Kamal Alam

Afghanistan is already in a civil war, and has been for decades

US presence in Afghanistan never put an end to civil strife in the country.

Abdullah Abdullah: the mild-mannered doctor takes a stand in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's perennial runner-up will not be content with second place this time.

The battered and maligned Afghan National Security Forces are key to peace

A crop of dedicated security chiefs hold the keys to Afghanistan's future, not the Taliban.

The failure of the OIC and Arab League to stand up for Muslims

The sentiment that there is a 'united Islamic front' standing up for the welfare of Muslims needs to be retired - nothing could be further from the truth.

'My father was the first to negotiate with the Taliban'

Will the son of the legendary 'Lion of Panjshir' help to shape Afghanistan's future?

Imran Khan’s uphill battle to mend Pakistan-Iran ties

Pakistan-Iran ties have been plagued by wider geopolitical wrangling in the region for decades. Can Prime Minister Imran Khan insulate the two countries from the region's political baggage?

The rebirth of Hamid Karzai: Kingmaker to president to father figure

Afghan politics has always been a complicated and ruthless affair, yet Karzai has withstood the turbulence like no leader before him.

The Taliban circus: the new geopolitics of Afghan reconciliation

With the US continuing talks with the Taliban and failing to include the legitimate Afghan government, and other countries also battling to court the group, the reconciliation process is beginning to look like a game of economic geopolitics.

The internationalisation of the Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is making a concerted effort to relieve itself of its dependency on the US, and it might be working.

Is Imran Khan India’s best hope for a meaningful dialogue?

Imran Khan's personal history gives him a leg up in trying to start a dialogue on Kashmir and moving towards ending the 72-year stalemate with India.

Has Imran Khan charmed the Saudis into a more balanced relationship?

Pakistan's dynamic with Saudi Arabia has historically been of subservience, but the latest visit by Saudi Arabia's crown prince shows that the nature of the relationship could be changing.

Have Imran Khan and the army fixed Pakistan’s lopsided Middle East policy?

Pakistan's Middle East policy has long been centred around Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The country, under new leadership, now seems to be taking baby steps towards greater independence in the region.