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Daily Evacuation Brief June 9-10, 2023
Daily Evacuation Brief | June 10, 2023
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- ISIS-K LEADER SAID TO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY TALIBAN FORCES IN KUNAR LAST TUESDAY – While no official confirmation from the Taliban has been provided yet, Pakistan’s media has been rejoicing at the news that Sanaullah Ghafari (aka Shahab al-Muhajir) was killed in a clash with Taliban security forces in the mountains of Kunar. The leader is suspected of ordering several deadly attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. Rumors had spread late in the week that a US drone had participated in the attack but the US denied involvement and local sources say that no drone took part in the operation. Taliban forces killed an additional 6 ISIS-K followers in Kunar during follow-up operations. The death of Ghafari is being hailed as a serious blow to ISIS-K’s hopes for dominance in the region.
- ARRESTS OF AFGHANS IN PAKISTAN NOW TOTAL OVER 1,100 – Several NGOs that have compiled and compared lists of Afghans reporting the arrest of family members and friends say the latest operation has resulted in over 1,100 people being detained. Many of the NGOs also reported that some were beginning to be freed by police. While some deportations were reported on Wednesday, it was not clear how many were included and if those individuals sent back to Afghanistan had been arrested in the recent roundup.
- TALIBAN MANEUVER TRAINING ALONG THE IRANIAN BORDER VIEWED AS PROVOCATIVE BY TEHRAN – The Taliban held military drills in Nimruz Province on Thursday that caused alarm in Tehran. Iranian military personnel observed the maneuver training from high ground in Sistan and Baluchestan Province and two drone flights were eventually reported to have overflown the area shortly after the Taliban had halted their training. Sources in Tehran said the timing of the drills and the fact that they were carried out so close to the border concerned senior IRGC personnel.
- HERAT RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL ON TALIBAN TO IMPROVE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SECURITY FORCES TOWARDS CITIZENS – Reports have indicated throughout 2023 that the interactions between civilians and the Taliban security forces have been deteriorating. Bribery and maltreatment based on ethnicity have been two of the primary complaints registered by average citizens. For its part, the Taliban leadership has continued to call on those in the security sector to act morally and with restraint towards the civilian population.
- NRF POINTS TO INTERNAL DIVISIONS AMONG TALIBAN FOR RECENT ATTACKS IN BADAKHSHAN – Seemingly absolving ISIS-K from their admitted participation in planning and executing the recent attacks in Badakhshan, the NRF hinted that an internal schism is widening within the Taliban and is at the root of the targeting of Taliban leaders.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kunar: Taliban security forces intercepted a group of ISIS-K militants on Tuesday as they were passing through the mountains of the province. The reputed leader of t ISIS-K, Sanaullah Ghafari (aka Shahab al-Muhajir) was killed in the operation, 6 other ISIS-K members were said to have been killed in follow-on operations through out the week, Officials in Kabul/Kandahar have yet to confirm the operation. The US denied initial reports that it had participated in the operation.
NEXT 24 HOURS
KARACHI AND COASTAL REGION OF PAKISTAN ON ALERT FOR CYCLONE BIPARJOY – While the threat of landfall is a few days away, we feel it is important to warn at-risk Afghans who may be in the southern Provinces to prepare for the storm if it begins to move to the Northwest on Monday. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority issued alerts on Friday warning fishermen to not put to sea after Monday and for citizens to stock up on medical supplies, food, and water. A coastal tidal surge is expected and power in Sindh and Balochistan Provinces may be interrupted. Communications will also likely be affected.
Daily Evacuation Brief | June 9, 2023
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- BOMBING AT FUNERAL IN BADAKHSHAN KILLS AT LEAST 11 PEOPLE – Taliban officials have confirmed that a bomb blast in the Hesa-e-Awal neighborhood of Faizabad has killed at least 11 people and wounded nearly 40 more. The bomb was detonated in a Mosque during a funeral ceremony for the recently murdered Deputy Governor. There are conflicting reports that the Taliban Minister for the Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, was present at the ceremony and may be among the dead or wounded. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack that killed the Deputy Governor but no group has yet claimed responsibility for Thursday’s bombing.
- SECOND FATAL BUS ACCIDENT IN PAST 24 HOURS KILLS 9 – A bus collided with a cargo truck in Zabul Province on Thursday and at least 9 people were killed while another 30 are injured. The incident occurred in Qalat yesterday morning and no information was released about what may have caused the crash. A crash in Sar-e-Pul Province on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of 24 people.
- INDIA SENDS TEAM BACK TO KABUL TO WORK ON ITS EMBASSY – India’s Foreign Minister says that a small team of ‘technical professionals’ has been sent to Kabul to staff the Embassy there and monitor events. The staff does not include full consular support and is mainly there as observers and to apprise New Delhi of potential areas of mutual cooperation. The Minister did not say when the Embassy may be fully functional again.
- FORMER PTI PARTY MEMBERS FORM NEW PARTY IN PAKISTAN – Many of the senior leaders from the PTI party who had left after the 9 May violence announced the formation of a new party called the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) at a press conference in Lahore on Thursday. Some sources with insider knowledge claim the new party has received partial backing from several leaders in the Army. The IPP is offering a centrist approach to politics in Pakistan with a focus on dealing with the economic nightmare the country faces.
NEXT 24 HOURS
ISIS-K BECOMING ACTIVE AGAIN – After several months of Taliban victories over ISIS-K across the country, the terror organization struck back by killing the Deputy Governor of Badakhshan on Tuesday. Many observers believe the terrorist organization was likely behind the deadly Mosque bombing yesterday in Badakhshan. It is possible that ISIS-K could strike again during prayers today and at-risk Afghans are urged to remain alert when visiting religious facilities. We do not have information pointing to any specific threat but over the course of 2022, ISIS-K developed a pattern of launching attacks in groups of three. Please be alert and stay aware of your surroundings.
Posted by: trailing wife 2023-06-10 |
