On 15 August Taliban complete five years of rule in Kabul. Here is a comprehensive review of the events that could lead Afghanistan's trajectory in August 2026 and beyond with a red flag of deterioration of security in Badakhshan, first challenge to Taliban's control of the country they swept to power in 2021.

Taliban could be facing the first major internal challenge in controlling the country with a series of attacks by resistance groups in Badakhshan’s Yaftali Sufla and Zebak districts. Here is a review of the activities and possible trajectory ahead.

Futility of use of force remains unacknowledged and diplomacy as a tool to resolve inter and intra state conflicts is sparsely used. Who has benefited from these wars is unclear but the suffering of the people of nations at war and beyond remains unacknowledged as the demands on military leaders today directing wars on glittering screens in armchair comfort is far from what made Patton, Montgomery and Rommel the great leaders they are.

Despite multiple mediation multilateral, bilateral at the diplomatic and political level, Afghanistan Pakistan cross border conflict continues with occasional spurge and a breakthrough appears unlikely given entrenched positions by both sides.

As the United States and Israel strikes on Iran enters the fifth day with no signs of any pull back by either side, the defining trends is the decapitating attack on Iran’s Supreme Authority Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. The strike was supposed to cripple the regime but Iran retaliated spraying missiles and drones across multiple locations in West Asia [Middle East]. With a war escalating in time and space, there is a noticeable alarm in South Asia. This is understandable given the

Taliban MLRS Source Bakhtar New Agency What a fall there has been for Pakistan from the former ISI Chief presently incarcerated Lt Gen Faiz Hameed landing in Kabul sipping tea in the Serena Hotel in August 2021 to the Air Force bombing the Afghan capital. This was inevitable given a misreading of Afghan political psyche or history. The Afghans seek self respect particularly the Pashtuns and subsumes other proclivities, that of national independence perhaps all ethnicities.

In a weekly analysis of terorist threats across the World TRAC has provided an Insight into the Arrest of Islamic State Khurasan (ISK) Spokesman Sultan Aziz Azzam by Pakistan authorities as outlined below On 16 May 2025, Pakistani authorities conducted a high-profile counterterrorism operation that resulted in the arrest of Sultan Aziz Azzam, the official spokesperson of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISK). The operation was led by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence

Representative Image Wix AI 22 November The Trump Peace Plan for Ending Ukraine War Risks The basic flaw of the Plan as it is a sweeping attempt to equate the aggressor and the victim while emasculating not just Ukraine but also European Union and NATO – which has held peace on the Continent so far through the powerful shield of deterrence. Yet NATO or the EU members have not been consulted with the US possibly acting as an arbitrator on their behalf without their knowing. I

Representative Image of Afghanistan's Building of National Defence Capability Demonstrating the irony of Pakistan’s belief of establishing a regime in Kabul that could be controlled from Islamabad, Taliban asserted autonomy highlighting territorial sovereignty which shocked the Establishment of the Eastern Neighbour which is now searching for answers from a two front dilemma – India and Afghanistan. Here is a detailed forecast for November and beyond- International Relati

Map Courtesy National Geographic Society After the most intense clashes over the past four years, Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to a cease fire, central to the same is the Durand Line, unrecognized by the Taliban which splits the Pashtun homeland. While the clashes are an outcome of Pakistan’s allegations of Taliban support to the TTP, central to the same is the Durand dilemma a large question. A current perspective on likely status of the Cease Fire and Stability thr