Michael Hughes: Once the Soviets left in 1989, Afghanistan at whiplash speed became an afterthought in the corridors of power in Washington, a forgetfulness that came even easier after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the start of Gulf War I. The oblivion was especially pronounced at the top, evidenced in a conversation the
8am: After statements made by Joe Biden, President of the United States of America, about Taliban collaboration with the U.S. against Al-Qaeda, many social media users and some political activists have claimed that the Taliban has taken on a role similar to that of the Wagner Group for the Russian government, even dubbing them the
The Diplomat: The humongous trade is run by regional and multinational cartels with complex and elaborate illicit networks across the region. Politicians, security force personnel, and even the Taliban have been part of this symbiotic nexus, profiteering enormous amounts of money. Amid the anti-poppy measures of the Taliban, a record amount of Afghan drugs moved
8am: With the collapse of the republican government in Afghanistan, the Taliban have once again revived the concept of sexual jihad, known as Jihad-ul-Nikah. Over the past two decades, in areas under Taliban control, this group engaged in Jihad al-Nikah, although it was less prevalent and confined to specific regions. However, with their return to
Michael Hughes: Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev during remarks at a gathering of peers in Kazakhstan said the United States and Britain have tried to take advantage of the chaos in Afghanistan as part of a broader strategy to wreak havoc across Central Asia. “The Americans and the British are trying to manipulate the
8am: Support for the Taliban on social media, especially from individuals who are dissatisfied with living under Taliban control, is a glaring hypocrisy. If someone believes that this group deserves support, they should first choose to experience life under its rule themselves. If they are unwilling to subject themselves and their own families to Taliban
Michael Hughes: As tensions between the Taliban government in Kabul and its longtime benefactors in Pakistan continue to boil, India is quietly enhancing its reputation inside Afghanistan through various humanitarian efforts, especially through food aid, although the assistance is no solution to long-term structural and governance challenges. Click here to read more.
8am: In early September 2021, General Faiz Hameed, the former head of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), made a surprise visit to Kabul in order to resolve the dispute concerning the formation of the Taliban cabinet. When asked about the future of Afghanistan, Hameed smiled and said, “Everything will be alright.” Pakistani strategists believed that the
8am: Following the recent border conflict between the Taliban and Iranian border guards, Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF), tweeted a stanza of Rumi’s famous poems, indicating that he had warned Iran not to go to the Taliban as he himself was the true acquaintance of Iran. This tweet provoked a
8am: Recent fluctuations in the relations between the Iranian government and the Taliban have sparked discussions among Afghans, as well as among politicians, analysts, and media activists. Speculations about the future of Iran’s relationship with the Taliban have emerged. Some argue that Iran made a mistake in defending the Taliban and is now seeking to