Daily Evacuation Brief | September 9, 2022
Discover more from The Afghan Digest
LAST 24 HOURS
SCARCE DRINKING WATER IN KABUL — Drinking water has become scarce in several neighborhoods of Kabul. Residents in affected neighborhoods are forced to walk up to 30 minutes to find clean drinking water. The Ministry of Energy and Water says it has two different solutions to solve the problem 1) a pipeline from Panjshir or 2) water transported via trucks from two dams near Kabul. The timeline for addressing the issue is unclear.
GIRLS SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN IN PAKTIA — The Taliban have not yet dispatched security personnel to Paktia province in response to the opening of several girls’ schools earlier this week. A source within the Ministry of the Interior claims that senior Taliban leadership is divided over how best to respond to the challenge posed by local leaders in the province. Some are advocating for a crackdown, while others are pleading for caution and point to Paktia’s long history of autonomy. As of publication, we have heard that four additional schools plan to open on Saturday.
RESISTANCE CLASHES IN BADAKHSHAN — Fighting erupted between the Taliban and NRF in Badakhshan over the past 24 hours, but it is not clear who initiated the clashes. The Taliban dispatched aviation assets to the province in response to the clashes, which may indicate the NRF began the offensive. Local sources claim the fighting is primarily focused on the Karan Manjan area, which serves as the primary resupply route between Badakhshan and Panjshir.
CRIPPLING BRIBES AT BORDER — Drivers of commercial vehicles that operate across the Iran–Afghanistan border claim that the bribes that they are forced to pay on both sides of the border have made their professions unprofitable. They are asking leaders in both countries to step in and deal with the problem of corrupt border officials. Unless this issue is addressed, imports/exports could be affected.
TANTRUMS AT CRICKET MATCH — Violence broke out at the recent Afghanistan/Pakistan cricket match in Sharjah (2022 Asia Cup). Video of angry Afghan fans tearing seats out from the stadium and hurling them at Pakistan fans has been shared widely in the press. The disturbance has provoked Pakistan’s ruling cricket body to submit a formal complaint to the ICC.
NEXT 24 HOURS
CAUTION TO BADAKHSHAN CIVILIANS — The fighting in Badakhshan merits close attention as it may provoke similar Taliban reprisals against minority non-combatants as those witnessed in Panjshir, Takhar, and Baghlan. At-risk Afghans are encouraged to curtail travel and maintain low profiles while engagements are ongoing.
PASSPORT OFFICE BOMB THREATS — A source in the Ministry of the Interior says a threat of a bombing at one of the Passport Directorate offices is being taken seriously, and additional security has been sent to several of the provincial offices. The source indicated a red Toyota sedan was being sought in connection with the bombing threat. The source also said that the MoI believes the threat was made by ISIS-K affiliates. The Passport Directorate recently announced it would be doubling the daily allotment of passports issued. At-risk Afghans who want to apply for passports should wait a week as the MoI and MoD appear to be responding to the threat.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Dismantlement of the Taliban regime is the only way forward for Afghanistan
By Davood Moradian – The Atlantic Council
The contrasting views of two prominent US and British military generals illustrate the group’s many faces around the world. Just days after the collapse of Afghanistan’s Republic last August, Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter described the Taliban as “country boys” with a “code of honor.” A year later, he characterized Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s deputy leader, as a “modernist” and called for the international community to embrace him and his “modernizers” faction. Former US National Security Adviser General H.R. McMaster, however, takes an entirely different view of the Taliban, describing them as “a transnational terrorist organisation that is interconnected with others and it’s a creature of support from Pakistan’s ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence].” Furthermore, these and other perspectives on the Taliban are not mere academic definitions—they often shape policies as well. The first attempt to make “peace” with the Taliban was in 2006 by the British military in Helmand province, which then culminated in the 2010 London conference when “peace and reconciliation” became the main policy framework of the Western alliance.
AFGHAN NEWS
UAE firm to manage air traffic over Afghanistan
By France 24
A United Arab Emirates firm signed a contract with Afghanistan on Thursday to manage air traffic across the country as the…
Taxi Drivers Say Men Claiming to Be Govt Employees Demanding Extra Fees
By Hadia Ziaei – TOLO News
Some taxi drivers have complained about being forced to make payments to individuals at the taxi stations in…
Recent Event Made it Clear to Afghans That They’re on Their Own
By Jason Criss Howk – Clearance Jobs
Last week Afghans, and allies of Afghans, from around the world gathered in Washington DC to attend the inaugural Global…
REGIONAL NEWS
Afghan Refugees Face Uncertainty in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz – The Diplomat
Since the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government and the rise to power of the Taliban, Afghan refugees in neighboring Central Asian states have lived…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US Seeks Pakistan’s Help in Counter-Terror Ops as It Approves $450Mln Package For F-16 Jets
By Rishikesh Kumar – Sputnik
After the alleged killing of al-Qaeda* leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike, President Joe Biden vowed to continue…
Pentagon watchdog to open review into Afghanistan whistleblower claims
By Alayna Treene – Axios
The Pentagon's acting inspector general told two Republican senators he'll conduct a review regarding a whistleblower's allegations that the Biden administration evacuated and brought…
Who Are the Unhappiest People in the World?
By Julie Ray – Gallup
Unhappiness continued to rise worldwide in 2021, as the world overall became a sadder, more worried and more stressed-out…
THE DAILY WTF
Western media shows situation in Afghanistan Worse then the is Truth: McCann
By Bakhtar News Agency
During the meeting, the former US representative called the current situation in Afghanistan contrary to what is being published in the Western media and the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 88.27 AFN (as of 9 SEP 2022)