The New Road to Central Asia

After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan offers a vital overland corridor to Central Asia, unlocking trade, stability, and strategic influence.
Afghanistan: A Geopolitical Cauldron and the Rise of Proxy Warfare

Afghanistan’s internal chaos has turned it into a battleground for proxy warfare, with India and Israel allegedly exploiting its instability to target Pakistan, Iran, and regional connectivity projects like CPEC.
A Fragile Opening: What the Pak-Afghan Trade Deal Really Means

The agreement gives Afghanistan vital export routes and positions Pakistan to advance its long-term vision of regional economic connectivity.
A Step Toward Stability: Afghanistan’s Pledge to Disarm the TTP

Afghanistan has pledged to disarm and relocate the TTP—a potential breakthrough in regional counterterrorism efforts.
Proxy, Partner, or Pawn: Situating the TTP in Taliban Strategy

The Afghan Taliban promised peace to the world, but their return to power has fuelled a surge of TTP violence in Pakistan. Why does a government seeking legitimacy refuse to act against its terrorist allies, and what complex forces shape this dangerous and calculated decision?
A Region Held Hostage: The TTP’s Enduring Threat from Afghan Soil

Despite Taliban promises, TTP’s cross-border attacks from Afghan soil persist, exposing a widening gap between Kabul’s rhetoric and ground realities.
Pakistan’s Realism on Afghanistan Needs Global Backing

Four years after the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, the world seems fatigued. Donor aid is drying up, media coverage has moved on, and multilateral efforts have lost steam. Yet for Pakistan, Afghanistan’s most impacted neighbor, disengagement is not an option. Speaking at the UN Security Council, Pakistan once again struck a tone of […]
A Contradictory Compassion? India’s Stance on Refugees

India’s provision of humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees repatriated from Pakistan is a recent attempt to showcase its compassion for refugees, especially Afghans. However, this gesture, recognized by the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, sharply contrasts with India’s past involvement in the Afghan conflict and its broader history of handling humanitarian crises and refugee […]
Russia’s Supreme Court Suspends Taliban’s Terrorist Designation
![Russia suspends terrorist designation of Taliban after 20 years, aiming to boost ties with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers. [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2024-06-05T144247Z_285717659_RC2258AQU7XE_RTRMADP_3_RUSSIA-FORUM-AFGHANISTAN-1744898647.webp)
Russia suspends terrorist designation of Taliban after 20 years, aiming to boost ties with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers.
US Weapons Left in Afghanistan Smuggled or Sold to Al-Qaeda Affiliates, BBC Report
![BBC reports that half a million US weapons obtained by the IEA in Afghanistan are unaccounted for, raising concerns over smuggling. [Image via Getty Images]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/bd5d4d50-1072-11f0-b234-07dc7691c360.jpg.webp)
BBC reports that half a million US weapons obtained by the IEA in Afghanistan are unaccounted for, raising concerns over smuggling.