[AfghaniDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- DIPLOMATIC EXODUS – A major US news agency said that sources had confirmed Saudi Arabian diplomats had left Kabul and its embassy had been closed. Taliban spokesman, Zabiullha Mujahid said that the departure was only for training and that they would return soon. Few appear to believe this assertion and attribute the departure to an incident where female embassy employees were barred from entering the chancellery grounds by Taliban guards. An additional unconfirmed report of potential security threats against the foreign diplomatic personnel and facilities has also been circulated by sources and the one directed against the Saudi Arabian embassy was said to involve an ISIS-K car bomb plot. Finally, there have been unsubstantiated rumors that UAE and Qatari diplomatic personnel have departed Kabul. We have verified these rumors to be false. However, security in the embassy district has increased noticeably.
- WOMEN PROTESTORS MOVEMENT OF AFGHANISTAN PUBLISH LETTER TO NOBEL COMMITTEE – Several prominent leaders in the women’s movement signed the note asking for the removal of Mahbooba Siraj from consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize. They claim she is a Taliban collaborator and has actively acted against their movement.
- US EXTENDS EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR AFGHANISTAN – President Biden extended his order for a full year in anticipation of a deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country. A legal challenge remains for roughly half of the estimated $7 billion in assets that have been frozen and the executive order is expected to grant additional time to the plaintiffs seeking compensation for the loss of their loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- PERVEZ MUSHARRAF DIES AT AGE 79 – The former Pakistani leader died in Dubai after suffering from a protracted illness. The polarizing leader who took power in the late 90s when he instigated a coup is both revered and reviled by Pakistani citizens and many in Afghanistan point their fingers at him for initially supporting the Taliban and then waging war against them.
- PAKISTAN MAY REVIEW POLICIES TOWARDS AFGHAN REFUGEES – A police official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province said a review would be undertaken to decide on a new policy to deal with Afghan Refugees currently residing in Pakistan. The official was calling for the deportation of all those who had arrived without passports or, who had overstayed their visas. It is not clear if the federal government will take this up while the IMF negotiations are ongoing.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Parwan: An NRF attack on a Taliban checkpoint in Jabal-al-Sraj resulted in the deaths of 6 Taliban security force members. No NRF casualties were reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- AN AFGHAN RAILWAYS DELEGATION HEADED TO UZBEKISTAN – The Taliban will dispatch a delegation to Uzbekistan to discuss the reopening of the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif line. While some goods have been shifted to the still-open Torghondi line, the capacity is considered insufficient to handle both export and imports. Several traders disposed of their foodstuffs on the Afghan side of the border yesterday claiming their goods had spoiled.
- ANTI-RAPE PROTEST PLANNED IN ISLAMABAD – After reports of a woman being raped at gunpoint near the F-9 Park, several groups have called for a protest to take place at the site at 1700hrs local time. They have stated they intend to block the roads in an effort to call attention to the victims of rape in Pakistan. A recent report suggested that 40% of women in Pakistan are victims of sexual violence. While the protest is not expected to become violent, it will likely see elevated levels of police in the area due to its proximity to downtown. At-risk Afghans are advised to avoid the area.
- ISIS-K THREAT LINGERS IN KABUL – With the departure of the Saudi Arabian diplomatic staff over a possible security threat posed by ISIS-K in Kabul, there remains a threat that the suspected terror cell may choose another target. ISIS-K has been quiet in recent weeks and with the continued presence of beefed-up Taliban security in both the diplomatic quarter and the neighborhoods where diplomatic personnel reside, we believe caution would be wise for the coming week and that at-risk Afghans avoid these areas if at all possible.
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