Tolo News: The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that Trump’s unexpected announcement that he seeks to reclaim the Bagram base may be part of a broader diplomatic effort to normalize relations with the Islamic Emirate. The newspaper also wrote that these talks, led by Adam Boehler, the U.S.’s special envoy for hostage affairs,
8am: The Taliban act with rigid ideology in many areas, blending their tribal and ethnic preferences with selective Quranic verses and prophetic traditions, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. Yet, when Western interests are at stake, they proceed with far greater caution and restraint. The Taliban know full well that for Donald Trump, the
Amu: Zahir Qadeer, a former deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s parliament, would appear before a court in Nairobi on Thursday as Kenyan authorities weigh a request from the United States for his extradition on charges related to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. Qadeer has alleged that the charges are part of a broader plan by
Michael Hughes: As relations between Iran and Afghanistan grow warmer, the U.S. has put efforts to boost ties with the Taliban into overdrive. The FBI removed Haqqani Network bounties and diplomatic rapprochement is in full swing. Ex-envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is suddenly back on the scene – no doubt in a bid to ensure the radical
Khaama: Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, stated that during a meeting with an American delegation, the group requested the handover of Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington, D.C. Mujahid, in an interview with Al Arabiya on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, also mentioned that the Taliban had asked the U.S. delegation to reopen its embassy in
Khaama: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister under the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, continues to draw international attention as signs of evolving U.S. policy emerge. Sources close to the Haqqani network have told Afghan outlet Tolo News that the reward designations on key figures of the group have been lifted by the U.S. government. According
Afghanistan International: A US State Department spokesperson said that Washington has the ability to engage with “designated terrorist groups” to advance US interests. Matthew Miller said that the US has engaged with various groups, including the Taliban and Tahrir al-Sham, to advance its interests. Click here to read more (external link).
The Spectator: Since withdrawing, the United States has pumped in more than $20 billion in aid. Separately, tens of millions of dollars are delivered monthly in cash, ostensibly for humanitarian organisations, though much is pilfered by the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, a regional affairs expert, argued that Afghanistan’s neighbors have never viewed the Taliban strategically but have been compelled by geography to maintain ties with the group. According to Rahimi, these countries’ experiences with the Taliban have shown that they cannot trust the group domestically or regionally. Rahimi also stated that the
8am: With a general review, one can conclude that the interview aligns with the effort to whitewash the Taliban and continues the narrative of the “good Taliban and bad Taliban,” portraying the Taliban as different from the 1990s, a narrative that had been discussed during the Doha negotiations. Such interviews by Western media are not