The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) recently released a 59-page booklet in Pashto that has sent shockwaves through the region. In this document, the ISKP nullified the Fatwa issued by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and even went a step further by inviting low-ranking Taliban members to join its ranks. This move signifies a complex and troubling development, shedding […]

The evolving relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan represents a dynamic regional landscape with numerous challenges and opportunities. It is important to delve deeper into some key aspects of this complex partnership. The historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan date back centuries, and these connections are deeply rooted in shared cultural, linguistic, and ethnic affinities. Pashtuns, in particular, form a significant […]

As Pakistan’s caretaker government takes over from the previous government under Shahbaz Sharif, security challenges paint a gloomy picture for the country. Last year saw the highest number of terror incidents in Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) and Baloch separatists being the main outfits responsible for the attacks. The return of the Afghan Taliban to power has invigorated many terror groups operating […]

Sardar Ahmed Shakib, acting Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, on Friday called on the government of Pakistan to reopen the Torkham crossing as soon as possible. In a meeting with Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani, the Afghan envoy said that closing the Torkham gate is detrimental to both countries. He added that travelers and traders stuck in Torkham are […]

Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Friday that the Chitral terrorist attack is an “isolated” incident and it does not appear to have been authorized by the Afghan authorities. Talking to reporters informally after briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Jilani said that Pakistan has taken up the issue of rising terrorist attacks in the […]

New US intelligence assessments suggest that it is “unlikely” al-Qaeda will revive in Afghanistan and Pakistan and that counterterrorism operations by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have degraded Daesh’s presence in the country, two senior US officials said on Friday, CNN reported. The assessments described by the officials in a briefing to reporters paints an optimistic picture of the overall […]

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) says the closure of Torkham crossing into Pakistan has cost the economy millions of afghanis (AFN) over the past three days. The closure of the border came at a crucial time specifically for exporters of fresh produce, especially fruit. The ACCI said the longer the trucks sit at the closed crossing the more […]

Due to its strategic location, Afghanistan is an essential player in South Asia and Central Asia’s trade, energy, and commerce sectors. Numerous initiatives, such as the TAPI Pipeline, TUTAP Power Project, CASA-1000, and TAP, have attracted the country due to its ability to link these two regions. These initiatives aim to improve energy transmission and trade routes between regions, creating […]

Pakistan claims a “large group of terrorists” stormed security outposts close to the Afghanistan border in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, prompting fierce clashes. Four Pakistani soldiers were killed and 12 assailants died in the clashes at two separate outposts in the Kalash border valley, according to Pakistani officials. The clashes took place when “a large group of terrorists equipped with […]

A top US official said on Wednesday no military equipment had been left behind by American forces in Afghanistan, in response to a question about reports that $7 billion worth of weapons reportedly were abandoned in the war-torn country when US forces withdrew in August 2011. The comments by John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication, came […]