In June, the number of attacks in Afghanistan claimed by ISIS-K-linked propaganda outlets remained very small. This continues the trend of ISIS-K-linked propaganda outlets only reporting on significant attacks. By far, the most impactful terrorist operations by ISIS-K in Afghanistan were the killing of the Taliban deputy governor of Badakhshan, Nissar Ahmad Ahmadi, by an ISIS-K car bomb followed by […]

There has been a gradual rise in isolated militant activity in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. The number of terrorist attacks increased by 27% in 2022 compared to 2021, and have been observed to be deadly in impact on few occasions, as seen during the Peshawar suicide bombing at the Police Lines mosque. The […]

The fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 marked a turning point in the country’s history. However, the aftermath of their rule has been far from stable. This article delves into the intricate dynamics between Kandahar, the birthplace capital of the Taliban, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It explores Pakistan’s lobbying for the recognition of the Taliban […]

Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Riaz Pirzada has said that he does not see the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) involvement in recent terror incidents across Pakistan, adding that there are misunderstandings between the two countries. The minister’s remarks come as a stark contradiction to recent statements issued by the government and the army who have repeatedly raised concerns over the […]

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has again rejected claims by Pakistan that Afghan nationals are involved in terror attacks across the border and stated that Afghanistan is not responsible for the “security failure of any country in the region.” According to a statement issued late Tuesday night by the IEA’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, the IEA “completely rejects these allegations […]

Iranian reports indicate and 11-member delegation from Tehran has visited Afghanistan, and that the water rights issue was a key topic of discussion. According to ILNA news agency, Naser Kenani, the spokesman of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a press conference on Monday that various issues were discussed including that regarding water rights. “As two neighboring countries, there […]

Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been grappling with the issue of terrorism, with various extremist groups operating in the region. Among them, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as a significant threat, with its recent resurgence in Pakistan and alleged sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan. The TTP, formed in 2007, is an umbrella organization comprising multiple militant groups operating mainly […]

On July 31, 2023, the Taliban detained three journalists – Najib Faryad from Ariana News, and two local journalists, Hatef Aryan and Sebghatullah Turan – in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh Province. Till the time of writing, local Taliban officials in the province had not provided any official statement regarding this incident. On July 12, 2023, Radio Safa reporter Irfanullah Bidar […]

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 marked a pivotal shift in global geopolitics. With the Taliban’s unexpected yet rapid return to power, the international community watched with bated breath, concerned about Afghanistan’s reemergence as a potential nexus for international terrorism. This transition has profound implications, not only for Afghanistan’s internal sociopolitical dynamics but also for the larger regional security […]

More than 200 members of Afghanistan’s former military, law enforcement and government have been killed since the Taliban took over, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said on Tuesday, despite a “general amnesty” for old enemies. The mission said in a report it had recorded at least 218 extrajudicial killings with links to the Taliban from their takeover of Afghanistan in […]