By Mustafa Sarwar and RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi January 17, 2026 Since the withdrawal of international forces and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s once-diverse media landscape has collapsed under a lack of funding and restrictions — and Chinese state media is looking to fill the void. Hundreds of outlets have shut down,
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi January 11, 2026 A deadly confrontation at a gold mine in northern Afghanistan has cast new light on the Taliban’s push to expand gold extraction, raising questions about the largely unregulated operations and their foreign — mostly Chinese — backing. The latest incident comes as the Interior Ministry of the Taliban
RFE/RL: More than a month after a pair of attacks killed five Chinese nationals working at a gold mine near Tajikistan’s remote border with Afghanistan, questions remain over what led to the high-profile incidents that could reshape both countries’ relations with China. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s foreign minister has said that “malicious elements” are seeking to disrupt relations between the Taliban and Tajikistan, following the killing of Tajik border guards in an attack by militants who crossed from Afghan territory. Amir Khan Muttaqi said an investigation into the incident has begun and stressed that cooperation with Tajikistan
By Abubakar Siddique Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 4, 2025 China viewed the end of the US-led war in Afghanistan as an opportunity to expand its regional influence, gain access to the country’s mineral wealth, and secure its border against extremist groups. But even as Beijing has expanded its economic and political footprint in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
By RFE/RL’s Tajik Service and Reid Standish December 3, 2025 DUSHANBE -– Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims that it is in talks with Russia to help guard its border with Afghanistan following an attack that killed five Chinese nationals in the area. The claim of a stepped-up Russian military footprint stems from a December
8am: Sources in Badakhshan say Taliban forces and their affiliated mining operatives deliberately targeted the five Chinese citizens who were killed last week on Tajikistan’s soil. According to these sources, clashes erupted between Taliban fighters and Tajik border guards, during which gunfire killed two of the victims. A separate, coordinated drone attack carried out by
Afghanistan International: President Donald Trump indicated he intends to make further remarks about Bagram airbase but gave no timetable for when he might do so. At the White House on Thursday, Trump referred to his administration’s rebuilding of the US military and the equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal. He again criticised
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi September 19, 2025 President Donald Trump said the United States is attempting to get Bagram Airfield back from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, citing the extremist group’s need for US help and the facility’s proximity to China’s nuclear assets. “We’re trying to get it back, by the way, that could be a little breaking
By Reid Standish Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 20, 2025 Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities are hosting a trilateral meeting with China and Pakistan on August 20, as Beijing looks to de-escalate tensions between the two countries by incentivizing cooperation through new trade and investment opportunities amid a flurry of diplomatic outreach. The daylong meeting is expected to