Category: Afghanistan

The New Great Game: China and Russia Competing in Afghanistan

News Analysis Russia and China in the Graveyard of Empires, happy to see the United States leave, are the two big players that have just inherited a dangerous quagmire, plagued by instability and an uncertain economic future. According to Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban government wants to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship…


Mom of Quebec Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Named Silver Cross Mother

OTTAWA—Josée Simard still recalls the spirit of playful mischief that ran through her daughter, Karine Blais, going back to grade school in rural Quebec. “Once we had a turtle at home. I was brushing my teeth, and she yelled, ’Mom, don’t brush your teeth with that brush!’” Simard said. It was the same one Blais…


Afghan Mother Grateful After Reunion With Infant Son Injured in Kabul Explosion

A 19-year-old Afghan mother has spoken of her joy after being reunited with her child in the UK after they were separated in the Kabul airport explosion. Mohammed Raza, who turned two in September, needed life-saving surgeries after he was injured when a suicide bomber struck the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26. According to The…


Taliban Says Failure to Recognize Their Government Could Have Global Effects

KABUL—The Taliban called on the United States and other countries on Saturday to recognize their government in Afghanistan, saying that a failure to do so and the continued freezing of Afghan funds abroad would lead to problems not only for the country, but for the world. No country has formally recognized the Taliban government since…


Biden Administration Withholding Key Information About Afghanistan: Watchdog

President Joe Biden’s administration is withholding information about Afghanistan, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko said during a speech on Friday. As an example, Sopko said, the Department of Defense (DoD) withheld information on the performance of Afghan security forces, including unit strength, training deficiencies, and casualty data, or, “in essence, nearly all…


‘Just Give US Our Money’: Taliban Push to Unlock Afghan Billions Abroad

FRANKFURT—Afghanistan’s Taliban government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves as the drought-stricken nation faces a cash crunch, mass starvation and a new migration crisis. Afghanistan parked billions of dollars in assets overseas with the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks in Europe, but that money has been…


Pentagon Says Almost 450 Americans Are Still in Afghanistan

Nearly 450 American citizens are estimated to remain in Afghanistan almost two months after U.S. troops withdrew from the country, according to the Pentagon. Secretary of State Antony Blinken originally said the Biden administration believed there to be “under 200, and likely closer to 100, who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave,” on Aug….


Blinken Orders State Department Reviews of Afghanistan Evacuation, Relocation Efforts

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that he has ordered internal reviews of the U.S. evacuation and relocation efforts from Afghanistan. The United States withdrew from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, ending a two decade war that began in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. President Joe Biden refused to extend…


ISIS-K Could Attack in 6-12 Months: Pentagon Official

ISIS-K, the branch of the ISIS terrorist group active in Afghanistan, could have the capability to launch international attacks in as soon as six to 12 months, according to a Pentagon official. In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the Defense Department’s under secretary for policy, Colin Kahl, said that currently both ISIS-K and the al-Qaeda terrorist…


ISIS-K Could Launch Attacks in 6–12 Months: Pentagon Official

ISIS-K, the branch of the ISIS terrorist group that’s active in Afghanistan, could be capable of launching international attacks in as soon as six to 12 months, according to a top Pentagon official. In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 26, Defense Department Undersecretary for Policy Colin Kahl said that ISIS-K and the al-Qaeda terrorist…