The game’s cultlike following in Afghanistan inhabits a real-life version of its violent virtual reality.
Tag: Taliban
Where the Pomegranate Harvest Is Life, the Taliban Brought Ruin
An incursion that devastated a prized crop shows the loss and uncertainty that many Afghans endure.
What Will Happen in Afghanistan Once U.S. Troops Leave?
The Pentagon has announced a reduction down to 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan before President-elect Biden takes office. Afghan officials fear the cuts will encourage the Taliban to keep fighting.
U.S. Troops Are Still Leaving, but Afghans Hope Biden Will Help
Afghans fear the Taliban are subverting the peace process, and hope a Biden administration will bring more accountability.
An Afghan Mayor Expected to Die. Instead, She Lost Her Father.
Zarifa Ghafari, one of the few female mayors in Afghanistan, has been subjected to death threats and assassination attempts, and believes her father was gunned down because of her.
Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2020
At least 37 pro-government forces and 76 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan so far this month.
On Afghan Highways, Even the Police Fear the Taliban’s Toll Collectors
As the U.S. retreats and peace talks stall, the Taliban have increasingly taken over Afghanistan’s highways, raising millions in unofficial taxes and strengthening their negotiating position.
Deadly Taliban Attack Probably Used Drone, a Worrisome Shift
The strike targeted the governor’s compound in Kunduz, a province that has seen heavy fighting despite peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government negotiators.
An Ancient Hill and Forgotten Dead: Afghanistan’s Haunted Outpost
Its name was Observation Post Rock. The outpost is the backdrop for a ghost story, and is known for strange voices, radio static and the creeping fear of being watched.
Al Qaeda Feels Losses in Syria and Afghanistan but Stays Resilient
American drones and U.S. allies killed several Qaeda leaders and operatives in the past week. But the organization has “ingrained itself in local communities and conflicts,” according to the U.N.