Those advocating for Taliban recognition must consider the ongoing renaissance of al-Qaeda, a process that is being actively facilitated by the regime.

With a US pullout likely, regional players are scrambling to shore up their long-term interests in Afghanistan. This article examines the military and economic objectives driving Pakistan’s foreign policy there.

President Trump has ruled out negotiations with the Taliban just as a BBC study revealed the militant group’s sprawling presence over large swathes of Afghanistan.