Daily Evacuation Brief | September 22, 2022

Sep 22, 2022

`LAST 24 HOURS`

HOUSE SEARCHES IN MAIDAN WARDAK — According to local sources, the Taliban have been conducting house-to-house searches for several days in Kajab village in Markaz Behsood district in Maidan Wardak province. Multiple residents have been detained and tortured after being accused of supporting Resistance forces and knowing the location of weapons.
MIXED SIGNALS ON GIRLS’ EDUCATION — Reportedly the Taliban have recently been preventing women from attending universities, which was previously officially permitted. Most recently, 1,000 women were barred from 3 technical institutes in Balkh. Confusingly, the Taliban reportedly also recently allowed a private coding school for 350 girls to reopen in Herat.
DOSTUM CALLS FOR RESISTANCE — Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, an Afghan warlord and Uzbek military leader who played a key role in the Northern Alliance, has once again called for nationwide resistance across Afghanistan. He claims he has intelligence that suggests the Taliban plan to resettle 2 million “people without identity” in the Northern and Northeastern provinces of Afghanistan and warned that minority culture would be eradicated under Taliban rule. It is believed that he is referring in part to the forced land redistribution program in Takhar, Badakhshan, and Herat where Pashtun nomads are resettled in locals’ homes. The former marshal went on to claim that mobilization of former military personnel and leaders was underway.
DEFECTION RUMORS — A source in the Ministry of Defense claims that the Minister is investigating reports that 60 Taliban fighters defected to the National Resistance Front in Badakhshan province, taking 15 vehicles and all their military equipment with them. The source stated the Ministry had not confirmed the report, but all communications between the unit and local Taliban leaders in Badakhshan had ceased at midnight.
RESTAURANT BLAST KILLS SEVERAL — A blast was reported at a restaurant in western Kabul, killing 3-7 and injuring 13 more. The explosion took place in the Dehmazang neighborhood. Some early reports suggested a terrorist attack, but later reporting indicates that a propane tank may have exploded in an accident. Details are not yet clear.
EGYPTIAN DIPLOMATS LEAVE KABUL — Egyptian diplomats are pulling out of Afghanistan over a reported rift between the two countries concerning property in Kabul. 8 Egyptian diplomats and staff have left.
RESISTANCE FIGHTERS SURRENDER — An armed Resistance group reputedly surrendered in Northern Samangan province. 5 fighters were witnessed handing over their weapons to the Taliban and signing an oath to never take up arms against the regime in the future. It is not known which Resistance group the men hail from.
BLACK MARKET PASSPORT ARRESTS — Sources indicate that 3 people have been arrested in connection with the black market sale of Afghan passports. It is not clear if those arrested worked for the Passport Directorate or not. A source in the Ministry of the Interior claims a large investigation into the unlawful selling of passports is ongoing and will likely lead to many more arrests.
INTERNET OUTAGES IN IRAN — Several reports have been received that indicate internet services in Iran have been cut because of the nationwide protests currently taking place. At-risk Afghans with family/friends in Iran may experience a loss of communication. We have not verified this information yet.

`NEXT 24 HOURS`

THE RESPONSE TO DOSTUM’S CALL — It is not yet clear if Marshal Dostum’s call will carry much weight with the general populace, but it could provoke military actions across a wider front. Taliban bases, checkpoints, and other security-centric facilities will be obvious candidates as Resistance targets. At-risk Afghans should watch for an increase in military actions and be prepared to shelter in place or flee from areas that may see heavy fighting.

`SPOTLIGHT WOMEN’S HEALTH`

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Afghan Women's Health and Lives on the Brink

By Julie Ray – Gallup

Life was already extremely difficult for Afghan women before the Taliban returned to power in late 2021. Gallup surveys in the years leading up to the takeover showed women were struggling to afford food and shelter, few felt safe, and most saw their lives getting worse with every passing year.

`AFGHAN NEWS`

Poppy Cultivation at 'Zero' Says Counter-Narcotics Official

By Nazir Shinwari – TOLOnews

The Deputy Minister of Counter Narcotics, Abdul Haq Hamkar, said that poppy cultivation has "dropped to zero" in the country. Speaking at a press conference, Abdul Haq Hamkar said that more than 78 acres…