Geography and a history of proxy politics have made Afghanistan an arena for others’ contests, undermining its stability. Internal fragmentation has compounded the damage. Regional rivalries have repeatedly undermined Afghan-led efforts toward peace. These rivalries have included those between Pakistan and India and between Iran and the Gulf States. Intensifying US–China competition and US tensions More

Trump’s latest ordeal with the Taliban comes down to one pressing question: Will they hand over Bagram Air Base, or is this a high-stakes gamble for political recognition? Nearly 24 years ago, in September, I vividly remember one hot night at home. My father, along with a few male guests, sat on the roof, brimming More

The United Nations Security Council convened last week to assess the quarterly Afghanistan report presented by the out-going Special Representative of the Secretary General, Rosa Otunbayeva, and other Council members. They did not, however, expect to hear that Afghanistan’s precarious trajectory faces a “perfect  storm” of crises—humanitarian shortages, entrenched human rights violations, and regional tension, More

Afghans—whether nationalists, patriots, Islamists, secularists, or leftists—share one conviction almost instinctively: they despise the direct presence of foreigners. This rejection is so visceral that it has shaped much of our political discourse for generations. Yet, beneath the surface lies a painful contradiction. The same forces that denounce foreign occupation often take pride in dealing with More

Afghanistan’s energy sector faces a significant and persistent deficit, hindering its economic and social development. The country has one of the lowest per capita energy consumption rates in the world, with a high percentage of its population, especially in rural areas, lacking reliable electricity. This has led to a costly reliance on imported power, creating More

Identity has been integral to politics since the dawn of human civilization. Political boundaries have been drawn, resources claimed, and conflicts justified through the articulation of identity. Even in early Islamic history, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emphasized a unifying human identity that reduced internal strife and fostered communal cohesion. Today, identity remains a potent instrument More

We still remember the day Kabul fell. So many Afghans who worked shoulder to shoulder with Americans in military, diplomatic, and development missions immediately knew the risks they faced under the Taliban regime, who saw them not as civilians but as traitors and infidels. These Afghan partners of the United States knew that staying behind More

On December 30th, 2024, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister and leader of the Haqqani Network, held meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, to discuss the strategic importance of the Wakhan Corridor and the potential for increased trade. Amidst reports of clashes along the Durand Line between Taliban and Pakistani forces, and More

A couple of years ago, I was sitting in our office, Koti Sangi in the west of Kabul when, during a roundtable discussion, someone kiddingly asked, “How’s the highway construction going?” Saleem Parwani 55, our staff driver, chuckled and replied, “Well, we’re running low on donkeys too.” Intrigued, I asked, “Why is that?” His response More

Contents Is “non-violence” the right way to get your rights? Introduction Ethical-Philosophical Foundations of Nonviolence Immanuel Kant’s Deontology or the School of Moral Responsibilities John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism or Philosophy Based on Consequences Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics Why Should Violence Be Rejected? Destruction and Loss of Life. Loss of Ethical Support and Legitimacy. Strengthening Tyranny. Weakening More