Articles Archives - Afghan Studies Center

Afghan Women’s Participation in Humanitarian Aid Is Becoming Conditional

Posted by Elsa Imdad - July 15, 2026

By Elsa Chandio A new survey shows how Taliban restrictions and donor cuts are narrowing women’s role in aid, even

Pakistan’s Afghan deportation drive: When ‘voluntary return’ is not a choice

Posted by Elsa Imdad - July 15, 2026

By Elsa Imdad More than 10,000 Afghans a day have been crossing into Afghanistan since Islamabad’s July 10 deadline. The

Fragile Hopes Amid Enduring Rifts

Posted by Shahana Naseer - June 9, 2026

By Abdul Waheed Waheed Following the intense confrontations that reached their peak in early 2026, emerging unofficial contacts in Kabul

Strange Bedfellows: Russia’s Pragmatic Embrace of Taliban

Posted by Elsa Imdad - May 22, 2026

By Elsa Imdad The Kremlin’s growing partnership with the Taliban reflects the hard strategic calculations driving a new regional order

Codifying Control: Taliban’s Anti-Women Decrees

Posted by Elsa Imdad - May 22, 2026

By Elsa Imdad A new Taliban decree on marriage and separation reinforces unequal legal rights for women, tightening restrictions around

TTP Relocation Signals Adjustment, Not Resolution in Pakistan–Afghanistan Tensions

Posted by Elsa Imdad - May 11, 2026

By Elsa Chandio The reported movement of TTP leaders away from Kabul highlights tactical shifts under pressure, but the deeper

Australia Outlaws BLA: Implications for Kabul?

Posted by Shahana Naseer - May 11, 2026

By Imtiaz Gul Australia’s decision to impose counterterrorism financing sanctions on the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) marks a significant

Pakistan’s Trade Recalibration and the Afghanistan Factor

Posted by Elsa Imdad - April 27, 2026

By Elsa Imdad Pakistan is steadily recalibrating its trade map by expanding connectivity with Central Asia and Iran while reducing

Afghan Women at Crossroads of Conflict: Understanding Gendered Impact of Pakistan–Afghanistan Escalation

Posted by Elsa Imdad - April 14, 2026

By Elsa Imdad Like all catastrophes, this escalation exposes pre-existing fault lines, with Afghan women bearing its most acute and

Pakistan’s Airstrikes, Kabul’s Response, and the TTP Challenge

Posted by Elsa Imdad - March 2, 2026

By ELSA IMDAD Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan target TTP leaders, but tactical gains risk fuelling cross-border tensions. The enduring question