Russia’s recognition of the Taliban rule has provoked a wave of condemnation from political figures and civil society voices, who warn that the move not only legitimizes repression but also fuels “regional instability and extremism”. Naseer Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, described the recognition as “a lose-lose situation for both sides,” arguing that the opportunity […]

Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has said that official engagement with the IEA is acknowledgement of an undeniable reality and called on the international community to replace pressure-based policies with dialogue and cooperation. In a statement posted on X, Haqqani described the Islamic Emirate as a movement rooted in the faith and will […]

China’s powerful Central Military Commission has shrunk to its smallest size in decades under the leadership of Xi Jinping, a Newsweek analysis shows, with analysts saying it highlights the personalization of his control—and efforts to make the military combat-ready. The changes come at a critical time for China as it rivals the United States in military and economic terms amid […]