Afghanistan’s Taliban and Iran confirmed Wednesday that clashes had broken out between the border security forces of the two countries, but neither side reported any casualties. In a late-night statement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said “a misunderstanding at the local level” triggered the conflict near the Afghan border province of Nimruz. Mujahid said “the situation is now under control with […]

A powerful United Nations committee deferred a decision on applications by the ruling authorities of both countries, widely regarded as pariahs, to replace envoys of the governments they had toppled. A bid by the new Taliban government in Afghanistan and the junta ruling Myanmar to gain international recognition suffered a blow on Wednesday when the United Nations put off a […]

Behind the continued attacks on former Afghan officials is a story of Taliban success and failure: creation of a well-indoctrinated generation of fighters that is ill-prepared to move on. After their victory this summer, Taliban leaders had declared a blanket amnesty that was meant to include even Afghan security forces and intelligence operatives. Yet former Afghan officials say they and […]

A Diplomat Risk Intelligence report warns that the options in front of the new Taliban regime in Kabul when it comes to running the Afghan economy are few and perilous. Experts consulted for the latest DRI report on the political drivers, Taliban strategies, domestic implications of the Taliban’s return to Kabul mid-August this year pointed out that there are essentially […]

It is not yet clear how the U.S. will respond to India’s receipt of Russia-made S-400 air defense systems. India appears to be going ahead with the controversial Russian S-400 air defense system. Dmitry Shugaev, director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), recently stated that Russia has started the scheduled delivery of S-400s to India. The delivery of […]

Are “part-time terrorists” on the rise, or is the term used to evade accountability for police abuses? On an evening of November 15, a large contingent of India’s Police, Center Reserve Police Force, and Army set up a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Hyderpora neighborhood of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir. The government forces, as per the Inspector General of […]

As countries slowly start reopening their embassies in Kabul, India is also reportedly considering the possibility of re-staffing its mission in Afghanistan. So far, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan all have a diplomatic presence in the country. Japan and the EU have also discussed the possibility of returning to Afghanistan. One senior […]

Three Russian aircraft landed in Kabul on Wednesday carrying 36 tonnes of humanitarian aid, Russia’s TASS news agency reported. All three Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, involved in delivering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan would also evacuate Russian citizens, as well as citizens of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states, Russia’s Defense Ministry, said in a statement. “Some three Ilyushin Il-76 […]

Saudi Arabia announced that it has reopened the consular section of its embassy in Kabul as of Tuesday in order to provide consular services to Afghan citizens. This latest move has been welcomed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). “We welcome them, appreciate this profound step by the Saudi government and view it as start of good relations,” said […]

A U.S. delegation led by the special representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, held talks with senior Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) representatives in Qatar on Monday and Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said in a statement Wednesday. The two sides discussed the international community’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the U.S. delegation pledged to continue to support […]