In an interview with TRT World, Omar Zakhilwal, who was also Afghanistan’s former finance minister, discusses the Taliban’s diplomatic direction, regional politics and security.
Afghanistan's perennial runner-up will not be content with second place this time.
The Saudi-Iran feud risks spilling over into Afghanistan as both countries push for greater influence with competing groups in the war-torn country.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's promised 'New Pakistan' is tied, he says, to peace in neighbouring Afghanistan. The odds are against him.
The recent attack on Save the Children in Afghanistan is further proof that the country is still at war, and solutions to end the violence are few and far between.
Taliban's main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed has denied group's involvement in the talks meaning some breakaway factions such as the ‘Mullah Rasul’ group might be engaged in talks with the Afghan government.
Hekmatyar, whose forces bombarded Kabul ruthlessly during the 1990s civil war, said he was on a mission to "rescue" Afghanistan.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar made his first public speech since signing a peace deal with the Afghan government. American and other Western leaders praised the deal with him and are hoping it could help lead to wider peace in Afghanistan.
The leader of Afghanistan's second largest armed opposition movement was not in the room to sign the peace agreement, the first since 2001.
Since 1979, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has gone from being compared to a founding father to being called a terrorist
The agreement with Gulbuddin Hekmetyar is a symbolic win for the Kabul government, but it has angered some Afghans who believe it will grant the former warlord impunity from accusations of rights abuses and war crimes.
The revival of the stalled Afghan peace process is still far away from reality as the warring parties – Afghan government and the factions at war in Afghanistan including Taliban – are showing little interest in reaching an agreement.
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