Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024

Taliban

Sikhs in Afghanistan: Under Siege

The IS, perhaps chose to target the Sikhs to drive home the point that they too exist in the power equation in Afghanistan.  The IS’s central group operates in Afghanistan through Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K). Territorially, the IS may have diminished and its hierarchy remains uncertain post the death of Abu-Bakr Al Bhagdadi in October last year.

The Durand Line and Afghan Pakistani clashes

Frequent violent clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces along their disputed border, the colonial-era Durand Line drawn in 1893, have strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul. Afghanistan does not accept the legitimacy of the Durand Line, claiming it is a violation of its sovereignty, while Pakistan believes it is an accepted international border. These tensions will likely worsen following the pending departure of the Americans from Afghanistan.