Three Years Ago While press conferences conducted by Pakistan’s Foreign Office [FO] are a routine affair, the one held on November 14, 2020 was different. Instead of being conducted by a FO spokesperson, it was addressed by Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister [FM] Shah Mehmood Qureshi and co-chaired by the Director …

It was the very first visit by an American Secretary of State to Niger, only five months ago. Secretary Antony Blinken’s list of praise for Niger’s government was long and sought to portray it as a model partner. Not surprising, Russia and the Wagner private military company were also on …

Escalating clashes between Turkey and Kurdish militants in northern Iraq have left six Turkish soldiers dead. Six Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with Kurdish militants in northern Iraq this week, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said Thursday as the fighting between Turkish forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) escalated …

Under a detainee deal negotiated between Washington and Tehran, several US citizens imprisoned in Iran have been transferred to house arrest in a step toward their full release. Iran has transferred five US citizens held in Evin Prison to house arrest as part of a long-awaited deal that would involve …

Saudi Arabia’s cooperation with China on technological and scientific innovation is on the rise—and it is Saudi priorities that are steering the relationship. CHINA LOCAL/GLOBAL China has become a global power, but there is too little debate about how this has happened and what it means. Many argue that China …

On 26 July, high-ranking Nigerien officers announced on national television that they had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021. In this Q&A, Crisis Group analysts lay out the reasons for the coup as well as the stakes going forward. What happened in Niger on 26 July? …

There has been a gradual rise in isolated militant activity in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. The number of terrorist attacks increased by 27% in 2022 compared to 2021, and have been observed to be deadly in impact on few occasions, as seen during …

The aspiration of former Ukrainian politicians working in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to be treated as equals by the Kremlin has not been realized, and the unpredictability of the ongoing war makes them increasingly vulnerable. Ever since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has been integrating representatives of local …

A 43-year-old man has been arrested in Bosnia on suspicion of having links with Islamic State militants and of planning to attack Muslims from other traditions and one of their mosques, prosecutors said on Monday. The man from the central town of Zenica had been convicted in the past of …

ISIS militants killed 10 Syrian troops and pro-government fighters in the former extremist stronghold of Raqqa province, a war monitor said Tuesday. “ISIS attacked positions and checkpoints belonging to the regime… setting fire to military vehicles and prefabricated houses,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Six soldiers were also …