Afghanistan, now controlled by the Taliban, has become a hotspot of unexpected developments that could reshape global politics. Despite ongoing U.S. sanctions and a lack of international recognition, the Taliban’s control has led to dramatic changes: opium production has plummeted, but ISIS-K remains a persistent threat; tensions with Pakistan and
In 2024, Afghanistan is facing a second year of the Taliban’s poppy ban, significantly reducing poppy cultivation, though some areas like Badakhshan continue to resist, leading to violent clashes. Despite efforts to enforce the ban, including crop destruction, many farmers have turned to other crops or left their land fallow
The Taliban’s decision to describe the Wakhan Corridor’s southeastern border as Jammu & Kashmir instead of Gilgit-Baltistan is a clever psychological provocation against Pakistan, albeit one which remains below the threshold of unacceptability and thus couldn’t legitimately justify a kinetic response. The Taliban’s Ministry of Border and Tribal Affairs posted on
Over 117 million people worldwide are fleeing from war, persecution, and conflict, marking an eight percent increase from last year and a staggering 31 percent rise compared to 2021. Most of these refugees come from just five countries, as shown by Statista’s Anna Fleck, with Afghanistan leading at 6.40 million
In the past ten days, the Taliban sold 150,000 tons of crude oil for over $80 million. This follows their 25-year contract with China’s CAPEIC, which invested $49 million to boost daily production to 8,000 barrels. Beijing’s investment in Afghanistan is starting to pay off as the government has sold
The Biden administration plans to bring thousands of Afghan refugees into the U.S., with Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez stating the Philippines might serve as a processing area for displaced Afghan citizens. The Biden administration is considering a plan to use the Philippines as a processing area for Afghan refugees before
Improving Russian-Taliban ties has created significant opportunities for India to influence Afghanistan’s economic development, counter China’s regional influence, and strengthen its strategic position through collaborative infrastructure projects. With the elimination of the Taliban’s status as a domestic terrorist organization imminent, Russia is well-positioned to strategically collaborate with them, thereby transforming
Recent developments, such as Russia’s invitations to the Taliban to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and debates on removing them from the terrorist list, raise questions about strategic partnership intentions. Because of their treatment of women and their unwillingness to establish a government that is inclusive of all ethnic
According to data from UNHCR, as of mid-2023, there are 36.5 million refugees worldwide. Countries like Iran and Turkey host the most refugees due to their proximity to conflict zones. Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and South Sudan have the highest number of people fleeing. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) forecasts that