Afghanistan

The geographic and social conditions that make Badakhshan difficult for the Taliban to control also make it difficult for any widespread unrest to spill out from the region.

Russia’s recognition of the Taliban provides much sought-after legitimacy to a regime that is enforcing the world’s most extreme version of gender apartheid.

Manizha Bakhtari may no longer represent a state, but she represents a nation of women fighting to be seen, heard, and educated.

Beneath the official narratives of “stability” and “return,” lies a brutal truth: Afghanistan remains a deeply unsafe country and any forced return of refugees constitutes a clear violation of international law and basic human rights.

The Taliban’s recent travel diplomacy and international engagements indicate the group is not as isolated as perceived abroad. 

Despite tactical successes over two decades, the strategic failure to eliminate or significantly degrade the TTP threat reflects deeper problems in Pakistan's approach to counterterrorism and regional security.

Homeland Security Secretary Noem determined that "permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.”

Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recently signed a declaration noting the dire situation of Afghan women and girls, some of whom are in Central Asia receiving education.

Karzai’s influence is not just historical; it lies in his ability to mediate Afghanistan’s current power struggles. 

A discussion on religious freedom abroad invariably circled back to the present political turmoil in the United States under the second Trump administration.

While an ICJ case may not immediately change conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, it nevertheless carries profound symbolic, political, and legal weight.

Tehran’s growing engagement with Kabul underscores a calculated effort to navigate its own economic and geopolitical challenges.