After years of hostility, Russia is signaling a thaw with the Taliban, fueled by mutual enemies and economic motives. Moscow hopes to combat ISIS-K, expand its Central Asian influence, and secure access to Afghanistan’s $1 trillion in mineral wealth.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend a ceasefire for at least another week during talks in Turkiye, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Pakistan’s defense minister warned Afghanistan on Wednesday that any new “terrorist or suicide attack” by militants on Pakistani soil would draw a stern response, hours after talks between the two countries in Istanbul failed to secure a peace agreement.

Governments moving to restore ties with the Taliban risk legitimising oppression and deepening Afghanistan’s crisis, an independent UN human rights expert cautioned on Thursday, calling for a principled approach that defends the rights of women and girls.

The Taliban’s hard-line government in Afghanistan is making major inroads in garnering legitimacy abroad. Despite its extremist policies, the international community has accepted that the Islamist group is here to stay,

The move comes under pressure from mediators Turkey and Qatar, who are trying to prevent another outbreak of deadly cross-border violence.

Afghanistan faces near-total digital blackout after Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada's directive dismantled the country's fibre-optic network infrastructure.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers blocked internet access nationally for two days without any explanation, but suddenly, the country is coming back online.

While Pakistans defence minister immediately blamed Indian interference, Afghan media reports reveal that a secret agreement allowing US drone operations from Pakistani soil was the real reason behind the deadlock.