Daily Evacuation Brief | September 11, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
MULTIPLE BOMBINGS IN KABUL — Several bombings have been reported in primarily Hazara areas of western Kabul. One of the confirmed attacks was carried out against a mini-bus that was transporting civilians near the Bahar-e-Sarab Market. Two additional explosions have been reported in the Dasht-i-Barchi areas of Kabul, but the targets are not currently known. Based on eyewitness accounts, there are many casualties, and medical services are swarming the area. The explosions occurred in the early evening and seemed to be synchronized. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
GIRLS’ SCHOOLS FORCED SHUT IN PAKTIA — The Taliban forced the closure of the five girls’ schools that had briefly opened in Paktia. Approximately 15 girls are thought to have been arrested while participating in protests against the action. Sources within the Ministry of Defense are concerned the Paktia provincial leadership will reopen the schools in the coming week as an act of defiance. Some local leaders in Paktia have openly stated they have been threatened with death by senior Taliban leadership. Taliban security forces across the province have adopted defensive stances, appearing to be wearing body armor and staging additional vehicles at checkpoints.
TALIBAN OFFENSIVE IN PANJSHIR BEGINS — As predicted, the Taliban’s offensive against select NRF strongholds in Panjshir has commenced with heavy fighting in Hesarak, Abdullah Khel, Pujaveh, and Omarz. Military observers see this offensive as the first real test of the new special commander for Panjshir, Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir. Initial reporting seems to indicate things are going badly for the Taliban forces and casualties are said to be heavy.
TALIBAN DENY DRONE STRIKES — The Ministry of Defense released a strongly worded statement denying drone strikes had recently targeted two of its brigades. However, several online media sites showed footage and photographs of what appeared to be several buildings on fire at the base, and several local eyewitnesses were quoted as seeing rockets hit the buildings. The MoD has dismissed the claims as propaganda but has failed to provide an explanation for the fires at the base.
CREATING A MORE SHARIA GOVERNMENT — The Taliban have ordered a reshuffling of government offices, dissolving 8 departments and creating 6 new ones that are more in line with Sharia law. It is unclear what specific departments were dissolved and created. The employees who were dismissed are being told they will be hired to fill new positions. At the conclusion of the press briefing, the spokesman added a caveat that the Taliban’s cabinet will now be permanent. Seemingly, he was referencing all cabinet-level appointments across the government. Up to this point, most officials have been referred to as “acting” directors or ministers. If this turns out to be accurate, it would likely preclude the possibility of an inclusive government (since no elections have been held) and will give critics more ammunition to label the regime as illegitimate.
WOMEN BANNED FROM BLUE MOSQUE — Local Taliban officials in Balkh province have barred women from visiting the Blue Mosque except on Mondays.
NEXT 24 HOURS
9/11 TERRORIST ATTACK WARNINGS — As the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks draws near, the Ministry of the Interior has issued alerts to various field offices to be prepared for ISIS-K terrorist attacks across the country. While no specific threats have been identified, the general alert was nationwide. At-risk Afghans should avoid large gatherings and public transport if at all possible.
DIASPORA BELATEDLY CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE — A large-scale celebration of Afghanistan's independence is expected to be held in Virginia, USA. Although the celebration is occurring almost a month late, organizers say the diaspora needs something positive to celebrate.
SPOTLIGHT ECONOMICS
The banking crisis in Afghanistan
By Shivam Shekhawat – Observer Research Foundation
This August, the Interim Taliban Administration (ITA) completed a year in Afghanistan after taking over last year. The withdrawal of foreign troops, enabled by the signing of the Doha Peace Agreement between the United States (US) and the Taliban ultimately resulted in the fall of Kabul. Since the disintegration of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the insurgent group has been flailing to govern the country, if at all its actions can fall under the ambit of ‘governance’.
AFGHAN NEWS
Back to back explosions hit Hazara neighborhood in Kabul
By Khaama Press
According to reports, two explosions hit Dasht-e-Barchi, a Hazara neighborhood in the west of Kabul on…
Taliban close girls schools in east that had briefly opened
By Rahim Faiez – San Francisco Chronicle
Taliban authorities Saturday shut down girls schools above the sixth grade in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province…
Afghan girls protest school closure in eastern city
By AFP
Dozens of girls protested in an eastern Afghan city on Saturday after Taliban authorities shut their secondary schools just days after…
Black Hawk helicopter crashes during Taliban training exercise, killing three
By Reuters
"An American Black Hawk helicopter, which was flown ... for training, crashed due to a technical problem inside the campus of the…
REGIONAL NEWS
Diplomacy in Process to Free 300 Afghans in Pakistan: MoFA
By TOLOnews
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the officials of the Afghan embassy in Islamabad are in talks with Pakistani officials over the release of around 300 Afghans detained by Pakistani police for not having legal documents.
How Taliban Instability Is A Risk To Central Asia – Analysis
By Luke Coffey – Arab News
More than a year after taking power, the Taliban are beginning to realize that fighting is far easier than…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Amnesty Intl Calls for UN Resolution on Afghan Human Rights
By Banafsha Binesh – TOLOnews
Following the reactions to human rights violations in Afghanistan, Amnesty International requested in a letter to the Permanent Representatives of Member and…
THE DAILY WTF
Restrictions imposed on women for visiting Blue Mosque in Balkh
By AMU TV
Based on a new rule imposed by the Taliban, women will be allowed to visit the Blue Mosque once a week while they have been banned from visiting the shrine on…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.31 AFN (as of 11 SEP 2022)