Russia’s cooperation with the Taliban allows it to present itself as the region’s security provider — in contrast to the United States.
Afghanistan
ISIS-K’s ability to strike across Eurasia could push the international community to cooperate more with its chief rival, the Afghan Taliban.
China is engaging the Taliban to both deter security threats from Afghanistan and challenge Western influence in the Muslim world.
A little-known Chinese company reportedly said it would develop a lithium mine in Afghanistan for $10 billion. But the project has low odds of success.
The drug trade and mining make up the largest share of Taliban revenue.
The halted peace talks and upcoming elections have one critical point in common: they both operate with a “winner-takes-all” political logic.
The Afghan president wants to stay in power, even if that means putting a peace deal with the Taliban in jeopardy.
Financial hardship among Afghans surges amid an epic drought.
Many have their eyes on Donald Trump’s Twitter feed anticipating an announcement of a deal with the Taliban.
A bomb blast in western Pakistan may have targeted the Afghan Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada.