Pakistan's admission that it is housing Taliban leadership and retains influence over their secretive movement appears to be part of Islamabad's effort to retain its status as the dominant player in the Afghan war.
Afghan security forces have launched a two-pronged offensive to take on the Taliban in areas where the militant group has made gains in recent days.
Pakistan has often been accused of double-dealing by helping the international war on terrorism while sheltering the Afghan Taliban. But some insurgents now accuse Islamabad of manipulating their organization to preserve its influence over their ranks.
A seasoned observer says the Taliban capture of a provincial capital in Afghanistan aims to replenish its arsenal.
Thousands of refugees fleeing violence in their countries or just seeking a better life in Europe have made their way to the Greek Island of Kos. As the travelers suffer in legal limbo, local and international officials struggle to deal with the influx. RFE/RL met one family there and talked to them
Peace talks with the Afghan government have sparked a leadership struggle within the Taliban.
Regional expert Marvin Weinbaum talks about the fierce opposition President Ashraf Ghani faces in Afghanistan and the significance of the agreement for the South Asian region.
Afghanistan's hard-line Taliban movement faces a dilemma over how to respond to the emergence of the Islamic State, which is luring away leaders and foot soldiers.
Fierce debate is raging in Pakistan over whether the country should take military action in Yemen as part of a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.
