Indian commentators are acknowledging that keeping a distance from the Afghan Taliban was a mistake. Now that India has closed down its consulates in Kandahar, Jalalabad and Herat, they are realizing that there are no permanent friends or enemies – only national…

A few questions first about the current Afghan situation, in order of their importance. Is Afghan peace hostage to big power rivalry? What policy should Pakistan adopt vis-a-vis various warring Afghan factions? Why have the Americans left without a viable power structure…

The United States is leaving Afghanistan in turmoil after two decades of occupation. The Doha Agreement with the Taliban, bypassing the Ashraf Ghani government, had pulled the carpet from under the feet of the Afghan government – leaving the last rites to…

Afghanistan for long has been a geopolitical quagmire for Pakistan Afghanistan for long has been a geopolitical quagmire for Pakistan. It has tested our national resilience time and again. From the impugned Durand Line to the enigma of ‘strategic depth’, Pakistan…

There are many stories of Afghanistan: anecdotes of violence and occupation by former Soviet Union; rise and downfall of Mujahedeen; saga of Taliban and international forces; gloomy days of suicide attacks, explosions, civilian causalities, starvation, homelessness, sexual abuse, gender based violence, withdrawal…