Taliban government

Afghan women are already paying a horrible price for the Taliban takeover.

The dismal fate of the Afghan people is that groups even more extreme than the Taliban are emerging to vie for power.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at a mosque packed with Shiites in Kunduz but the Islamic State has long targeted the community.

Only a government that has legitimacy in the eyes of most Afghans will be able to govern a unified and peaceful Afghanistan.

Hyping an unsubstantiated “extremism” threat is a key, and classic, tactic in the Chinese government’s propaganda war.

Phone survey work in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in August and September underscores general discomfort with the topic of Afghanistan.

Expecting moderation from the Taliban and jumping on any signs of change: We’ve been here before.

Both Russia and Pakistan have reportedly urged Tajikistan and the Taliban to cool off their war of words, concerned about conflict on the border.

During its first period of rule the Taliban banned sports, even cricket. Will they view sports differently this time around?

With the economy on the brink of collapse, how can the Taliban approach the coming fiscal year?

Who sits at the high table of international politics when the political arena back home is embroiled in unrest or irregular transition?

When they first captured Kabul back in 1996, the Taliban promised amnesty. It wasn’t a genuine offer then, and it isn’t now either. 

Humanitarian aid experts desperately want to help, but their options are limited – especially if they want to avoid further empowering the Taliban.

Kyrgyzstan’s diplomacy with regard to the Taliban has never been as robust as that of neighboring Uzbekistan, but Bishkek is taking a practical approach to dealing with the new leaders in Kabul.

"Yes, there are no women yet," Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi said of the Taliban government. "But let us let the situation evolve."

Afghanistan has a strong musical tradition and a thriving pop music scene -- now cowed into silence by the Taliban’s rise.

The Taliban seek international support as they grapple with the daunting challenges of governing a nation shredded by four decades of conflict. But they aren’t in a rush to give women power.

A month after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the capital is calm but everything is uncertain. A nation lives in fear. 

Without access to its own or foreign funds, the interim government in Kabul can't even pay the import taxes needed to bring containers of badly needed food from a port in Pakistan.

Can donors help everyday Afghans without handing a public relations victory or cash to the Taliban?

The increasing chasm between the Taliban's promises and their delivery leaves Afghanistan's neighbors with few good options.

Akhundzada’s word will be final on all matters – political, religious, and military

"Indonesia has a significant role to play as a Muslim country with a strong voice on these issues," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.

The new government might have saved the Taliban from internal fracturing, but it has certainly made it harder for them to govern Afghanistan.