I have an essay on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region in the new issue of Development Advocate Pakistan, a publication of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

My new essay for The National Interest argues that the West will remain dependent on Pakistan in various respects even after leaving Afghanistan.

My latest covers a new report by the EU drugs agency warning of the threat posed by Afghanistan’s thriving methamphetamine industry to Europe.

My new story, based on interviews with Chinese analysts and examination of state media, shows that China’s apparently enthusiastic approach to the new Taliban regime in Afghanistan is more cautious than it looks.

My latest argues that the US was right to pull its troops out of Afghanistan but should remain engaged in the country, especially by providing humanitarian aid.

In my new story for Nikkei Asia, drug experts tell me that Afghanistan’s huge narcotics trade, which boomed during the NATO occupation, is likely to continue under Taliban rule.

My latest piece, out today, looks at the rivalry that is brewing in Afghanistan between Iran & Qatar, on the one hand, and Saudi Arabia & the UAE, on the other.

In the rush of recent Afghan work, I forgot to post this National Interest essay from last week arguing that sanctioning Pakistan would not have averted the Taliban takeover of the country.

My long read examines China’s future role in Afghanistan after the US troop withdrawal, which is likely to be characterised more by caution than expansionism.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of holding a short discussion for Conversation Six with Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution on China’s role in Afghanistan, available here.