No one in the Iranian government was sad to see U.S. and NATO troops leave Afghanistan. In fact, Tehran would prefer to have the Taliban next-door than often-hostile Western powers. But Shiite-majority Iran has also been a target of attacks in the past from the Sunni Islamist Taliban, and it worries that if Afghanistan descends into chaos, it could negatively […]

Spymasters of some regional countries have exchanged views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. There has been no word yet from the government on the discussions, Pakistani media reported the meeting took place in Islamabad late on Saturday. Russian, Chinese, Iranian and some Central Asian intelligence heads conferred on issues concerning security on the Durand Line. Dawn quoted an unnamed […]

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, has been spotted in a video released on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Al-Zawahiri was seen in the video on Saturday, multiple media outlets reported, citing the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors the online activity of extremist outfits. Rita Katz, SITE’s director, was quoted as saying that new doubts had emerged that the 60 […]

The Taliban hoisted their black and white flag on the presidential palace in Kabul on September 11, which happens to be the twentieth anniversary of the Al-Qaeda’s attack on New York and Washington, DC. The symbolism is too obvious to be missed. Although the Taliban had no hand in the 9/11 attacks, it took the brunt of the US’ revenge […]

The brother of Amrullah Saleh, the former Afghan vice president who became one of the leaders of an opposition force in the Panjshir valley, has allegedly been “executed” by Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan forces, his nephew said on Friday. Reuters reported that news of Saleh’s brother Rohullah Azizi’s death comes just days after Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan forces took control […]

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said Saturday that there are signs that the international community will recognize the Islamic Emirate government soon. Addressing a gathering in Paktia province, Mujahid stated: “Efforts [are] underway…signals are positive, InshAllah, the Islamic Emirate will be recognized at the international level. What responsibilities they want; first countrywide security which is […]

Many Afghan refugees who had fled to Iran are eager to return home to start a new life following the withdrawal of foreign troops in Afghanistan, Reuters reported. Najibollah, 28, comes from Helmand Province in Afghanistan. One month ago, he spent 10 days walking to the Iranian border city Zahedan to avoid the conflict in his hometown. During his stay […]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that all countries involved in the Afghan refugee crisis need to come together to find a solution to the problem. Addressing a joint press conference after talks with his Qatari counterpart Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is on an official visit to Moscow, Lavrov said: “Humanitarian reverberations of what happened are very, […]

The Taliban announced their caretaker cabinet 24 days after taking control of Kabul, but more than half of the cabinet members are on the UN sanction’s list. The Taliban seized capital Kabul on August 15 hours before President Ghani fled the country and they are now in full control of the whole country. The Taliban had said that they would […]

The U.S. and international partners should navigate carefully but proactively or risk making a dire economic and humanitarian situation worse. The Taliban’s unexpectedly rapid and complete victory over the now defunct Islamic Republic of Afghanistan brings with it yet another shock to the long-suffering Afghan people and the country’s very weak economy. Already plagued by insecurity, COVID, corruption, government over-centralization […]