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2023-03-12 Afghanistan

Daily Evacuation Brief March 12, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

BOMB BLAST TARGETS JOURNALIST GATHERING AT SHIA CENTER IN MAZAR-I-SHARIF – A bomb was detonated at a press awards ceremony being held at the Tabian Farhang Center in Mazar-i-Sharif just before noon on Saturday. 1 man was killed (thought to be a security guard) and 8 other non-combatants were wounded (including children). Taliban authorities had little to say about the blast but said an investigation had been initiated. The incident brought immediate condemnation from Iran and journalism NGOs as well as UNAMA.

GOVERNOR OF KANDAHAR ARRIVES IN BALKH TO SERVE AS INTERIM LEADER – Mohammad Yousaf Wafa was ordered to Balkh Province after the assassination of the previous Governor
"Next!"
Wafa is considered an extremely close ally of the Supreme Leader and is reputedly carrying a brief that provides him with unilateral control to quell the Resistance in the Province and to eradicate ISIS-K. He was met by an immediate challenge in Mazar-i-Sharif when a bomb detonated at a Shia Center that was hosting an event for journalists.

TALIBAN REJECT NOTION THAT OVER 20 ARMED GROUPS ARE OPERATING IN AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban roundly rejected a recent UN report that claimed 23 armed groups are operating in Afghanistan. They suggested the UN had fallen for several online propaganda campaigns led by anti-Taliban groups to give the appearance of significant opposition to their rule. At the same time, they accepted elements of the report which praised their counter-terrorism and drug enforcement efforts. A survey of the many groups who have announced their existence on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites tends to support the Taliban’s position. Of the many groups, TAD has only been able to confirm that three main Resistance Groups have engaged the Taliban consistently and appear to be organized:

National Resistance Front

Afghanistan Freedom Front

Afghanistan Liberation Movement

CONFLICT TRACKER
Balkh: An unidentified group bombed a Shia CommunityCenter supportd by Iran in Mazar-i-Sharif on Saturday around noon local time, The center was hosting an awards ceremony for journalists when the blast occurred. 1 security guard was killed and 8 non-combatants were wounded.

NEXT 24 HOURS
TALIBAN WILL REMAIN ACTIVE IN BALKH PROVINCE – After yesterday’s bombing of the Tabian Farhang center, Taliban security forces and police have been ordered to step up their activities and find those responsible. Taliban forces in Mazar-i-Sharif had already increased vigilance and security measures at government facilities after the assassination of the District Governor. Systematic searches of neighborhoods had barely begun when the second blast occurred. A source said that a former ANA soldier and his two brothers had been arrested in connection with one of the bombings but no additional information was available. At-risk Afghans in Mazar-i-Sharif should expect heightened patrolling, pedestrian/vehicle searches, and searches of homes/offices for the foreseeable future. Security personnel manning checkpoints and guarding government facilities will likely be nervous and on edge which could easily escalate into violence if they sense a threat (real or imagined). ISIS-K has often launched operations in a series of threes so, if they were behind both bombings, a third event could be planned. If possible, avoid spending much time outside, and definitely do not linger in areas where groups congregate.

Posted by trailing wife 2023-03-12 03:40|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top
File under: Taliban/IEA

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