For years, Afghanistan served as the world’s leading producer of opium, a key ingredient in the street drug heroin. The country reached this level of production after years of widespread and violent conflict. In April 2022, the Taliban declared a complete ban on the crop and spent the next several months eradicating it from the country. With opium production off the table, Afghanistan’s rural population is struggling to make ends meet, worsening the already poor humanitarian situation in the country.

Middle EastBy Michael HalebianMay 13, 2024Afghanistan, opium, heroin, Mujahideen, drugs, narcotics

Pakistan: Judas of the American Alliance

The U.S. has long seen Pakistan as an ally in South and Central Asia despite a long history of the Pakistani government supporting terrorist groups who have sought to attack America, a policy that continues today.

The Dirty Business of Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan

Afghanistan currently faces the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world which has led to billions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid but corruption, theft and hidden agendas have led to a distribution system that, in its current form, could be actively making the problem worse.

If You Stand With Ukraine, You Must Also Stand With Afghanistan (Part 2)

The United States and its allies have abandoned Afghanistan after their two-decade-long occupation, leading to the country's descent into a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist-led government. Meanwhile, these nations have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with rhetoric about defending values of democracy and political freedom, but to the Afghan people, this rings hollow. The US's current policy towards Afghanistan is focused on containment rather than support for any specific actors, and their cooperation with the Taliban is reminiscent of Reagan's failed policy of "constructive engagement" with Apartheid South Africa.

If You Stand With Ukraine, You Must Also Stand With Afghanistan

The United States and its allies have abandoned Afghanistan after their two-decade-long occupation, leading to the country's descent into a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist-led government. Meanwhile, these nations have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with rhetoric about defending values of democracy and political freedom, but to the Afghan people, this rings hollow. The US's current policy towards Afghanistan is focused on containment rather than support for any specific actors, and their cooperation with the Taliban is reminiscent of Reagan's failed policy of "constructive engagement" with Apartheid South Africa.

Educational Backsliding in Afghanistan: Repressive Policy for Girl’s Schooling under the Taliban

Middle EastBy Amineh Najam-ud-dinNovember 10, 2022Arab Spring, Taliban, Afghanistan, Women's Rights, Education, Sharia

No Place Like Home: The Modern Dilemma For Displaced Afghan Women

Middle EastPaul St. CyrFebruary 20, 2022Human Rights, Middle East, Afghanistan, Women's Rights, Migration, Crisis, Refugee