Daily Evacuation Brief | September 27, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS
MASS GRAVE DISCOVERED IN KANDAHAR — The Taliban announced the discovery of a mass grave with at least 16 bodies near Spin Boldak in Kandahar Province. Several purported relatives of the victims claim that they were killed by the previous regime’s security forces. Local leaders have called on the Taliban and the international community for an impartial investigation.
TALIBAN ACCUSED OF EXPORTING TERRORISM — The National Resistance Front (NRF) released a story claiming that the Taliban were preparing to send 16 senior leaders of various militant groups across the borders to Central Asian countries. Some of the leaders are al-Qaeda affiliates, while others are ethnically tied to Uzbek, Tajik, and Uyghur militant groups that are already established in several neighboring countries. The claims come after several nations in the region expressed concerns at the UN General Assembly about the potential of “exported terrorism”. There is no hard evidence of the NRF’s claim, and it is possible that the NRF are taking advantage of these concerns to drum up anti-Taliban sentiment for their cause.
NO BEARD, NO PUBLIC SERVICE EXAM IN PAKTIKA — Taliban proctors turned away beardless candidates who were attempting to take exams for positions in the directorate of public health, effectively barring candidates without beards from public service.
THE DOSTUM EFFECT — After Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum called for outright civil war in Afghanistan last week, several GDI (Taliban Intelligence Agency) agents were seen interviewing some of Dostum’s past associates and colleagues in Herat. Some may be under arrest, but it is not currently known how many have been arrested and on what charges. At-risk Afghans who had relations with the Marshal should take precautions.
TALIBAN PREPARE FOR PANJSHIR OFFENSIVE — The Taliban are reportedly staging an offensive in Panjshir’s Paryan district with several hundred fighters and approximately 70 vehicles. Sources indicate that their targets are two NRF positions in the district. In potentially related reporting, over one hundred vehicles were seen being taken out of Bagram Air Base on Monday evening under heavy Taliban escort. Their destination is not known, but it seems likely that they are being sent to the North to take part in offensive operations. We assess this reporting as accurate, and violence may be imminent.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TAJIK GOV’T SECURES BORDER — Tajik border forces are expected to continue reinforcing their checkpoints along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. Small convoys were seen arriving at three border crossings on Saturday, but larger convoys are staging at two Tajik military bases in order to transport more troops and weapons to the border. Observers believe the moves are a direct response to the Tajik Minister of Foreign Affairs’ recent provocative statements at the United Nations. No unusual activity has been observed at Taliban border crossing facilities at this time.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
I Watched the Afghan Government Collapse Under the Weight of Its Own Greed
By Elyas Nawandish - The Intercept
On a normal morning, Asadullah Akbari, a colonel in the Afghan National Army, would arrive at his office in Kabul to coordinate online meetings between Afghan officials and their U.S. advisers based in Qatar. After years of fighting across Afghanistan, Akbari had helped set up his country’s special forces training program and risen through the ranks. He now worked near the highest levels of the military, side by side with Afghanistan’s political leaders. Morning teleconferences with Western partners were part of his daily routine.
AFGHAN NEWS
Mass grave found in Kandahar; UN calls for investigation
By Ariana News
Kandahar officials have reported the discovery of a mass grave in the province’s Spin Boldak…
Afghanistan Ready to Initiate TAPI Project: Baradar
By Amina Hakimi – TOLOnews
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that a technical team will travel to Turkmenistan to discuss the TAPI project with the country’s officials…
REGIONAL NEWS
China’s Failure to Invest in Afghanistan is Frustrating the Taliban
By Eltaf Najafizada – Bloomberg
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of war opened up an opportunity for China to expand its influence and lock down access to the country’s…
Pak PM Slammed For UN Speech Which Omitted Terror Groups In His Country
By NDTV
Former Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar has slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after he raised concern about the terror threat from Afghanistan in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, but failed to…
Iran Continues to Protest Despite Judiciary Warning
By Arif Ahmadi - Khaama Press
Despite a warning from the judiciary, the Iranians have taken to the streets for a 10th consecutive night to protest…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
UN speeches end with silence from Myanmar, Afghanistan
By Reuters
For the second straight year, Afghanistan and Myanmar were silent at the U.N. General Assembly’s leaders’ meeting, which ended Monday with no representative…
WFP: Vessel Filled With Wheat for Afghanistan Departed From Ukraine
By Amina Hakimi - TOLO News
The World Food Organization (WFP) said that its chartered vessel BC Vanessa has departed from Odessa's seaport loaded…
Experts discuss terrorism, effects on human rights in South Asia at UNHRC
By ANI
Experts and human rights activists discussed the proliferation of terrorist organizations in the region of South Asia during…
THE DAILY WTF
Hundreds of weapons collected as Afghans voluntarily hand in arms
By Xinhua
The Afghan security forces have collected hundreds of pieces of weapons as locals willingly handed over their arms and ammunition to local authorities in…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.12 AFN (as of 27 SEP 2022)