[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- HOUSE SEARCHES IN KABUL – Citizens living in Police Districts 15 and 3 reported random house searches in their neighborhoods yesterday by Taliban security forces. It is not clear what prompted the searches and whether a threat was anticipated. Sources have stated in previous reporting that a quota exists for searches and that periodic checks will continue to be a way of life for citizens in major cities. As of this printing, no arrests have been reported from yesterday’s search effort.
- UZBEKISTAN SUSPENDS RAIL OPERATIONS TO AFGHANISTAN – In a troubling announcement, Uzbekistan officials have suspended rail operations to Afghanistan effective 1 February 2023. In the statement, Uzbekistan Railways (Sogdiana Transport) said that technical work obligations the Taliban regime had agreed to in December 2022 had not been implemented. The Afghanistan Railway Administration has yet to respond. Uzbekistan will assist with the transportation of commodities via trucks from Termez to Mazar-i-Sharif. However, costs are expected to be significantly higher and capacity will be drastically reduced. According to data from 2021, Uzbekistan exported nearly $500 million dollars in goods to Afghanistan. The primary commodities shipped by rail were: Grains ($282 million) and Petroleum Products ($124 million), with the remainder of goods, mainly consisting of other food-related items. The suspension will likely result in higher prices for food and fuel in the coming weeks.
- IRAN RESUMES ISSUING VISAS IN HERAT – The Iranian consulate in Herat announced the reopening of its visa application process. A company that is linked to Iran has been designated as the sole provider of Visas in the city. Travel agents and Afghan-owned businesses who used to facilitate the visas for Afghans are in an uproar over the move as they
- NATIONAL ID CARD (CNIC) IS CHANGING – The troubled roll-out of the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) may be delayed after changes to the card were mandated by Taliban officials. New fields of information have reputedly been added that include an expiration date and also add the District where the cardholders originated (in addition to Province). It is not clear if those cards that have already been issued would be recalled. Observers are concerned about the addition of a District field as they say it could be used to discriminate against those from areas where the Resistance or ethnic minorities are concentrated. As the cards are needed to apply for a passport, we felt it important to include this information in our brief.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- HOUSE SEARCHES IN POLICE DISTRICT 10 POSSIBLE – A source said that Police District 10 was expected to be searched today. There was no information provided as to the target of the searches. At-risk Afghans living in this area are likely to see heavy security force traffic and may have their homes searched. As stated previously, we have not received any indication that arrests were made during yesterday’s searches. We recommend that at-risk Afghans take the standard precautions of securing their documents, hiding any flags or paraphernalia from the previous regime that might be on display, hiding any significant sums of money, and sanitizing any potentially questionable information on their cell phones or computers.
- HEAVY RAINS IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST FORECASTED FOR THE NEXT 48HRS – Flooding is expected in some areas of Badakhshan, Maidan Wardak, Bamyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Sarpul, Balkh, Jawzjan, Faryab, Badghis, Herat, and Farah Provinces. The rain is expected to prompt snow-melt and will affect several roads. Ground transport could present a risk in these areas at this time. At-risk Afghans are encouraged to check road conditions before setting out on any travel.
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