Taliban personnel ride a vehicle with children during celebrations to mark the fifth anniversary of the group’s return to power in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.
Taliban personnel ride a vehicle with children during celebrations to mark the fifth anniversary of the group’s return to power in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s Next Five Years

The brutish group has been surprisingly stable since snatching power in 2021. Rockier times may lie ahead.

From left: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meet during the signing of a trilateral defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 7.
From left: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meet during the signing of a trilateral defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 7.

What Does the Mecca Pact Deliver Pakistan?

The mutual defense agreement gives Islamabad a boost in the Middle East, with mixed results closer to home.

Four people are on a road, with three of them wearing fave coverings. Behind the are tires that have been lit on fire.
Four people are on a road, with three of them wearing fave coverings. Behind the are tires that have been lit on fire.

What’s Behind the Violence in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir

The region has become ground zero for protests against poor governance.

Dozens of protesters are seen a shot taken from slightly overhead. Many of them are young people, some holding up phones as they record photo and video, others holding signs. A young man across the crowd sits on someone's shoulders so he looms over the rest as he waves an Indian flag.
Dozens of protesters are seen a shot taken from slightly overhead. Many of them are young people, some holding up phones as they record photo and video, others holding signs. A young man across the crowd sits on someone's shoulders so he looms over the rest as he waves an Indian flag.

Does Modi Have a Cockroach Problem?

India’s youth-led protest movement led to a rare instance of the government giving in.

Cockroach Janta Party supporters clash with police during a protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on July 20.
Cockroach Janta Party supporters clash with police during a protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on July 20.

India’s Cockroach Movement Delivers a Blow to the BJP

The protests aren’t likely to turn into mass mobilization, but they are politically significant.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters gather for a rally ahead of the national election in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on Jan. 22.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters gather for a rally ahead of the national election in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on Jan. 22.

Will Hasina Return to Bangladesh?

The former prime minister set a timeline for her homecoming, despite the threat of arrest.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto react to children during a welcome ceremony for Modi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 7.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto react to children during a welcome ceremony for Modi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 7.

Modi Seeks to Project Influence on Asia-Pacific Trip

The Indian prime minister visits Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand this week.

Xi and Rahman stand side-by-side, shaking hands with slight smiles on their faces. Both men wear dark business suits with ties, and Bangladeshi and Chinese flags hang in the background.
Xi and Rahman stand side-by-side, shaking hands with slight smiles on their faces. Both men wear dark business suits with ties, and Bangladeshi and Chinese flags hang in the background.

Bangladesh Sends Signal With China Visit

The two countries announce a “new era” in ties during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s trip.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stands with Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir prior to a meeting with the United States, Iran, and Qatar at the Bürgenstock resort near Lucerne, Switzerland.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stands with Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir prior to a meeting with the United States, Iran, and Qatar at the Bürgenstock resort near Lucerne, Switzerland.

Will Pakistan’s Iran Gamble Pay Off?

Islamabad could leverage its success as a mediator to secure its own interests.

Trucks for Afghan refugees are parked as they await deportation along the Landi Kotal highway near the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.
Trucks for Afghan refugees are parked as they await deportation along the Landi Kotal highway near the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Is Still Unstable

There is a brief lull in violence, but the root causes of the conflict haven’t been addressed.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jeanette Rubio, and U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor tour the Amber Fort in Jaipur, India.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jeanette Rubio, and U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor tour the Amber Fort in Jaipur, India.

Rubio’s Visit Won’t Assuage India

Repairing Trump’s damage to bilateral ties will require more than a charm offensive.

Munir and Araghchi sit side by side in ornate black leather chairs, in front of flags from each of their countries. Each man has one hand on his knee and one on the arm of his chair; Araghchi is smiling slightly while Munir speaks.
Munir and Araghchi sit side by side in ornate black leather chairs, in front of flags from each of their countries. Each man has one hand on his knee and one on the arm of his chair; Araghchi is smiling slightly while Munir speaks.

Pakistan’s High-Wire Act Gets Riskier

The country has sent troops and arms to Saudi Arabia at a delicate moment in the Iran war.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (first row, right) and other officials pose during the BRICS leaders' summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 7, 2025.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (first row, right) and other officials pose during the BRICS leaders' summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 7, 2025.

India Still Stands By BRICS

The group’s foreign ministers convene in New Delhi amid global tensions.

The feet of a small crowd of people are seen at the top of the image, shadows of the rest of their bodies cast on the reddish dirt ground below. One person's arms are raised as they wave a flag.
The feet of a small crowd of people are seen at the top of the image, shadows of the rest of their bodies cast on the reddish dirt ground below. One person's arms are raised as they wave a flag.

The BJP Scores Big in West Bengal

India’s ruling party got a boost from four state elections this week—and unseated a longtime rival.

People wait in a line to buy liquefied petroleum gas in a village on the outskirts of Jewar, India, on April 24.
People wait in a line to buy liquefied petroleum gas in a village on the outskirts of Jewar, India, on April 24.

India Rethinks Energy Security Amid War

As New Delhi feels the crunch, diplomacy in Abu Dhabi hints at expanding green cooperation.

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