Leaving Afghanistan
What happens after the forever war ends?
The Year Kabul Fell Again
A stunning Taliban takeover left Afghanistan—and the world—transformed.
Why the Taliban Still Love Suicide Bombing
The group is normalizing death and despair in the Islamic Emirate.
U.N., World Bank Under Pressure to Offer Aid to Afghanistan
The existing sanctions regime on Taliban leaders makes it hard for the world to help the Afghan people.
Afghan Refugees Get Cold Welcome in Pakistan
The Taliban takeover has pushed many Afghans over the border and into another kind of limbo.
Taliban takeover
Taliban Splintered by Internal Divisions, External Spoilers
Pakistan said to be supporting alternative jihadi groups to undermine the Taliban and maintain leverage over Afghanistan.
12 Million Angry Men
The Taliban promised justice. They are hard-pressed to provide it.
The Taliban Don’t Need the West
Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown themselves to be skilled—and ruthless—diplomats. 
The Taliban’s Sharia Is the Most Brutal of All
The Afghan government is imposing punishments that have no comparison elsewhere in the Islamic world.
Regional dynamics
Qatari Diplomat: ‘There’s a Serious Need for Engagement’ With the Taliban
Qatar’s assistant foreign minister discussed the Taliban, the need for a clear road map, and Afghanistan’s uncertain future.
Afghanistan Is No Treasure Trove for China
The country’s mineral wealth remains largely theoretical.
Afghanistan Is a Bigger Headache for Tehran Than It Is Letting On
Iran cheered the U.S. withdrawal but is nervously hedging its bets with the Taliban.
Pakistan’s Friendship With the Taliban Is Changing
Expect a recalibration of the relationship by both sides now the Taliban are in power.
Refugee crisis
Will Afghan Refugees Stranded in Southeast Asia Be Resettled?
After the fall of Kabul, some countries are opening their doors. Afghans who have been stuck in Malaysia and Indonesia for years are hoping that they will not be forgotten.
The United States Needs an Afghan Refugee Resettlement Act
Legislation passed in the wake of the Vietnam War could provide a blueprint for today’s policymakers.
Biden Sparked a Refugee Crisis. He Must Help Europe Bear the Cost.
The chaotic U.S. withdrawal has already led thousands of Afghans to flee.
How to Avoid Humanitarian Catastrophe in Afghanistan
The Biden administration should maximize diplomacy and prioritize support for front-line organizations.
Women in Afghanistan
School’s Out in the Taliban’s Afghanistan
The Taliban say modern education is of no use as the country heads toward economic meltdown and starvation.
The Tragic Fate of Afghanistan’s Journalists
Many are fleeing or in hiding. Women, some locked out of their outlets, are in particular danger.
‘They Left Us to the Taliban’
Six Afghan women describe their feelings of fear, anger, and betrayal in the wake of America’s departure.
In Taliban’s New Afghan Emirate, Women Are Invisible
“All the women of Afghanistan have one fear, the Taliban,” said former deputy defense minister Munera Yousufzada.
Latest Stories
How to Lose Friends and Alienate Partners
Dismantling Afghan immigration policies and CARE undermines U.S. security.
Congress Demands Sullivan Testify on Afghanistan Withdrawal
The Republican-led investigation is pushing for a public hearing with the top Biden aide.
House Republicans Subpoena Blinken for Key Afghan Dissent Cable
The congressional grilling of the Biden administration over the Afghanistan fiasco is just getting started.
Bill That Would Provide Lifeline to Afghan Refugees Blocked in Congress
The Afghan Adjustment Act didn’t make it into the final major spending bill, leaving refugees in limbo.
New Congressional Report: U.S.-Trained Afghan Special Forces Forced to Flee to Iran
They could divulge sensitive U.S. military training and intelligence to Tehran, a U.S. lawmaker warns.
Taliban Struggle to Maintain Unity Six Months Into Their Reign
“People don’t trust us yet, but we’re working on it,” one Taliban commander said.
Why China Is Slow-Rolling Taliban Cooperation
China’s calculated approach is driven by a deep mistrust that goes back decades.
Afghanistan’s Diplomats Refuse to Represent a Terrorist Group
Some are working on resistance. Others, consular services. And all of them must figure out how to keep their embassy’s lights on.
State Department Launches Review of Afghan Withdrawal
U.S. ambassador Daniel Smith is tapped to lead a review to understand the lessons of U.S. involvement.
Afghan Insurgents Are a Dead End
Rebuilding U.S. standing requires an end to backing militants abroad.
With Haqqanis at the Helm, the Taliban Will Grow Even More Extreme
The Haqqani network has long been the most lethal and vicious element of the Taliban.
State Department: Thousands of U.S. Residents Still Stuck in Afghanistan
The department hasn’t made the numbers public, but angry lawmakers are running out of patience.
As Afghanistan Nears Collapse, Taliban ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’
The country’s former intelligence chief said the Taliban are torn between placating their foot soldiers and meeting Afghans’ and the international community’s expectations.
Afghan Crime Wave Adds to Taliban Dystopia
A rash of robbings, kidnappings, and even killings is aggravating Afghanistan’s dire situation.
Foreign Aid Won’t Moderate the Taliban
International assistance isn’t the political lever many hope it will be.
Don’t Blame Khalilzad for the Afghanistan Debacle
Zalmay Khalilzad achieved what he was asked to do: Get the United States out of Afghanistan.