Insights

Since 2021, the Taliban has encouraged madrasa schools, raising concerns about religious indoctrination and the spread of extremism in Afghanistan.    

As the Taliban celebrate their fourth-year reign of terror in Afghanistan, the country suffers from an unprecedented episode of political, social, cultural and economic crises in its modern history.

On 3 July, Russia became the first country to formally recognise[i] the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan by accepting its ambassador—marking a significant departure from its stance during the Taliban’s previous rule, between 1996 and 2001.

A collaborative event aimed at understanding the challenges facing Afghanistan’s education sector—and identifying strategies to empower vulnerable girls and counter radicalisation—was recently held in London.

This opinion piece by Zalmai Nishat, the Founder and Executive Chair of Silk Road Insights was originally published in The Narrative 360 on 24 June 2025.

On 28 July 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution, spearheaded by Turkmenistan and endorsed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, declaring Central Asia a Zone of Peace, Trust, and Cooperation.