2. Security

    2021-05-06

    Pakistan stepping up co-operation as international coalition withdraws from Afghanistan

    Pakistan has taken many steps to confront potential threats after coalition forces leave Afghanistan, such as building a border fence and expelling militants from the tribal belt.

  3. Security

    2021-05-04

    Al-Baghdadi's 'right hand man' captured in Istanbul

    The Afghan national, known by the code name 'Basim', was reportedly responsible for the extremist group's 'so-called military wing'.

  4. Security

    2021-05-03

    Evidence mounts of close al-Qaeda–Taliban relationship

    The United States fulfilled its commitment to the Taliban by announcing its decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, but evidence suggests the Taliban are not keeping their promises.

Who is undermining the peace process in Afghanistan?

View Results

SPOTLIGHT

Pakistan stepping up co-operation as international coalition withdraws from Afghanistan

Pakistan has taken many steps to confront potential threats after coalition forces leave Afghanistan, such as building a border fence and expelling militants from the tribal belt.

Pakistan stepping up co-operation as international coalition withdraws from Afghanistan
  1. Health

    2021-04-30

    World increasingly wary of COVID-19 disinformation from Russia, China

    Moscow and Beijing seek to undermine public trust in Western vaccines while promoting their own jabs -- which have raised serious concerns over efficacy, quality control and transparency.

  2. Politics

    2021-04-29

    Leaked Zarif audio reveals IRGC's dominance in decision-making

    The Iranian foreign minister levels harsh criticism at Qassem Soleimani and the IRGC's influence on Iran's foreign policy in a leaked audio file that is causing ferocious domestic backlash.

  3. Health

    2021-04-28

    Healthcare workers shun Chinese-made vaccines over reliability, safety concerns

    There is widespread distrust of China's Sinopharm vaccine, and some healthcare professionals believe that China is testing low-quality vaccines on Pakistanis.

  1. Terrorism

    2021-04-27

    Tainted and tattered, bin Laden's legacy still haunts al-Qaeda

    Al-Qaeda 'barely survived' after the death of Osama bin Laden, analysts say, and the once popular figure is now seen by most as 'yesterday's news'.

  2. Human Rights

    2021-04-23

    China's 'Sinicisation' policy aims to stamp out identity of Muslim minorities

    Beijing is committing 'crimes against humanity' by attempting to erase Muslim culture and religion through 're-education' camps in Xinjiang, says Human Rights Watch.

  3. Terrorism

    2021-04-22

    Taliban bombing of luxury hotel in Quetta raises questions about China

    The Taliban said Pakistani security personnel were the target, but many are not convinced. Pakistan is fighting several insurgencies in Balochistan waged by groups angered at Chinese presence.

  4. Security

    2021-04-22

    US eyes repositioning its troops in Afghanistan to neighbouring countries

    The US military is studying options to continue surveilling and potentially attacking violent extremists in Afghanistan from neighbouring countries.

  5. Security

    2021-04-19

    Taliban thugs begin semi-annual extortion of Afghan farmers

    The Taliban extort money from farmers during growing and harvest seasons each year under the pretext of zakat, and many impoverished Afghans have to borrow money to pay the militants.

  6. Analysis

    2021-04-16

    A hitch in China's global pandemic strategy: its vaccines might not work

    Chinese-made vaccines 'don't have very high rates of protection', a senior official said, raising concerns for the recipients of China's so-called 'public good'.

  7. Health

    2021-04-14

    Over 400,000 'excess deaths' point to major Russian COVID-19 coverup

    For much of the past year, the Kremlin has been more focused on winning the public relations aspects of the pandemic than on fighting the virus itself.

  8. Security

    2021-04-12

    Afghans urge Taliban to stop violence during Ramadan

    A ceasefire should occur during Ramadan, residents say, stressing that Afghans should not be disturbed by violence during the holy month.

  9. Human Rights

    2021-04-09

    Beijing turns Muslim suffering in Xinjiang into musical melodrama

    The musical film 'The Wings of Songs' is a tasteless attempt by China to try to reframe the regime's well documented abuses against Muslims in Xinjiang -- and no one is buying it.

  10. Terrorism

    2021-04-08

    'Canary caliph': new details reveal extent of ISIS leader as prison snitch

    While detained in Iraq in 2008, the current ISIS leader was eager to inform on his rivals, providing US forces 'maplike directions' on how to find them, including a top al-Qaeda leader.

  11. Diplomacy

    2021-04-07

    Russian foreign minister's visit to Pakistan raises questions over intentions

    Sergey Lavrov's visit to Islamabad comes at a time when Russia is suffering from international isolation and an economic crisis, both due to Moscow's ongoing malign activity around the world.

  12. Security

    2021-04-06

    With graphic murder video, ISIS seeks to inflame sectarian strife in Pakistan

    Grisly footage circulated by ISIS shows the group killing 11 members of Pakistan's minority Hazara community and inciting sectarian violence.

  13. Analysis

    2021-04-05

    Kremlin influence agent Prigozhin faces harsh reality as international fugitive

    'Businessman' Yevgeny Prigozhin is pulling the strings on a number of influence campaigns around the world on behalf of the Kremlin, but the international legal noose is tightening.

  14. Security

    2021-04-02

    Killing of al-Qaeda, Taliban leaders together proves groups' ongoing ties

    Special forces killed Abu Mohammad al-Tajiki, a senior al-Qaeda member, alongside Taliban commander Hamza Mahajer in Afghanistan -- further evidence of an inconvenient truth.

  15. Security

    2021-04-01

    Air combat exercise boosts Pakistan's image as key security partner

    The Pakistan Air Force joins forces with Saudi Arabia, the United States, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan for the ACES Meet 2021-1 aerial exercise. This follows a major joint naval exercise in February.

  16. Women's Rights

    2021-03-30

    Young Afghan women reject possibility of return to 'dark times' of Taliban

    'If the Taliban want to return to power under the guise of peace and stop the advancement of girls, that kind of peace is unacceptable for us,' said one young Afghan woman.

  17. Analysis

    2021-03-29

    Guardianship of the Jurist: a theological anomaly empowering dictatorship in Iran

    The idea of absolute power, derived from an interpretation of a theological proposition, has been used to justify autocratic rule in Iran and the spread of 'revolution' across the region.

  18. Economy

    2021-03-26

    Teetering Iranian economy threatens future of Islamic Republic

    Public rage over economic and living conditions has reached a boiling point as Iranian leaders continue to spend lavishly on proxy wars and military weaponry.

  19. Diplomacy

    2021-03-26

    Taliban: we will 'never support' democracy in Afghanistan

    The Taliban have rejected President Ashraf Ghani's proposal to hold elections later this year -- evidence of the group's fear of the will of the Afghan people.

  20. Human Rights

    2021-03-25

    Foreign governments urged to retrieve citizens from Syria's al-Hol

    Human Rights Watch said governments must repatriate citizens linked to ISIS from Kurdish-run camps in north-eastern Syria, warning of dire consequences if nothing is done.

  21. Analysis

    2021-03-23

    Iran's obstinacy leads to growing clout of Israel in Middle East

    While Iran continues to fund regional instability and be unwilling to negotiate on its nuclear programme, the Arab world is getting closer together, and Israel is moving in.