Sustained U.S. and Afghan operations combating the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State has led to a near-collapse of the jihadist group in eastern Afghanistan — helping clear a hurdle for an American withdrawal from the country.

Washington’s special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the Afghan capital and will “rejoin talks with the Taliban,” the State Department said Wednesday. Khalilzad’s visit comes just days after President Donald Trump visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan for the Thanksgiving holiday, when he hinted at a resumption of peace talks with the Taliban.

Minorities in Pakistan are anxiously awaiting the final court ruling against a hardline cleric who was indicted last month on charges of sedition and terrorism for inciting nationwide protests in Pakistan.

At least 15 Taliban militants were killed as fighting planes pounded the hideouts of the Taliban fighters in the southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces on Thursday, said an army statement released on Friday.

Bangladesh is seeking to diversify its military arsenal given that more than 90% of its equipment is of Chinese origin. The current strategy is based on fears of being trapped in a full-blown conflict with Myanmar, which enjoys China’s backing over the Rohingya issue.

On Dec. 4, FDD’s Long War Journal reported on a new video released by the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group that is loyal to the Taliban and fights under its umbrella in Afghanistan. The video shows TIP members training and and fighting in Afghanistan. Overall, the video is a pretty typical example of jihadist messaging.

The Delhi Police Special Cell and Assam Police in a joint operation on Monday busted an ISIS-inspired terror module and apprehended three operatives planning an attack in the Capital.

More than 40 Taliban militants have been killed within past 24 hours as the Afghan army, backed by air force and NATO-led coalition’s aircraft, continued to pound militants by conducting daily operations, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

An American working for the United Nations has been killed when his car was attacked with a grenade in the Afghan capital.

An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents have stormed a checkpoint in a central province, killed at least eight Afghan soldiers.