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Since the fall of the Afghan Republic in 2021, it has been made clear that neighboring states want to solve a range of longstanding problems that have been exacerbated by the Taliban rule. Pronouncements on the need for stability in Afghanistan and the resolution of ongoing concerns about international crime and terrorism, water rights, and migration flows come frequently from regional groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Central Asia C5 group, the Collect

By: Fatemeh Aman In this insightful analysis by Fatemeh Aman, the recent January 2026 crackdown on Iranian protests is examined through a lens that extends far beyond domestic security. Aman argues that the regime's use of mass violence is not merely an internal instrument of control, but a deliberate geostrategic signal aimed at both the Iranian public and foreign adversaries.

By: Fatemeh Aman This report by Fatemeh Aman analyzes the regional meeting on Afghanistan hosted by Iran in December 2025. While key neighbors like China, Russia, and Pakistan convened to address shared security and economic risks, the Taliban’s refusal to participate highlighted a significant diplomatic divide. The document explores Iran's strategic goals and how the Taliban's avoidance of multilateral scrutiny threatens to further isolate Afghanistan from the regional decis