The West is pulling out of Afghanistan after 20 years, but the conflict remains – and the Taliban are stronger than they have been for a long time. And now? The renowned Taliban expert Ahmed Rashid talks to Tobias Matern about mistakes made by the West and the future role of the Taliban in Afghanistan The West is leaving Afghanistan […]

The Taliban has captured more territory in Afghanistan in recent days from fleeing Afghan forces, as NATO troops continue to pull out of the country. Officials said on Sunday that several hundred Afghan security forces fled across the northern border into Tajikistan as Taliban fighters continued to gain momentum, capturing several districts. Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced […]

The decision of the USA / NATO forces to withdraw from Afghanistan is a definite incentive for the Islamic terrorists and extremists to continue their offensive moves around the world. By withdrawing the forces, USA and other NATO countries have virtually conceded their defeat against acts of terrorism in a decisive manner. If the USA and other NATO partners think […]

Pakistan’s Imran Khan telephones Iran’s Ebrahim Raeisi, congratulates him over election win Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Iran’s President-elect, Ebrahim Raeisi spoke over the phone on Sunday and discussed the “worsening” security situation in Afghanistan following the largely completed US pullout from the war-torn country. Khan, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, telephoned Raeisi to express […]

The Taliban increased their pressure on Zherai district in Kandahar after taking control of the strategic district of Panjwai on Saturday, raising concerns in Kandahar city. Panjwai fell to the Taliban after being under siege for a week. Local officials said that hundreds of families have been displaced due to the conflicts in Zherai and Panjwai districts. “We have left […]

Sources said on Sunday that the centers of nine more districts were captured by the Taliban in the last 24 hours – six districts in Badakhshan, one in Kandahar, one in Paktika and one in Takhar. The districts include Kofab, Argo, Kohistan, Zibak, Yawan and Baharak in Badakhshan, Panjwai in Kandahar, Zerok in Paktika and Worsaj in Takhar. They all […]

Maj. Gen. Hibatullah Alizai, the commander of the Special Operations Corps, said that suppressing the Taliban is the top priority of the forces and that “strong belts” have been created for the protection of big cities, highways and border towns. Alizai said there was a vast presence of Pakistani Taliban, especially Punjabis, in recent attacks by the Taliban, and that […]

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has approved a plan to transfer authority from Army General Scott Miller to Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said late Friday. Miller is the commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and the Resolute Support Mission. McKenzie is the commander of U.S. Central Command. According to Kirby, this is all part of […]

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said this week that there are “alternative futures” for Afghanistan but warned that the establishment of militia groups could complicate matters even further. He said the best outcome now would be for negotiations to restart. Speaking to PBS News Hour this week, Khalilzad said: “The Talibs have to know, and we have […]

US President Joe Biden has voiced concern over the state of Afghanistan and government’s ability to win the support of the Afghan people after his troops have withdrawn. Addressing reporters at the White House, Biden was asked about the Afghan government’s ability to hold on to power after the withdrawal of American forces. He said: “I think they have the […]