[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ON TALIBAN TO REVERSE GENDER POLICIES – The UNSC met on Friday and released a signed statement from several members that demanded the Taliban reverse their discriminatory practices. The tone of the statement was remarkably harsher than in previous statements about Afghanistan. Predictably, Russia and China refused to sign the statement.
- THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR SAYS DRUG TRAFFICKING REDUCED, NEIGHBORS DISAGREE – Hasibullah Ahmadi, head of the counter-narcotics department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that significant reductions had been made, but admitted that some Provinces continue to export opium. He claimed that nearly 4,500 people had been arrested for trafficking-related charges. Officials in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and India claimed that 2022 saw a significant increase in drug trafficking from Afghanistan. Some of this marked increase is thought to have been caused by the exportation of excess supply after the Taliban had swept into power.
- AUSTRALIA CRICKET FIRES BACK AT THE ACB OVER CANCELLED MATCHES – The CEO of Cricket Australia responded to the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s condemnation of the canceled event, where the ACB expressed frustration that politics had influenced Australia’s decision. Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, said in a riposte that “Basic human rights is not politics.” Human rights advocates celebrated his response.
- TALIBAN SAY THEY WELCOME THE OIC CRITICISMS, SAY THE GENDER BANS ON EDUCATION ARE ONLY TEMPORARY – Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Thursday that the Taliban welcomed the remarks made by OIC members but warned against internal interference in Afghan affairs. He went on to say that the education bans were only a temporary measure and were prompted by a lack of capacity. However, statements made repeatedly by the Supreme Leader and others in the regime continue to espouse Deobandian principles and most observers see the excuses about capacity as merely an attempt to sidestep the problem. Ultimately, there are very few in the international community who trust the de facto regime.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Baghlan: 2 Resistance commanders were reportedly killed by the Taliban in a chance encounter last night in northern Baghlan province. Local eyewitnesses claimed they were shot within thirty minutes of their capture, and their bodies were desecrated. The men were identified as Commanders Yasin and Farid Ahmed respectively.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PAKISTANI SECURITY FORCES CONTINUE COUNTER-TERRORISM SWEEPS – In the run-up to the elections on Sunday in Karachi, Pakistani police and counter-terrorism organizations have been working frantically to ferret out several terrorist cells known to be operating in Sindh Province. Reports from local sources say some of these efforts have targeted Afghans because Police have been informed that at least 2 of the terrorist cells are TTP members who arrived from Afghanistan in the last two months. At-risk Afghans residing in the area can expect additional scrutiny from security forces until after the elections. It is advisable to avoid polling locations and public transport on Sunday if at all possible.
Daily Evacuation Brief January 12, 2023
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN KABUL – A suicide bomb attack near the entrance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs occurred at approximately 1600hrs local yesterday. Casualty figures are in dispute with news outlets reporting between 5-20 were killed in the blast. An additional 20-30 were thought to have been wounded. The timing of the blast occurred during the area’s busiest part of the day. It is believed the suicide bomber was attempting to enter the Ministry but detonated his device when he was interdicted by security personnel. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack on the group’s Telegram channel (Amaq news agency). No further information was available.
- ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION ISSUES COMMUNIQUE CRITICAL OF TALIBAN REGIME – At the conclusion of an extraordinary session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the OIC issued a statement condemning the Taliban’s stance on women’s education as well as the ban on women working on humanitarian aid projects. The committee called for a delegation of scholars to visit Afghanistan and engage with the Taliban at the ‘highest levels’. The statement signaled a veiled threat to the Taliban by reminding the regime the OIC expects its member states to abide by the OIC Charter. A report from any potential visiting investigative teams is expected at the next regular session. A source in the Ministry of the Interior claimed the OIC’s rebuke was expected but that the advisors who surround the Supreme Leader flew into a rage and referred to the OIC committee members as heretics. The source also said there were orders from Kandahar to try and suppress reports from the OIC meeting in the press.
- HERAT POWER OUTAGES – The Afghan national power company reported that power had been cut off in Herat due to technical issues with the Turkmenistan transmission lines. An early report had suggested that a terrorist attack had targeted a portion of the line, but was dismissed as rumor later in the day. It is not clear when power will be restored.
- STORMS CLOSE SEVERAL ROADS, SALANG PASS CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC – Heavy snow blanketed a large portion of the country and Salang Pass authorities closed the tunnel to all traffic yesterday. Previously, it had only been closed to large trucks. There are multiple accounts of stranded motorists from several Provinces and rescue crews have been working for nearly 72 hours to try and save people from exposure. Local officials are pleading with citizens to avoid travel in the interim.
- TURKISH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE THEY WILL DEPORT 5,000 AFGHANS IN COMING DAYS – Turkey’s Directorate of Migration began 2023 with a round of deportations and the Turkish government said that it had rounded up approximately 2,000 undocumented migrants between 1-5 January. The Department stated they intend to deport 5,000 Afghans in the next five days. Turkey is thought to have deported 120,000 refugees over the course of 2022.
- IN AN ABRUPT TURN, TALIBAN REVERSES DECREE TO CLOSE WOMEN-OWNED SHOPS IN BALKH & BAGHLAN PROVINCES – In a possible reaction to strong public outrage, the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry backed off of a plan to forcibly close women-owned businesses in Balkh and Baghlan Provinces. The spokesman for the Ministry said that the shops will be allowed to continue operating in their current locations but they would be forced to move to another location at some point in the future.
- SECRETIVE MEETING BETWEEN US LAWMAKERS AND FORMER REGIME LEADERS IN TURKEY CONCLUDES – Apparently, several Republican congressmen (or, their staff members) concluded a three-day meeting with the Council of Resistance in Turkey. Reportedly, they discussed the proposed investigation into the withdrawal (US role), strategies to hold the Taliban accountable, and how to recognize the Resistance. We have yet to determine who may have met with the Council members and if the trip was officially approved.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kandahar: A Taliban vehicle was targeted with an explosive device near a money changer market in Police District 1. 4people were reportedly wounded. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and no further information was available.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SECURITY OPERATIONS PLANNED FOR KABUL – After the deadly bombing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, a source with the Taliban Police said they had a lead on two ISIS-K safe houses in Kabul and a raid was being planned for today. The source could not provide locations for either of the residences. As always, we urge at-risk Afghans to avoid concentrations of Taliban security vehicles and if a security presence is observed in an area where they normally do not congregate, please leave the area or take cover |