[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- POLISH CITIZENS MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN – Adrian Wojcik and Roman Bielski are presumed to be missing in Eastern Afghanistan after over a week of failed attempts to establish contact with them. Some reports say the two may have been arrested by the Taliban, but no definitive details were provided. It is believed the two were involved in humanitarian work, but it is unclear which organization they may have been working for.
- WOMEN DEMONSTRATE IN KABUL – A day before International Women’s Day, several female protestors marched on the streets of Kabul. The largest rally took place in the Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood. The protestors chanted slogans opposing the gender apartheid policies put in place by the Taliban. There were a few reports the Taliban attempted to break up the protests using their vehicles. No arrests have been reported yet.
- EU SANCTIONS 2 TALIBAN MINISTERS – Both the Ministers for Higher Education and for Virtue and Vice were sanctioned by the European Union. All assets in the European Union will be frozen and will be banned from travel. In addition, citizens and entities in the EU will be prohibited from financing either individual.
- 4.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RATTLES AFGHANISTAN – It is thought the quake struck in Badakhshan Province and no damage or casualties have been reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, POSSIBLE PROTEST CRACKDOWN – As today marks Internation Women’s Day, protests are expected in several cities across the country. The police forces have been circulating instructions on how to deal with the protests and these instructions are rumored to have ruled out violence as a means of disrupting the protests. The few international press members who are in the country will be watching events closely. While it sounds as if the Taliban leadership is discouraging a strong police response, things could easily get out of hand. In addition, terror groups may use the opportunity to launch an attack due to the high probability it would get international media coverage. At-risk Afghans are advised to be extremely cautious around any demonstration sites. Remain situationally aware and be prepared to leave the area rapidly should an incident take place.
|