Afghanistan International: Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Taliban’s Commission for Contact with Afghan Political Figures, made the appeal at a gathering in Kabul on Tuesday. Addressing veteran jihadi commander Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf by name, he said, “Ustad Sayyaf will either die in Türkiye or India; it is better for him to return to his
Ariana: Following Russia’s recent decision to formally recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Pakistani officials have stated that Islamabad will not act hastily and will make a final decision based on its national interests. According to The Express Tribune, quoting government sources, Pakistan may take a more pragmatic approach if other regional countries follow
Afghanistan International: Ata Mohammad Noor, former governor of Balkh province has warned that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban could trigger new regional and international tensions. In a statement issued following reports of the Kremlin’s deepening ties with the Taliban, Noor said such recognition would have consequences beyond bilateral relations, potentially turning Afghanistan into a battleground
Khaama: Russia’s recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan marks a significant shift in geopolitical alignments, signaling Moscow’s broader strategy to expand its influence in Central and South Asia. Officially recognized on July 3, 2025, Russia becomes the first nation to acknowledge the Taliban’s rule, ushering in a new Great Game of
Amu: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, acknowledged on Friday that internal rifts and financial difficulties have delayed infrastructure projects across eastern Afghanistan, including in Paktia Province. Speaking at a public gathering in Paktia, Haqqani said that some development projects had been personally funded by him, but their implementation had been slowed or halted due
Amu: The remarks come amid reported tension within the Taliban’s leadership, particularly concerning what some view as the consolidation of power by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Taliban insiders have told Amu that Haqqani has grown increasingly vocal in recent months about his dissatisfaction with this centralization. Political analyst Hatef Mokhtar said the comments signal deeper
Afghanistan International: Eric Ciotti, leader of France’s right-wing party The Republicans and a member of the National Assembly, met with Ahmad Massoud, head of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front, during the latter’s visit to Paris this week. Ciotti affirmed that Massoud can count on his and his party’s continued support. Massoud travelled to France to attend
8am: While Türkiye, like other regional powers, maintains relatively cordial ties with the Taliban, it has also pursued a distinctive and multifaceted approach, most notably by openly hosting opposition factions. In this regard, Türkiye stands alone as the only country where a large number of anti-Taliban figures have found refuge and operate freely. These actors
Afghanistan International: Dozens of protesters were reportedly detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province following a demonstration against the group’s police command in Dawlat Abad district, sources told Afghanistan International. At least four independent sources confirmed that protesters chanted “Long live Dostum”, a reference to Abdul Rashid Dostum, the former vice president and
Khaama: Shawn VanDiver, president of the refugee advocacy group AfghanEvac, has sharply criticized former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for endorsing an Eid message by Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund. While Khalilzad remains a vocal commentator on Afghan affairs, his perceived closeness to the Taliban continues to raise alarms among Afghan diaspora communities and human