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Afghan drug ban may be close to unravelling

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

Local villagers were ignoring the ban on the production, use and trafficking of drugs, announced by Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada in April 2022. The Taliban…

Engaging with Afghanistan will get harder for West

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

This was a reference to criticism of Taliban rule by certain international players. While engagement between the emirate and the West remains limited, the Taliban are drawing…

Afghanistan’s marginalised groups face increasing woes

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban have increasingly fraught relations not only with Shia, most of whom are ethnic Hazaras, but also with other marginalised communities, including Salafis -- a small…

Taliban-Shia tensions will rise in Afghanistan

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

In 2022, the community’s Ashura observances passed off relatively smoothly under Taliban protection. The Taliban said this year that restrictions were necessary to ensure security…

Afghan opposition will struggle to remain relevant

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

Meanwhile, long-standing opposition groups such as the National Resistance Front (NRF) and Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) have re-launched armed campaigns within Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s problems with jihadist groups will grow

Location:

PAKISTAN

Many observers nevertheless remain unconvinced that the country has completely cut ties with militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Meanwhile…

Islamabad will struggle to curb Pakistani Taliban

Location:

PAKISTAN

In late November, the TTP ended a ceasefire with Islamabad and ordered its combatants to return to full insurgency. Responding to the threat is a top priority for the…

Afghanistan's neighbours irritated by US rapprochement

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

After a series of conciliatory moves, the Biden administration is trying to persuade the Taliban to make concessions in return for financial assistance. Taliban leaders are…

Pakistani Taliban will come under huge pressure

Location:

PAKISTAN

The attack was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, an especially hard-line faction of the Pakistani Taliban Movement (TTP). Although the TTP has markedly stepped up its offensive against…

Modi’s Kashmir move puts India-Pakistan ties on brink

Location:

INDIA/PAKISTAN

Consequences of India revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status.