[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- TALIBAN SEARCHING HOMES IN KABUL, LOOKING FOR WOMEN ACTIVISTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN RECENT MARCH – While we do not have the locations that are targeted for searches, we have been informed that General Directorate of Intelligence agents has been dispatched to track down women who took part (or planned) the protest marches that took place the other day. It is believed they will be brought in for questioning but arrests/detentions have not been authorized due to the proximity to the crucial United Nations meetings in Doha today. As of publication, we have not had word about anyone being taken in for questioning.
- NATURAL DISASTERS PROVE TO BE DEADLY OVER PREVIOUS YEAR – The Taliban’s Disaster office released a report for the solar year 1401 which states that over 1,000 Afghans were killed and 2,000 were injured due to natural disasters. In addition, nearly 100,000 livestock were lost in these calamities. Over 40,000 homes were destroyed or damaged and the agricultural losses are expected to see roughly a 30% reduction in crops harvested this year. Flooding was the most deadly form of disaster and accounted for the majority of the casualties but the unusual cold spell that hit the region resulted in abnormally high casualty rates as well.
- CHINESE EMBASSY IN KABUL PLANS TO BEGIN ISSUING VISAS ON 3 MAY – The Chinese embassy released a statement on its website announcing the intention of recommencing the process of issuing visas on 3 May. The message urged Afghan citizens to fill out the application form electronically as limited consular office hours are in place for in-person interviews.
- TALIBAN SECURITY FORCES SEIZE WEAPONS IN MAIDAN WARDAK – Taliban security personnel stationed in the Province discovered a cache of weapons in a house that reputedly belonged to the militia leader, Alipur. The cache primarily contained light weapons and a local eyewitness expressed skepticism about the serviceability of the weapons, as they were in an extremely poor state when put on display.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kabul: An attack was said to have been carried out against a Taliban security checkpoint in the Khair Khana neighborhood (315 area) at 2100hrs local. 2 Taliban were reportedly killed and 1 was wounded in the engagement. A video posted to theAFF’s Twitter feed snowed a fast moving vehicle passing by the checkpoint and a moderate explosion.
NEXT 24 HOURS
UNITED NATIONS MEETINGS IN DOHA MAY PROMPT TERROR/RESISTANCE ACTIVITY IN AFGHANISTAN – With the high-level meetings between the United Nations and multiple envoys from the international community taking place today and tomorrow, it is possible that terrorist organizations and/or Resistance groups could launch attacks to embarrass the Taliban and illustrate a sense of insecurity to the world. Sources in Kabul have verified that security around diplomatic facilities and the airport has been increased with additional Taliban personnel on the ground and conducting vehicular patrols more frequently than before. At-risk Afghans should be aware that areas, where there are high-profile targets (those areas that would get the attention of the international news media if attacked), could be dangerous.