to take decisive action to support those in need,” he said.
AFGHAN NEWS
Kabul-Jalalabad Highway Reopened After Two Weeks
By Nazir Shinwari - TOLO News
The Kabul-Jalalabad highway was shut down for more than two weeks as major rock slides blocked the highway in the Pul-e-Charkhi area…
World Bank report paints grim picture of Afghanistan’s ‘fragile’ economy
By AMU TV
The World Bank’s country director for Afghanistan, Melinda Good, said that Afghanistan’s economy is “fragile” as it relies on external support amid a…
2 children killed in mine explosion in Afghanistan’s Jowzjan
By ANI
Two children were killed while one sustained injuries in a mine explosion in Afghanistan’s Jowjan province, said local government officials…
REGIONAL NEWS
Pakistan warns of crackdown on undocumented Afghans amid series of terror attacks
By Muhammad Shahid - The National News
Pakistan's interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Tuesday that those responsible for 14 out of 24 suicide bombings that have taken place in…
16 Afghan refugees detained by Turkish police in Amasya
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
According to Turkish media reports on Tuesday, Turkish police detained 16 Afghan refugees secretly transported in…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Afghan resistance leader wants Israel's help in fighting the Taliban
By The Jerusalem Post
"We need help from any party that wants to support us, including Israel," Ahmed Massoud, head of Afganistan's National Resistance…
Advocates implore Congress to remain focused on aiding Afghan allies
By Leo Shane III - Military Times
“There is a big group of us, around 30 women, wanting to join the military but just waiting for years now,” she…
THE DAILY WTF
Afghans even Try to Bribe NGOs after Brazil's Confusing New Policy
By Mayara Paixao & Bruno Santos - Folha De Sao Paulo
The Afghan Refugee Rescue Organization, one of the NGOs that works with Afghans, started receiving messages offering…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 77.20 AFN (as of 4 OCT 2023)