[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- AFGHANISTAN INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT SAYS FORMER AFGHAN ARMY PERSONNEL UNDER SIGNIFICANT THREAT – The report was released on Sunday and listed increased unlawful detainment, torture, and extra-judicial killings as the biggest threats former ANA personnel are facing under the Taliban. The report also criticized regional and international nations who have turned to the former Afghan Army personnel to serve within their own military forces. Ultimately, the report describes the much touted ‘general amnesty’ instituted by the Taliban as a farce.
- DEADLY ATTACKS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA & BALUCHISTAN, MANY DEAD – At least 8 people were killed in an attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on Monday. Among the dead was a PTI party District chairman, Atif Khan. According to news sources, the vehicle(s) came under attack by accurate RPG and gunfire as the chairman was returning to his home from a function. It is not clear what caused the attack. Another attack in Baluchistan’s Nasirabada District took place earlier in the day and 4 people were killed in the incident that targeted a wedding ceremony. The incident in Nasirabad followed closely on the heels of another violent encounter that took place on Sunday in which 7 other residents of Baluchistan were shot in killed.. Again, no details have emerged over who may be behind the latest attacks.
- PASSPORT FORGING RING ARRESTED IN LAGHMAN – A counterfeiting ring that had reputedly issued several thousand fake passports to Afghans was busted up on Sunday and 3 men are under arrest. A source in the Ministry of the Interior says the men were former employees of the Passport Directorate who had been fired when the Taliban came to power and had stolen some of the equipment needed to make the passports. The source said there were concerns in the Ministry that the forgers were working for the United States, but that no evidence had been discovered to substantiate the claims.
- THE UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES TO SOUND THE ALARM OVER FUNDING NEEDS FOR AFGHANISTAN – Funding gaps have already forced the World Food Programme (WFP) to ration support for those in Afghanistan who lack resources for feeding themselves and their families. The WFPs country director, Hsiao-Wei Lee, said that current shortfalls will only allow the WFP to feed approximately 4 million of the estimated 13 million people who will require nutritional support in April. The WFP has asked donor states to provide nearly $100 million for April with a subsequent call for $800 million to cover the coming six months.
- THE AFGHANI GAINS AGAINST THE US DOLLAR – After a rapid series of auctions by the Central Bank, money changers report that the national currency has risen significantly. Some economists say the increase is a temporary bump that reflects the sell-off of nearly $64 million dollars over the last ten days and expect the currency to lose ground in the coming months.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- PAKISTAN REMAINS A CONCERN – Immediately following the death of a PTI party chairman in an attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, some PTI social media accounts began to circulate anti-regime messages that insinuated his murder was a government plot. While there has been no official reason for the attack, many eyewitnesses have stated that a long-standing feud was likely to blame. Regardless, the mood in the country is ugly and the former Prime Minister’s party seems eager to confront the current government. At-risk Afghans should continue to exercise caution as they go about their lives in Pakistan and avoid any potential demonstration sites as clashes with security forces are extremely likely.
- NEW PAKISTAN RULES FOR AFGHANS – We have not received the documentation for the new policy that was announced on Monday. However, we have enough source verification to outline the basic changes that are expected to take place:
- Afghan citizens must inform relevant police stations when they move from one Province/City to another.
- Afghan citizens must provide authorities with the purpose for their travel.
- Separate registration centers will be established inside police stations to process Afghan citizens.
- All data concerning Afghans living in Pakistan will be deposited into a central database.
- Afghans crossing the border into Pakistan will receive additional scrutiny.
- Afghans who have overstayed their visa/residency permits will be forced to return.
- At this time, it is not clear how prepared Pakistani police are to institute these changes. According to a source in the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, there is currently no infrastructure that would allow for the establishment of a centralized database and such a program would take years to build. It is thought that approximately 400,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan are undocumented. UNHCR has continued its program of assisting Afghans with voluntary repatriation and is offering $350 per person for those who return to Afghanistan. More information is needed to analyze the potential threats the new policy poses for at-risk Afghans residing in Pakistan.