It is significant that Pakistan has already stepped up cross-border terrorism in Kashmir — at a time when both the countries were facing the corona pandemic — to pursue its line of ‘retaliation’ against the abrogation of Art 370 by India. It is not difficult to imagine that the faith-based motivation of the Mujahideen can override any virus-related distraction and that Pakistan will intensify its subversive activity in J&K in the likely event of its acquiring a sway in Afghanistan — on the return of a Taliban-dominated rule in that country
Both Abdullah and Ghani held oath taking ceremonies in capital Kabul on 9th of March, further fueling political tensions amid ongoing efforts to find a negotiated political settlement to ongoing violence
Prior to the latest rift, the rejuvenated yet fragile Afghan peace process faced deadlocks as differences persisted between Kabul and the Taliban over a proposed exchange of prisoners
In the Afghan capital, Kabul, funerals were held for the victims of a deadly attack on an Sikh temple. Coffins were laid out and dozens of mourners paid their respects on March 26, a day after at least 25 worshipers were killed in a militant attack. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility
The U.N. estimates there are about 1.6 million orphans in Afghanistan. While some children are orphaned due to drugs, the majority are orphans because they lost their parents in the ongoing war
Countless Afghan families have found themselves divided by war, with siblings joining either the Afghan defense forces or Taliban militants. RFE/RL spoke to some of the fighters and their families, who spoke of their frustration with the killing and their hopes for peace~RFE/RL
The nearly seven thousand internally displaced people in Afganistan are suffering from the extremely cold winter this year. The National Disaster Management Authority says 19 people have died from the extreme cold in January and there are concerns more could die if aid is not forthcoming
NATO Defence Ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss a proposal to integrate some of the anti-Daesh coalition forces to NAT0’s mission in Iraq
As Afghanistan grapples with the possibility of a peace deal, the future of millions of Afghan refugees also looks a little more hopeful. United Nations and other officials at a refugee conference in Pakistan warn that peace alone will not be enough to send them home