Afghanistan

As the Taliban celebrates three years of reign, global powers/regional neighbours are forced to ponder (just like the authors) the regime’s sustained grip to power, which appears to strengthen with every passing year. In these three years, the Supreme Leader (Emir) Haibatullah Akhundzada has strengthened his grip to power, formulating …

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending in August 2021, created favorable conditions for Russia to reassert itself as a regional hegemon in broader Central Asia. Historically, as great powers retrench from a territory, the resulting void can be filled either by rival powers or by friendly successor states responsive to …

Threats from terrorist groups such as ISIS are again surging across the globe three years after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, an exit that marked a new phase in the war on terrorism. ISIS has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks this year across the world, from Turkey to Iran …

In April 2022, less than a year after it took power in Kabul, the Taliban announced it would prohibit the cultivation, production, trafficking, trade and consumption of all narcotics in Afghanistan. At the time, many observers were skeptical of both the group’s sincerity, due to the revenues it had long …

The recent statement by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissing the remarks made by Pakistan’s envoy about the potential for a 9/11-style attack originating from Afghanistan, has sparked widespread debate. The Ministry’s assertion that such a threat is more likely to originate from Pakistan rather than Afghanistan is not …

Iran’s recent decision to construct a 295 km wall along its border with Afghanistan is a stark reminder of the regional and global anxieties surrounding the rise of terrorism under Taliban rule. This wall is not just a physical barrier but a symbol of Iran’s growing concerns about the spread …

Although there are potential security and economic benefits for Moscow to be gained from closer ties to Afghanistan, they will be difficult to achieve. Ahead of this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum—which has been attended by a Taliban delegation since 2022—the Kremlin handed a PR victory to the rulers …

Afghanistan, a nation characterized by rugged mountains and a rich tapestry of ethnic diversity, has for decades been at the epicenter of regional and global terrorism. Its geopolitical significance, combined with a history of foreign intervention and internal strife, has fostered an environment conducive to the proliferation of terrorist activities. …

Terrorism in Pakistan’s tribal districts has been a persistent and formidable challenge, especially in recent years. These areas, historically known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now integrated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as tribal districts, have witnessed a surge in terrorist activities that pose severe threats to national security, …

Authorities in Afghanistan said Monday that a bomb blast had killed at least one person and injured three others in the southern city of Kandahar, the political headquarters of the country’s hardline Taliban rulers. The bomb was planted in a handcart on a road leading to the national capital, Kabul, …