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Daily Evacuation Brief October 18, 2022
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- GERMANY TO EXPAND AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM – The German Foreign Ministry announced plans to begin resettling up to 1,000 at-risk Afghans per month in an expansion of a program they announced earlier in the year. Apparently, the government has only recently allocated the funding needed to ramp things up. Those at-risk Afghans with paths to Germany are advised to reach out and make contact as soon as possible (SEE STORY BELOW).
- ISIS-K MEDIA CHIEF ARRESTED IN KABUL – The Taliban have announced the arrest of Mohammad Javad who, the Taliban says is the head of ISIS-K’s propaganda arm in Afghanistan. GDI agents say he was arrested without incident yesterday and all of his electronic devices were seized intact. It is not clear what role Mr. Javad has played but the Taliban has previously arrested dissidents and/or former members of the previous regime using claims of affiliation with the terror group.
- CENTRAL BANK WARNS DEBTORS – Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) announced that outstanding debts were being reviewed and the bank will resort to the seizure of property if the debts are not paid. Bank officials explicitly targeted former high-ranking members of the previous regime. Sources in the financial sector see the announcement as an excuse to appropriate property that will be redistributed to Taliban officials. One source stated that bank records are being manipulated to increase debt balances on loan paperwork.
- HAQQANI OUT AT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION – Rumors are circulating that the acting Minister of Higher Education, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, has been relieved of his position and a new appointment has been made. Sheikh Nada Mohammad Nandim (former Governor of Kabul) has been named the new Minister. While the new purported Minister’s intentions for the program are unknown, it is believed that many senior Taliban leaders were unhappy with Haqqani’s approach to the education crisis in the country.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Parwan: A Talib security detail attempted to arrest a suspected NRF fighter in Jabal-al-Saraj district. Two Talibs were reported killed and one injured. The suspected NRF man escaped.
Badakhshan: Six separate engagements between the Taliban and the NRF were reported across the province in the past 24 hours. Three of the clashes were said to involve several hundred combatants. Casualties have once again been reported but an accurate tally is not available. Some of the casualties are said to be non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- GOVERNMENT PURGE – Remarks made by the Minister of the Interior at a commencement ceremony for graduates of a University in Khost give credence to rumors that a purge of government officials is likely. He stated that too many unqualified people had been given posts in the de facto regime and most were rewarded with positions due to their participation in the jihad against the previous regime. He said these appointments have created a gap between the people and the Taliban and questioned their ability to manage governmental affairs. Criticism about the practice has been consistent from the international community and political observers have offered the opinion that the IEA is fast becoming a religious kleptocracy. It is not clear when the purges will begin but the fact the comments were made in an open forum has likely put those in governmental roles on a hot seat.
- INCREASED SECURITY OPERATIONS EXPECTED IN KABUL – In previous instances where an ISIS-K operative has been arrested, targeted searches have resulted. Presumably, Mr. Mohammad Javad has/will undergo severe interrogation and his electronic devices will be searched for incriminating evidence by the GDI. Kabul residents will likely see house searches that could easily turn violent. At-risk Afghans who see concentrations of Taliban vehicles or fast-moving convoys are urged to immediately depart the area or shelter in place.
- DAB TO AUCTION $11 MILLION DOLLARS – The Central Bank has scheduled another auction of US Dollars to try and keep the currency stabilized.
Posted by: trailing wife 2022-10-18 |
