China’s cautious quest to draw Afghanistan back into the fold

Written by Sarah Godek

By increasing relations at a slower pace, China’s government makes a safer long-term bet on Afghanistan that forgoes short-run gains to ensure greater security that could protect longer-term benefits in the future.

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Charting Afghanistan’s economic future: Recommendations for reform

Written by Hamayun Khan

For the Taliban, addressing banking constraints and promoting financial transparency are essential for rebuilding trust and attracting investment.

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A looming challenge: Women in Pakistan’s terrorism landscape

Written by Dr Amira Jadoon and Iqraa Bukhari

A shift towards utilising female fighters for pragmatic reasons would not be without precedent, as evidenced in case studies of Boko Haram or Islamic State affiliates in Southeast Asia. Pakistan, in particular, presents a largely “untapped female operative market”.

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While the world softens on the Taliban, Afghans continue to suffer

Written by Chris Fitzgerald

The international community should leverage the Taliban’s desire for recognition and the need to solve Afghanistan’s problems with improving human rights in the country.

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The Taliban continues to struggle for international recognition

Written by Dante Schulz

The Taliban’s inability to address the security and economic concerns of its partners will only exacerbate the glaring issues plaguing Afghanistan.

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Bite the hand that fed you: Imran Khan’s populist challenge for the military

Written by Marcus Andreopoulos

Out of office, Khan is proving to be a relentless source of pressure, first for Bajwa and now for Munir. Khan has accused the military of holding the country back during a time of economic and humanitarian catastrophe.

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2023: Where is Pakistan heading?

2022 was a difficult year for Pakistan: A humanitarian crisis sparked by devastating floods, the assassination attempt against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and a faltering economy. Growing political instability also prompted US President Joe Biden to call Pakistan one of the most dangerous countries in the world, characterising it as “nuclear weapons without cohesion”.

The Taliban don’t know what to do — Afghanistan’s challenges

Written by Tim Foxley

A collapse back into civil war is not inevitable, but the Taliban are clearly struggling to move from an insurgency to a government.

A perfect storm of crises: Afghanistan in 2022

Written by Tim Foxley

The Taliban’s seizure of power and the sheer speed of government collapse took everyone by surprise. The international community, Afghanistan’s neighbourhood, and the Afghan population themselves are now attempting to understand and address the implications of a Taliban regime.

In Brief with Lisa Singh — CEO Australia India Institute

In terms of the ‘China challenge’, I think Australia’s key goal is to preserve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, both through its membership in the Quad and through maintaining cordial ties with China.

The politics of Taliban recognition

Written by Michael Kugelman

For the United States, giving Kabul access to aid — including nearly USD $10 billion in foreign reserves frozen by Washington — is hard to justify without recognising the regime.

Russia and Pakistan: Strange partnership

Written by Vuk Vuksanovic

Pakistan needs partners among great and regional powers concerned about the fate of Afghanistan. Russia, on the other hand, had to strengthen its diplomatic and market ties with non-Western countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America as a result of the Ukraine Crisis and worsening relations with the West.

The Pakistani Taliban is reinventing itself

Written by Amira Jadoon and Abdul Sayed

The TTP leadership views the Afghan Taliban victory as a win for jihadists in general and has been emboldened by it. This is reflected in its messages directed to its members, who are encouraged to continue their fight against Pakistan for a similar victory there.

Afghanistan continues to pose a traditional and non-traditional security threat

Written by Nilofar Sakhi

As the Taliban increases its stronghold and gains more territory and power, it will become a serious transnational threat. Radicalisation, the emergence of new terrorist groups, and arms trafficking will likely increase, adding to local security threats.

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In Conversation with Andrea Ghiselli

The number of Chinese workers overseas created a new type of liability for Chinese policymakers because the political value of protecting the life of a citizen is vastly superior to that of, for example, ensuring the payment of a contract.

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India’s new consulates and sub-national diplomacy in South Asia

Written by Constantino Xavier and Nitika Nayar

As the region’s predominant power with a history of interventionism, India’s sub-national missions must be able to balance their sub-national outreach, especially to minority groups, with the security concerns of the host country’s central authorities.

The prospects for China’s engagement in Afghanistan

Written by Jeremy Garlick

Beijing will look to ensure first and foremost that Uygur separatists do not gain support from the Taliban. In return, they will dangle some promises of investment for the sake of generating goodwill.

Hazaras in Afghanistan face genocide post-US withdrawal

Written by Jumakhan Rahyab and Meena Yakobi

The international community must not allow the Taliban leadership’s overtures in Doha — about their plans to observe the international conventions — to cloud their thinking. The Hazaras need international support, and they need it immediately.