Funding its war against the United States, the Taliban reaped millions from boom towns trading opium, heroin and meth. Victorious, the group crushed the trade, leaving ghost towns in its wake.
Tag: Afghanistan War (2001- )
What I Learned From a Reclusive Taliban Commander
Mullah Osman Jawhari led one of the deadliest assaults on American forces in Afghanistan, a battle that came to symbolize the war itself.
How America Turned Allies into Enemies in Afghanistan
The United States killed its own allies, sabotaging itself in a part of Afghanistan where it never needed to be.
Explosion in Afghanistan Kills Minister in Highest-Profile Blast Since Taliban’s Return
The government accused the Islamic State of being behind the attack, which struck at the heart of the Taliban’s power structure after years of essentially unchallenged dominance.
What to Know About the Countries Still Fighting in Syria After al-Assad’s Ouster
Bashar al-Assad is gone, and Russia and Iran have stepped back. But Israel, Turkey and the United States are carrying out airstrikes.
In a Region of Majestic Beauty, Sunnis and Shiites Wage Bloody War
In Kurram, near the Afghan border, Pakistan has been helpless to stop the latest outbreaks of a sectarian conflict that goes back decades.
What We Learned Talking to the Taliban’s Most Fearsome Leader
Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has a $10 million American bounty on his head, is now positioning himself as a figure of relative moderation.
World Opens to the Taliban Despite Their Shredding of Women’s Rights
Taliban officials have scored a series of diplomatic victories this year that have started a subtle shift toward normalizing their government.
Is Afghanistan’s Most-Wanted Militant Now Its Best Hope for Change?
Sirajuddin Haqqani has tried to remake himself from blood-soaked jihadist to pragmatic Taliban statesman. Western diplomats are shocked — and enticed.
Pakistan Bans Protest Movement in Renewed Crackdown on Dissent
Analysts say the military is expanding its efforts to squash opposition.