It feels strange to even write this, but Al-Qaeda is back in Afghanistan. Not in whispers or shadows, but in a way that looks a lot like their pre-9/11 presence. More than two decades after the “war on terror” began, the group has carved out space under Taliban protection. Reports say Hamza bin Laden, Osama’s son, is now one of […]
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The U.S.-Taliban Talks: A Strategic Shift in Counterterrorism?
A remarkable transformation has occurred in the three years since U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan Washington has discreetly resumed communicating with the Taliban. A remarkable transformation has occurred in the three years since U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan Washington has discreetly resumed communicating with the Taliban. It is now commonplace for U.S. envoys to meet with the former insurgents who […]
Read more ›The Shadow Commander Behind Pakistan and Afghanistan’s New Border War
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged to their highest levels in decades, following deadly cross-border clashes that have pushed both nations to the brink of prolonged confrontation. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged to their highest levels in decades, following deadly cross-border clashes that have pushed both nations to the brink of prolonged confrontation.At the centre of the […]
Read more ›China’s strategic move on rare earth metals and critical mineral
China has heavily invested in education, science, technology, and innovation since it launched reforms and opened up in 1978. In early days, China sent its youth to world-class universities all over the world and developed quality human resources. In the next stage, China focused on upgrading their own universities and invested within Chinese universities. Curricula were modernized, and teaching methods […]
Read more ›Pakistani military’s fresh airstrikes in Afghanistan an attempt to prolong conflict: Mujahid
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), on Saturday strongly condemned the recent Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province, calling them an attempt to prolong the war. Mujahid emphasized that the Islamic Emirate reserves the right to respond to Pakistani incursions and violations of Afghan territory, but, in order to preserve the dignity of the negotiating delegation, its […]
Read more ›Pakistani airstrike kills 10 in single home in eastern Afghanistan, sources say
Pakistan’s airstrike on a residential area in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 10 people — including women and children — in a single home on Friday, local sources in Paktika province told Amu TV. The airstrike targeted a house in the village of Khanadar in Urgun district, sources said. The home belonged to a resident identified as Mirajan Qasab. The […]
Read more ›Taliban delegation travels to Doha for talks with Pakistan
Taliban confirmed Saturday that their delegation led by Yaqub Mujahid has traveled to Doha, Qatar, for talks with Pakistani officials. Sources confirmed that Taliban intelligence chief Abdulhaq Wasiq is also part of the delegation. The visit comes amid heightened tensions and cross-border clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces in recent days, including reported Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul and several southeastern […]
Read more ›Police in Afghanistan accuse Pakistan of cross-border strikes after ceasefire ends
Pakistan’s military carried out strikes in southeastern Afghanistan on Friday just hours after a two-day ceasefire between the neighboring countries expired, an Afghan police official said. The bombings struck southeastern Paktika province and two other areas close to the Pakistan border, and included a strike on a civilian house in Khanadar village that resulted in casualties, police spokesman Mohammadullah Amini […]
Read more ›Pakistan Can Ensure Its National Security Without Invading Afghanistan
Fortifying the Durand Line, eliminating sleeper cell threats on Pakistan’s side, and dividing-and-ruling Afghanistan through hybrid means can ensure Pakistan’s national security in lieu of the invasion that the US might be putting Pakistan up to in advance of America’s geopolitical and mineral-related goals. The most intense Pakistani-Afghan clashes in years have drawn wider attention to each side’s grievances. Pakistan […]
Read more ›What chance does Trump have of negotiating a Bagram airbase deal with the Taliban?
Discreet, high-stakes negotiations between Washington and the Taliban burst into public view last week when US President Donald Trump declared that America was “trying” to regain control of Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan.
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