(FPRI) — When they reestablished control over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban claimed they would respect womens’ rights, trumpeting a newly-discovered moderation. Instead, they have constructed one of the world’s most repressive regimes: Afghan women are banned from attending high school or university, and cannot work for nongovernmental organizations–indeed, the Taliban have “barred women from working most jobs outside […]

On Sunday, August 20, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Afghanistan, Fasihuddin Fitrah said, “Pakistan should search for their enemies on their own soil. As we have promised, no country will be harmed and no country will be attacked from the soil of Afghanistan, we adhere to this commitment. But we will not allow anyone to encroach or […]

As Afghanistan marks two years under Taliban rule, the world remains apprehensive about the nation’s potential resurgence as a safe haven for international terrorism. The world’s worst fears were confirmed over a year ago when the U.S. identified al-Qaeda leader Aimen al-Zawahiri in Kabul before killing him in a drone strike. This revelation heightened concerns as the Taliban had repeatedly […]

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the special representative for Afghanistan affairs, urged the international community to support Afghan refugees in Iran. Qomi called for support during a discussion with Stefan Priesner, the UN representative in Iran, on Sunday. He said on X, formerly Twitter, that: “The development of diplomacy with the United Nations in the framework of the national development plan and […]

Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA) said on Monday its general director Mullah Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat has left for Iran, along with his accompanying delegation. The Afghanistan Railway Authority says that Sharafat will meet with Iranian railway officials to discuss issues related to the Khaf-Herat railway line, the launching of short-term technical training courses for ARA employees, and strengthening bilateral railway cooperation. During […]

Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, political deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), said in a meeting with the Iranian parliamentary delegation on Monday that necessary facilities should be provided for Afghan refugees in the neighboring country. According to a statement released by the PM’s office, Abdul Kabir emphasized that the Islamic Emirate will not allow anyone to use […]

Disengaging with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will create a bigger chaos and will create a vacuum in the country, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani warned on Friday. “We strongly believe that disengaging with Taliban (IEA) will create a bigger chaos and will create a vacuum in the country which unfortunately we are having it from […]

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expressed concern in a meeting on Friday over the growth and activity of Daesh in Afghanistan and said the security of the world, especially the countries of the region, is at risk. At the meeting, Under-Secretary-General of the Office of Counter-Terrorism said that Daesh has gained access to American weapons in Afghanistan, and in […]

Two years on from the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan’s neighbors are increasingly concerned that their return to power has emboldened terrorist groups and networks, which are using the hospitable environment to regroup, rearm, and recruit substantially. There is growing evidence, as the United Nations’ Sanctions Monitoring Team warns, that al-Qaeda and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) are thriving under […]

Speakers at a consultation in Islamabad on Friday urged that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should start fresh negotiations to break the ongoing deadlock over the issue Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and cross-border terrorism. They said that Pakistan lacked continuity in its policies towards Afghanistan and added that Islamabad should form some “realistic and holistic” policy for the neighbouring country, which must […]