Abubakar Siddique

Afghanistan Seeking To Promote Ancient Woodcarving Craft

The Islamist Leader Who Could Topple The Pakistani Government

As most senior Pakistani opposition politicians languish in prison amid a government crackdown, a seasoned Islamist leader has emerged as the most serious threat to the country’s government.

AI Calls On Pakistan To Halt Crackdown On Pashtun Rights Group

As Pakistani authorities arrest more members of a civil rights movement campaigning for the rights of the country’s ethnic Pashtun minority, the global rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) has called on Islamabad to end its clampdown.

Taliban See Resurgence In Northwestern Pakistan

The Taliban have returned to a northwestern Pakistani region where thousands were killed and millions displaced as Islamabad claimed to end years of insurgent control in a major military offensive a decade ago.

Peace Returns To Afghanistan’s ‘Valley Of Death’

A remote mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan was once dubbed the Valley of Death for witnessing some of the fiercest fighting during four decades of war in the country.

Pakistan Imprisons Opposition To Silence Dissent

A year after assuming power, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration and the country’s powerful military appear to be seeking to prevent opposition protests by arresting and imprisoning political leaders and activists.

Crime On The Rise In Restive Afghan Province

In Remote Afghan Corner, Besieged Afghan Troops Cry For Help

Afghan troops besieged by the Taliban for more than a week in a remote district of central Afghanistan are desperate for reinforcements and help.

Pakistani, Afghan Currencies Collide In Restive Afghan Province

Traders in a restive Afghan province are reluctant to abandon using the Pakistani currency even after local authorities have threatened them with possible arrests.

Afghan Authorities Seek To Raise Awareness To Protect Archeological Heritage

Authorities in a restive Afghan province have launched a unique campaign to protect the region’s vanishing archeological treasures.

Despite U.S. Talk Of Withdrawal, Afghan War Expected To Continue

While the current peace process in Afghanistan could bring the longest conflict in U.S. history to a close, it does not necessarily signal an end to the country's four-decade war.

In Pakistan, Political Standoff Switches Into High Gear

Political temperatures in Pakistan are rapidly rising as the opposition takes to the streets and the government doubles down on stifling dissent and imprisoning its critics amid rising economic troubles.

Security Fears Loom Over Afghan Presidential Election Campaign

Days ahead of the formal start of campaigning for this year’s presidential election in Afghanistan, candidates and their supporters are concerned about the growing security challenges in the country.

Can Afghan Forces Hold On To Former Taliban Territories?

In recent months, Afghan government forces have made notable gains in some frontline Afghan provinces by reclaiming lost territories from the Taliban insurgents.

Ultra-Radical Islamists Recruiting At Afghan Universities

A range of hard-line Islamist groups including the ultra-radical Islamic State (IS) are attempting to recruit on Afghan university campuses to turn the seats of higher learning into sanctuaries and breeding grounds for their violent campaigns and revolutionary ideologies.

Pakistanis Weigh Another Term For Powerful Army Chief

Pakistanis are debating whether the country’s current army chief should be given a new term in office beyond November, when he is set to retire.

Daughter Of Jailed Former PM Challenges Pakistani Gov’t, Military

Maryam Nawaz has mounted a major challenge to the PTI’s government after assuming a senior position within her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Party last month.

Taliban See ‘Historic Opportunity’ For Peace In Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s hard-line Islamist Taliban movement sees a historic opportunity for peace in the country following its latest round of talks with U.S. officials and representatives of the Afghan government, civil society and various political factions.

In Pakistan’s Pashtun Tribal Belt, First Election Marred By Complaints

The first-ever election for representing Pakistan’s former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has generated considerable interest and raised hopes.

Journalist Says Military Censored TV Interview With Former Pakistani President

One of Pakistan’s most prominent journalists says the country’s security establishment cut short his interview with a former president shortly after it began on an independent television channel on July 1.