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Daily Evacuation Brief October 1, 2022
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- KABUL BOMB KILLS 25+ COLLEGE HOPEFULS – A suicide bomber attacked the Kaaj Education Center in the 13th Police District on Friday. The attacker first killed a Taliban security guard at the entrance to the classrooms, then detonated a suicide vest in a classroom where approximately 300 young men and women were taking practice university entrance exams. The blast is said to have killed at least 25 people, mostly young women, and wounded at least 56 more. Observers say the death toll is expected to climb, and hospitals are rushing to treat the wounded. The area, which is predominantly Shiite and largely Hazara, has been targeted by ISIS-K several times this year, and this attack is thought to be perpetrated by ISIS-K as well. The attack drew immediate condemnation from the international community and illustrates the Taliban’s limited effectiveness in providing local security.
- ANOTHER DISTRICT IN NURISTAN OUSTS THE TALIBAN – Yesterday, the Afghan Digest received a report from Nuristan that residents of the Mandol district had ousted the Taliban governor and seized control of local Taliban administrative offices. Today, there is word from the Doawb district that a similar event has taken place. Kabul initially rejected reports of the insurrection in Mandol, then dispatched a force of 70 Taliban fighters to reinstate the deposed governor. No word has been received about the security situation in either district at this time.
- MORE INFO ON ALLEGED TALIBAN COOPERATION WITH 16 TERRORIST GROUPS – New information from Russia and Tajikistan supports previous reporting of the NRF’s allegations that the Taliban met with several leaders of regional and international terrorist organizations in Kabul to discuss the exportation of terrorism into Central Asia. The new information states that Minister of the Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani was present for the meeting, and the discussions focused on launching terrorism campaigns in Central Asian states over the coming 6 months. The reports also claim that the terrorist group leaders were hosted by Hadji Afzal, a known supporter of the Haqqani network. A source in the Ministry of the Interior claims that al-Qaeda has been given the titular role in coordinating operations, and Mawlavi Ibrohim of the Haqqani network would act as the liaison for the Taliban. While this information has not been confirmed, the fact it was shared with Russian and Tajik press outlets indicates that Moscow remains concerned about the rise of terror in Afghanistan and continues playing its double game with the Taliban.
- BEHEADED CORPSES DISCOVERED IN NANGARHAR – Today, sources reported that a number of bodies were discovered on September 26 in the Pachiragam district in Nangarhar province. The total number of bodies is currently disputed and ranges from 11 to 23. The Taliban have not allowed locals to view the bodies, and their identities, reasons for the beheadings, and timeframe for when they were killed are not known.
- PAKISTANI SOLDIER KILLED IN A CROSS BORDER ATTACK – The official media outlet for Pakistan’s armed forces released a statement about Sepoy Jamshaid Iqbal, a soldier who was killed near the Khurlachi region of the Kurram District in an attack that originated in Afghanistan. The Pakistani military claims to have killed several of the militants in a subsequent exchange of fire but did not elaborate on the details of the clash. The identity of the suspected militant group was not released.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Takhar: 1 female non-combatant was killed during a clash in the city center of Taloqan between Taliban and NRF forces, Local eyewitnesses said some Taliban were killed as well but could not confirm the number.
*NOTE: Fragmented reports of several engagements have been received from Panjshir over the last several days. However, the nightly internet outages are hampering our ability to accurately report the fighting. At-risk Afghans should understand that Panjshir, Takhar, and Badakshan remain the three most active conflict zones in the country, and we will not always have accurate or up-to-date information regarding the tactical situation there.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NURISTAN CRACKDOWN POSSIBLE – With today’s reporting on a second breakaway district in Nuristan, most Afghanistan observers are expecting a harsh crackdown from the Taliban to quell further defections. Our analysis indicates that more Taliban fighters will be dispatched to these remote districts in order to reassert Kabul’s authority, and these troops will likely have to garrison in the districts for the foreseeable future. Historically, the Taliban have sent leaders to meet with local leaders and hear grievances, but we have not yet received information about a mission such as this being undertaken in Nuristan. The situation remains dangerous, and the area ought to be avoided.
Posted by: trailing wife 2022-10-01 |
