Taliban deputy chief minister Abdul Ghani Baradar on Sunday urged countries to respect each other’s sovereignty and avoid policies that fuel regional instability, as tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban remain high. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Taliban security forces in Kabul, Baradar did not name any country but said long-term political and economic interests required states to respect […]

At least 14 members of Afghanistan’s former security forces were killed between October and December last year, while dozens more were arbitrarily detained or tortured, the United Nations said, highlighting continued human rights violations under Taliban rule despite pledges of a general amnesty. In its latest quarterly report released Sunday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it documented […]

Leaders in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, once considered outliers answerable only to Moscow, are emerging as actors in the political and security dynamics of the core Middle East. Kazakhstan has established itself as a Middle East player by joining the Abraham Accords and Trump’s Board of Peace, and it reportedly will announce this week that it is contributing […]

On February 5, 2026, Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that Security Forces (SFs) had concluded Operation Radd-ul-Fitna (Elimination of Discord)-1 in Balochistan, after a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) targeting Baloch insurgent networks, killed 216 insurgents. According to the statement, the military began these operations on January 29, 2026, in Panjgur and near Harnai District, targeting […]

Toplines New indicators suggest that CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping launched investigations into two of the seniormost PLA officers because he perceived them as undermining his leadership and military modernization objectives. This is consistent with the assessment that ISW-CDOT published. The PRC announced investigations into Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and chief of the CMC Joint Staff […]

Pakistan and Uzbekistan called on the Taliban to address terrorism threats and take “immediate and concrete actions” to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, according to a joint declaration issued after talks between the two countries’ leaders. The call came after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held meetings in Islamabad with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a […]

A suicide bombing at a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160 on Friday. Geo News reported, citing local officials. The blast occurred at the Imambargah Khadijat-ul-Kubra in the Tarlai area of southeastern Islamabad. Quoted by Geo News, police sources said the attacker was linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, a […]

The Taliban have rejected claims that foreign militant groups are operating in Afghanistan, instead alleging that Islamic State fighters have established bases in neighbouring countries. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, made the remarks in response to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, where several countries voiced concern about militant activity in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Mujahid said Afghanistan is secure […]

China and Pakistan voiced strong concern at the United Nations Security Council over the presence and activities of militant groups in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to take action. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s representative, said militants had gained a “new lease of life” under Taliban rule and were operating freely from Afghan territory. He said the groups were responsible for deadly […]

In February 2026, the US and India announced an interim trade deal aimed at reducing tariffs and enhancing economic relations. On February 7, 2026, the United States and India unveiled an interim trade framework aimed at reducing tariffs and enhancing bilateral economic ties. This agreement, announced amid President Donald Trump’s push for reciprocal trade and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis […]