International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

A war neglected by the world — Afghanistan and Pakistan

Farooq Tariq — 2026-03-06T15:01:00Z

The recent war between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been overshadowed by the attack on Iran by U.S. and Israeli imperialism. Yet the Afghan-Pakistan war, which began 21-22 February 2026 has resulted in heavy causalities on both sides. It was launched by the Pakistan Air Force airstrikes on Eastern Afghanistan (Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces).

- IVP614 - March 2026 / Pakistan, Afghanistan

Neither Islamabad nor Kabul: A Left Perspective on the Pakistan–Afghanistan War

Farooq Sulehria — 2026-03-01T17:27:07Z

As cross-border strikes intensify and Pakistan's defence minister declares “open war” against the Afghan Taliban government, the long arc of Islamabad's Afghanistan policy appears under severe strain. Is this merely another episode in a volatile frontier relationship — or the blowback of decades of militarised strategy and proxy politics?

- IVP614 - March 2026 / Pakistan, Afghanistan

Women in the Shadow of Global Fascism: The Narrative of an Afghan Girl & a Truth Which Knows No Boundaries

Azadeh Omid — 2025-08-22T19:48:45Z

For the past four years, I have been breathing in a country where the sky is constantly collapsing on women's heads. As an Afghan girl, I welcome each sunrise not knowing whether I will see sunset on that day. In the ominous shadow of the Taliban, being a woman is not only a limitation but a crime, a crime whose punishment is exclusion from social and human life.

- IVP607 - August 2025 / Women, Afghanistan

One Year Since Taliban's Takeover

Hassan Jan — 2022-08-15T08:08:00Z

It has been a year since Taliban's takeover of Kabul after the ignominious fall of Western-backed regime of Ashraf Ghani. The so-called democratic experiment of American imperialism and allied Western countries, built by militarily overthrowing Taliban back in 2001, came to an end after twenty years of colossal military expenditures.

- IV571 - August 2022 / Afghanistan

Afghan Women: Always Resisting Empire

Helena Zeweri, Wazhmah Osman — 2022-03-07T08:01:47Z

“[W]e show a rich Afghan women-led resistance, from direct combat against empire to calling out the government for failing to engage in direct democracy. We also show how Afghan women have critiqued benevolent governance as a premise for militarized humanitarianism, and the collusion of fundamentalist Islamists with U.S. imperial forces.”

- IV566 - March 2022 / Women, Afghanistan

US sanctions on Afghanistan could be deadlier than 20 years of war

Mark Weisbrot — 2022-02-17T08:41:31Z

“This collective punishment is hideously wrong and immoral. The Biden administration can remove the biggest contributing factor with the stroke of a pen.”

- IV565 - February 2022 / United States (USA), Afghanistan

Help Afghan Women. Do Not Recognize the Taliban Government.

Frieda Afary' — 2021-12-17T07:28:56Z

“Afghanistan is like a cake and every big power and regional country wants to have its share/slice from this war-torn country.”

- IV563 - December 2021 / Women, Afghanistan

Afghanistan and Its Challenge to Feminism

Frieda Afary' — 2021-11-23T06:01:54Z

“A global socialist feminist view also demands supporting the plight of Afghan refugees and confronting racist forces in our countries who use refugees as scapegoats for the problems caused by capitalism and imperialism.”

- IV562 - November 2021 / Women, Afghanistan

After 20 years, occupation has failed Afghanistan – but our struggle for freedom continues

Malalai Joya — 2021-10-18T07:47:18Z

“If we want to have an independent, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan in which men and women have equal rights based on democracy, people need strong solidarity to be free from fundamentalists and any foreign interventions.”

- IV561 - October 2021 / Women, Afghanistan

Washington Is Shedding Crocodile Tears for Afghan Women

Gilbert Achcar — 2021-09-17T07:10:30Z

“And despite pleas for the inclusion of women in the peace process that Washington conducted with the Taliban under Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, women's participation remained marginal.“

- IV560 - September 2021 / Women, Afghanistan