At UN, Xi Outlines China’s Vision for the World his week should have been a festive occasion for the United Nations, with global leaders descending on New York City to celebrate the body’s 75th annual General Assembly. Instead, the meetings were held virtually, as the COVID-19 pandemic has closed borders and restricted travel around the world. Meanwhile, the United Nations […]

Beneath the geopolitical clash between India and China, the people of Ladakh live with the weight of an economic collapse and worries about war. On June 16, Amir Ahmad Hajjam, 31, was at his vegetable shop when he heard about the faceoff between Chinese and Indian troops at Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan Valley. Hajjam hails from Indian-administered […]

On September 12th, officials from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban met in Doha to begin formal talks to reach a political settlement to the insurgency. This major milestone in the conflict marks the first time that the two sides have engaged in direct, official peace talks. The opening of talks also fulfills a key condition of the […]

As negotiators for the U.S.-backed Afghan government and the Taliban militants hold historic peace talks in Qatar, few are expecting a deal to be easy or even successful.

The increasing number of air force incursions from China is starting to fray nerves among ordinary Taiwanese, who wonder if their heavily armed political rival finally plans to attack after decades of threats, polls and analysts say.

As negotiators for the U.S.-backed Afghan government and the Taliban militants hold historic peace talks in Qatar, few are expecting a deal to be easy or even successful.

On September 12, a day after the 19th anniversary of 9/11, talks between the Taliban and Afghan government began in Doha, Qatar. The historic talks mark the first time that the two parties have engaged in direct conversations with each other in hopes of ending forty years of war in Afghanistan.

At the time of writing (September 20, 2020), over eight days have passed, but the formal talks between the Afghanistan Government and the Taliban have not yet begun. During this period, the negotiating teams of both sides have held three meetings in Doha, Qatar. Another five meetings have been held between the Contact Groups of both the sides.

Two Army soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with militants during an intelligence-based operation in the Spalga area of Miranshah tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on September 19, 2020.

As negotiations begin and Afghans wait with baited-breath — the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain. The US is ready to leave, the Kabul government and the people it represents are desperate for peace and the Taliban are eager to be seen as a legitimate political entity.