RFE/RL Gandhara

Coronavirus Fears Forces Pakistan To Close All Schools, Shorten Cricket League

The Pakistani authorities have closed all schools and borders while shortening the national cricket league amid growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands in neighboring China and Iran.

Afghan President Calls On Taliban To Abandon Pakistani Sanctuaries

In an escalation of a war of words amid rising violence before scheduled peace talks between the warring sides, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to abandon their sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan before beginning negotiations with his government.

Tech Giants, Rights Watchdogs Oppose Pakistan’s Social Media Rules

Global Internet giants, rights watchdogs, journalists, and activists have opposed Pakistan’s sweeping new rules for regulating social media.

Prominent Gov’t Critic Threatened With Terrorism Charges In Pakistan

A Pakistan law enforcement agency has threatened to slap terrorism charges on one of the country’s most prominent government critics.

Biden’s Division Comment Unites Afghans

Recent comments by former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden saying that “there is no possibility of uniting” Afghanistan has prompted many Afghans to unite in questioning and condemning his claim.

RSF Calls For Protection Of Exiled Pakistani Blogger

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Dutch authorities to investigate a recent attack on an exiled Pakistani blogger in the Netherlands and provide him protection.

Afghan ‘Village Of Widows’ Struggles To Survive After Losing Men To Drug Smuggling In Iran

Some 50 families, out of a total 70, have lost men to smuggling in Mir Ali. The impoverished village is characterized by dusty streets lined with crumbling mud houses. It is locally known as “the village of widows” because it has lost most of its men to drug smuggling.

Pashtun Rights Movement Leader Arrested By Pakistani Police In Islamabad

Police in the Pakistani capital have arrested a top leader of a civil rights movement campaigning against alleged military abuses in the country’s restive northwestern Pashtun tribal regions.

Pakistan Rights Movement To Protest Leader’s Arrest

A civil rights movement campaigning against alleged military abuses in its war-ravaged homeland in northwestern Pakistan has called on supporters to protest the January 27 detention of its young leader.

Afghan Gov’t Pushes For Cease-fire With Taliban

Afghanistan’s government is pushing for a comprehensive cease-fire in the wake of a looming agreement between the Taliban and the United States that will pave way for the withdrawal of American troops and kickstart direct talks between Kabul and the insurgents.

Afghanistan Seeks Reciprocal Assurances From Iran

As Iranian officials warn of “severe revenge” for the recent U.S. killing of their country’s most powerful military commander, Afghan officials are seeking reciprocal assurances from Tehran that their country will not be harmed in a confrontation with Washington.

Pakistani Opposition Party Criticized For Supporting Army Chief’s Extended Term

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz's stance to unconditionally support proposed legislation aimed at granting army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa a new term in office has attracted increasing criticism from journalists, party activists, and civil society leaders.

Taliban Release Soldiers In Bid To Boost Trust

In a confidence-building gesture with the government, Afghanistan’s hard-line Taliban movement has released 10 Afghan soldiers days after freeing two Western professors in exchange for three high-profile Taliban detainees.

Human Rights Watchdogs Call On Pakistani Authorities To Produce Disappeared Researcher

Global and Pakistani human rights watchdogs have called on Islamabad to release or produce a researcher who probed forced disappearances in the country’s restive northwest.

As Pakistan’s Political Battle Heats Up, Major Parties Support Anti-Gov’t Protest

Major political parties appear to be throwing their weight behind an Islamist leader’s protest aimed at ousting Pakistan’s civilian government.

Pakistan Court Grants Bail To Two Pashtun Lawmakers

A court in northwestern Pakistan has granted bail to two lawmakers incarcerated for months for an alleged attack on an army check post near the Afghan border.

Abdullah, Ghani Rivalry Likely To Cloud Afghan Presidential Polls

For five years, former election rivals Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have shared power. Their national unity government, however, was anything but united.

Taliban Capture Key Afghan Districts Bordering Central Asia

Afghanistan’s hard-line Taliban have captured two strategically located districts bordering Tajikistan in the northeast of the county.

Pakistan Extends Term For Powerful Army Chief

In a surprise move, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a new term in office to the country’s powerful military chief nearly three months before he was set to retire in November.

AI Calls On Taliban To Stop Attacking Presidential Campaign