About: Afghanistan
Nine dead, 24 wounded in clashes in restive Tajikistan region
Clashes between Tajik security forces and "terrorists" killed nine people and wounded two dozen in a restive region bordering Afghanistan and China, the interior ministry said on Wednesday (18 May).
Political change in Pakistan as Shehbaz Sharif seeks to become PM
Opposition politician Shehbaz Sharif submitted his nomination to be Pakistan's next prime minister to the legislature on Sunday (10 April), his party said, after incumbent Imran Khan lost a no-confidence vote in parliament after nearly four years in power.
Fresh turmoil in Pakistan – what it means for rest of the world
Pakistan's political turmoil deepened on Sunday (3 April), when Prime Minister Imran Khan avoided an attempt to oust him and sought fresh elections after dissolving parliament, a move the opposition called treasonous and vowed to fight.
West links Afghan humanitarian aid to human rights
Western diplomats Tuesday (26 January) linked humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to an improvement in human rights after meeting a Taliban delegation on a landmark visit to Europe.
Taliban hail Oslo meet as success ‘in itself’
On their first visit to Europe since returning to power, the Taliban held landmark talks with Western diplomats in Oslo over the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, a meeting the Islamist regime's delegation called an "achievement in itself".
Taliban, Western officials meet for talks in Oslo
Taliban and Western diplomats meet in Oslo on Monday for talks on Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis and human rights, especially those of women whose freedoms have been curbed by the hardline Islamists.
EU re-establishing ‘minimal presence’ in Kabul
The European Union on Thursday (20 January) announced it had begun re-establishing a "minimal presence" in Kabul to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
Insider’s account: The Kazakhstan unrest
A trusted EURACTIV source in Almaty gave a rare first-hand account of the Kazakhstan unrest that shook up the Central Asian country in the first days of 2022.
Afghans living in limbo in Albania start knitting to heal their trauma
Four months after Albania stepped up to accept thousands of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban, some 2000 live in hotels on the country’s Adriatic coast. While they are ever-thankful to their hosts' kindness, the uncertainty of knowing their future is causing problems.
Kazakhstan to maintain ties, avoid humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan
The minister of trade of Kazakhstan, Bakhyt Sultanov, visited Kabul over the weekend, this being the second such high-level visit recently, after Erzhan Kazykhan, the special representative of Kazakhstan's president, also called held talks with the Taliban.
US authorizes some transactions with Taliban to keep aid flowing to Afghanistan
The United States formally exempted on Wednesday (22 December) US and UN officials doing permitted business with the Taliban from US sanctions to try to maintain the flow of aid to Afghanistan as it sinks deeper into a humanitarian crisis.
India woos Central Asian countries in geopolitical race for influence
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries in New Delhi on Monday (20 December) in what appears to be an effort to compete with the influence of other geopolitical players in the region: Russia, China, and Pakistan.
EU member states agree to take in 40,000 Afghans
A group of 15 EU member states have agreed to take in 40,000 Afghans for resettlement, Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Thursday (9 December) after meeting interior ministers.
Putin and Modi discuss trade, humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on Monday (6 December), with trade and the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan both on the agenda.
Taliban reject US, EU claims of ‘summary killings’ of ex-security forces
Afghanistan's Taliban government on Sunday (5 December) rejected condemnation by Western nations over dozens of alleged "summary killings" of former security force personnel documented by rights groups since the Islamists returned to power.
EU asylum demands up as more Afghans flee
Requests for asylum in Europe hit a five-year high in September, with Afghans in particular seeking safety after the Taliban stormed to power in Kabul.
Central Asia will not be involved in human trafficking to Belarus, Borrell says
The reach out by the EU in Central Asia on preventing human trafficking into Belarus has been 'fruitful' in the region, EU officials told reporters in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Wednesday (24 November).
Afghanistan looms large at EU-Central Asia talks in Dushanbe
EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen on Monday (22 November) asked Afghanistan's neighbours to prevent human trafficking as they met their Central Asian counterparts in the Tajik capital. EURACTIV reports from Dushanbe.
Foreign Minister: Uzbekistan is promoting ‘pragmatic relations’ with Afghanistan
In a wide-ranging interview, Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov discussed his country’s relations with the EU, the situation with "fraternal neighbour" Afghanistan, regional cooperation, and strategies for a 'Third Renaissance' of Uzbekistan.
‘Just give us our money’: Taliban push to unlock Afghan billions abroad
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.
Bosnia: Afghans stuck in limbo on Bosnia-Croatia border
As the world awaits a possible new wave of refugees from Afghanistan to Europe in the aftermath of the fall of Kabul, vulnerable Afghans already on the EU's border face growing uncertainty.
Biden swaps home tensions for foreign frustrations in Europe summits
President Joe Biden escapes bruising political turmoil at home for the more convivial world of diplomacy at twin summits in Europe this week -- but the experience could be just as frustrating.
Putin says Western military backing of Ukraine threatens Russia
President Vladimir Putin said that the Western-backed military development of Ukraine posed a serious threat to Russia, two days after the US defense secretary staged a show of support for Kyiv and encouraged its aspiration to join NATO.