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
U.S. to Prop Up Afghan Air Force
Afghanistan will get an injection of contractor support and planes for its beleaguered Air Force.
If the Taliban Wins the War, Can They Still Lose the Peace?
The United States vowed to destroy the Taliban. Today, they are stronger than ever. But will that last?
With the Militias in Afghanistan
As Afghan forces melt away, local armed groups are left to hold the line against the Taliban.
Why U.S. Drone Strikes Are at an All-Time Low
The shift comes as the White House seeks to downgrade the threat of global terrorism after 20 years of “forever wars.”
U.S. Questioned Whether Afghan Government Could Survive Taliban Onslaught
Biden to boost aid to Kabul as the militants capture more territory.
‘Now I Can’t Go Home’
Afghan interpreters who worked with the U.S. military clamor for U.S. visas to escape Taliban retribution.
Can Biden Save Ashraf Ghani?
To stop the Taliban’s advance and his government’s collapse, the Afghan leader must check his hubris at the White House door.
Foreign Powers Jockey for Influence in Afghanistan After Withdrawal
Is a new “great game” emerging?
Biden’s Afghanistan Pullout Could Make the China Problem Harder
No, a complete withdrawal will not ease the U.S. pivot to China.
The Taliban Are Winning the War of Words in Afghanistan
The government’s radio silence is handing a propaganda victory to the insurgents.
Afghan Interpreters in the Crossfire of U.S. Pullout
Future U.S. partners will have to “think twice” about helping the Pentagon if Biden isn’t able to grant visas to Afghan interpreters, lawmakers said.
The United States Needs Central Asian Partners to Protect Afghanistan’s Future
Ambitious post-withdrawal hopes can’t be achieved without bases nearby.
How to Close the Gender Gap in Peace Talks
Women’s representation is critical to lasting peace, but they are losing ground at the negotiating table.
Afghan Air Force Could Be Grounded After U.S. Pullout
The one advantage the Afghan army had on the Taliban looks set to slip away with the hasty U.S. withdrawal.
Taliban Map Out Future Vision for Afghanistan
The militant group’s spokesman vows to “continue our war” until Afghanistan has an Islamic government.
Afghanistan Swamped by COVID-19’s Third Wave
The government dithered and denied the pandemic’s severity. Now, a health disaster looms.