The recent attack by the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), in which its forces took control of parts of Zebak district in Badakhshan, has challenged the perception of the Taliban as an invincible military force.
As the Taliban complete five years in power this August, two confident predictions made in the autumn of 2021 have both aged badly.
The recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India following the Pahagram incident in April 2025 marks a dangerous turning point in South Asian water governance.
A girl due to enter seventh grade in 2022 is now about 17 or 18. Had things continued normally, she would have finished school and be preparing for the university entrance exam.
The newly formed armed group Sepahiyan-e Mihan briefly seized Yaftali Sufla district in Badakhshan, disarmed Taliban forces and used the attack to announce its existence publicly.
Nearly five years after taking power, the Taliban are seeking to transform their fighters into a regular army by finding new ways to equip armoured units, artillery, an air force and logistical networks.
Recent Taliban changes in Badakhshan, from reshuffling local officials to deploying a 1,000-strong special force, point to a growing struggle over control of the province’s lucrative gold mines.
Despite ongoing security instability, economic challenges, internal political divisions and the presence of armed groups, Pakistan’s emergence as a mediator between the United States and Iran has drawn significant international attention.
The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has entered a dangerous new phase since late February, raising serious concerns about regional stability.