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النسخة العربية
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  • Afghanistan

A man walks across a bus stand at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Torkham on October 13, 2025, amid cross-border clashes between the two countries. Abdul MAJEED / AFP

Border clashes recall Pakistan's tricky history with the Taliban

The flare-up is no isolated episode. Rather, it is the most dangerous chapter in a fraught, decades-long relationship that began during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s.

Kaswar Klasra 16 October 2025
An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier stands guard at a gate of a hospital inside the Bagram US air base after all US and NATO troops left, some 70 Km north of Kabul on July 5, 2021. WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

Why Trump wants the Bagram Air Base "back"

Afghanistan's ancient town of Bagram once sat on the Silk Road, along a key passage from India. Today, it is sought by America, Russia, and China for different reasons that are no less strategic.

Kamal Alam 14 October 2025
Local residents walk past a house destroyed by an earthquake that killed nearly 1,000 people and devastated villages in eastern Afghanistan, on September 1, 2025. AFP

For Afghan quake victims, sympathy came faster than help

An earthquake in Afghanistan earlier this week levelled entire villages and left people trapped under rubble for days, but in the shadow of the Hindu Kush, saviours were thin on the ground

Kaswar Klasra 04 September 2025
Laura Hegarty_Al Majalla

Mike Waltz: The US war veteran-turned-NSA chief

Trump's new National Security Chief has already gone after officials who took part in Biden's blunderous exit from Afghanistan—a war he served in and learned a lot from

Kamal Alam 02 February 2025
Indian soldiers prepare for the guard of honour before the arrival of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the celebrations to mark Independence Day in New Delhi on August 15, 2023. Sajjad Hussain/AFP

Afghanistan is important to India despite New Delhi’s policies

India was close to the pre-Taliban regime but it collapsed when the US pulled out in 2021 and its successors now look to Russia and China. A land link to Central Asia, India knows it must re-engage

Shakir Husain 15 August 2024
Smoke rises from an explosion after a suicide squad tried to storm an army garrison in Bannu on July 15, 2024. Karim Ullah/AFP

Pakistan and Afghanistan in downward spiral after garrison attack

The Taliban's inability to deal with terrorist groups on its soil means Islamabad has launched its own military action over the border. To restore order, international mediation is now needed

Kaswar Klasra 14 August 2024
Saidakrami Murodalii Rachabalizoda, suspected of taking part in the attack on a concert hall that killed 137 people in Moscow, which IS-KP claimed, sits inside the defendant's cage on 24 March 2024. AFP

ISKP: Who are the murky terrorists behind the Moscow concert hall attack?

The Islamic State Khorasan Province has a history of carrying out attacks in central Asia, but its leadership and structure are largely opaque. Al Majalla explains.

Abdullah F. Alrebh 30 March 2024
Since the Taliban took power in August 2021, the movement has violated the rights of women and girls, according to Amnesty International. In the photo, a Taliban member stands guard in front of a line of women waiting to receive aid AP

Afghanistan braces for another difficult year ahead

More than two years after their takeover, Taliban rule continues to come at a painful cost for Afghan citizens

Omer Onhon 28 December 2023
Afghan nationals carry placards as shout slogans during a demonstration against the Taliban government in Islamabad on August 15, 2023, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. AFP

Two years of Taliban rule: The view from Afghanistan's neighbours

Both Iran and Pakistan have supported some elements of the Taliban in the past in political plays to weaken Afghanistan. But things have not panned out the way that they had hoped for.

Shelly Kittleson 17 August 2023
Speaking to Al Majalla in Vienna just before an Afghan opposition meeting, Massoud warns of dramatic dangers that lie ahead for the world as the Taliban grows more powerful John Berkeley

Ahmad Massoud: Ignoring the Taliban threat jeopardises global security

In an exclusive interview with Al Majalla, the Afghan opposition figure warns that while the world is distracted with other global issues, the Taliban is consolidating its power

Ibrahim Hamidi 21 June 2023
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An Iranian holds a picture of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed by an Israeli air strike on September 27, 2024; and Iran Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, killed by the US in January 2020. ATTA KENARE / AFP
Politics

Israel sharpens its focus amid growing unrest in Iran

11 January 2026

Last year's 12-day war with Iran was ostensibly aimed at its nuclear programme. This time, the regime is significantly weakened, presenting an opportunity Israel may feel it can't miss.

Michael Horowitz
Al Majalla
Politics

The Donroe Doctrine and the new hemispheric order

12 January 2026

Pressure builds on Venezuela after Trump appoints himself 'acting president'. With Colombia, Mexico and Cuba seemingly also in the line of fire, they will be closely watching what happens in Caracas.

Stefanie Butendieck Hijerra
Government forces patrol the Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood after taking control of the area, following the collapse of an agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, in Aleppo, Syria, on 10 January 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Politics

What next for Syria after tenuous Aleppo ceasefire?

10 January 2026

It remains unclear if Damascus's move to kick the Kurds out of Aleppo will pressure the SDF to implement the 10 March deal to integrate its forces into the Syrian army or harden its resolve to resist

Haid Haid
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (L) gives a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty (R) at Tahrir Palace in the centre of Cairo on September 10, 2024. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Politics

Egypt steps up its balancing act amid Yemen rift

08 January 2026

The UAE backs southern Yemenis who want secession, while Saudi Arabia wants a unified Yemen. Egypt also favours unity, but is close to both Gulf states, putting it in a difficult position.

Amr Emam
Al Majalla
Documents & Memoirs

Putin foreshadowed the Ukraine war in 2008 meeting with Bush

06 January 2026

Recently declassified meeting minutes between the two leaders show how Washington was well aware of Moscow's grievances over NATO expansion, but went ahead anyway

Samer Elias

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OPINIONS

Venezuela tops global oil reserve rankings

Al Majalla - London
Al Majalla - London

The Donroe Doctrine and the new hemispheric order

Stefanie Butendieck Hijerra
Stefanie Butendieck Hijerra

Habib Abdulrab Sarori: the imperative of progress mirrors religious duty

Ali Almuqri
Ali Almuqri

The ‘Donroe Doctrine’ makes no sense

Stephen M. Walt
Stephen M. Walt
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