A suicide car bomber targeted a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing two soldiers, a policeman and a civilian, the military and security officials said. It was the second militant attack to hit Pakistan in as many days. The bombing happened in North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan and is a former stronghold […]

Karakalpakstan has a constitutional right to secede from Uzbekistan via referendum, but calling for such a vote results in immense pressure and often prison terms. “Karakalpakstan is not Uzbekistan,” Aman Sagidullayev, the leader of the Alga Karakalpakstan movement stressed to The Diplomat. Sagidullayev fled his homeland in 2012 for Kyrgyzstan and eventually even farther abroad. His movement’s demand for a […]

As Muslims are facing increased threat in several countries, like the unending public lynching and the recent open call for genocide by the Hindutwa militia in India, some sections of them are shrinking into their shells. Hijab or veil is one expression of this shrinking phenomena. This uniform, often black, lose covering over one’s dress, known as purdah in south […]

In anticipation of next month’s United Nations Security Council talks on reforming the inherently archaic and dysfunctional political body, China’s foreign policy chief, Yang Yi stated his country’s demands. “The reform of the Security Council should uphold fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, allowing more small and medium-sized countries to have more opportunities to participate […]

The Washington Post’s oped writers on national security are mostly in agreement on the importance of challenging and even confronting China. Writers such as David Ignatius, Marc Thiessen, and particularly Josh Rogin favor greater defense spending and Indo-Pacific deployments to deal with the problem of China. They give little attention to the possibility of dealing with the problem diplomatically. Now […]

On a Saturday morning last month, 31-year-old journalist Abdul Saboor Sirat took a taxi to a ceremony in his home city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan for “Afghan Journalists Day.” He joined around 100 people gathered in the basement of a cultural center. But within thirty minutes, the journalists meant to be the event’s guests of honor instead became victims. […]

Abstract: After the historic events leading to the Taliban’s capture of Afghan territory and return to government in the summer of 2021, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—better known as the Pakistani Taliban—has begun a trajectory to emulate its allies in Afghanistan. Founded in 2007 as an umbrella movement in Pakistan’s tribal territory uniting the area’s militant Islamist outfits, the TTP later […]

Sirajuddin Haqqani, Interior Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), said on Monday in a meeting that there won’t be an atmosphere of trust unless moral principles become the norm, and that having malicious intent for others is “bad politics”. Haqqani made the remarks in a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu in Kabul. During the meeting, Wang said […]

Pakistan’s prime minister has appointed veteran diplomat Asif Khan Durrani as the special envoy for Afghanistan, Islamabad’s foreign ministry said Tuesday in a statement. Durrani, is a highly experienced diplomat who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. Having served in various key positions within the diplomatic corps, including as Pakistan’s ambassador to several countries, Durrani […]

The G20, a premier forum for international economic cooperation, has become increasingly politicized in recent years, as its agenda has expanded to include more contentious and complex issues, such as climate change, trade disputes, migration, and human rights. This trend has been driven by the rising salience, polarization, and mobilization of actors and issues in the global arena, as well […]