Taliban Talks in Oslo

Western countries need to coordinate with Taliban, regardless what their ideology of hatred and violence inspire them. For the time being, Taliban are the key if we want our support being brought to the Afghan isolated populations in desperate need of help. This is what Thomas Lund, from Norway, presents us as a human duty, based on his personal experience and local acquantancies of an expedition leader and activist in the mountains of the remote Wakhan corridor.

Afghan Wakhan corridor: no Taliban violences but fragile survival and worries for the future

On December 13, 2021, we had a conversation with an Afghan citizen living in the middle of the Wakhan corridor. He says the situation under Taliban order is calm and safe. But he also describes the difficulties encountered due to degraded livelihood conditions. He shares his anxiety about the fact the current context does not offer sustainable perspectives for the future.

Tackling Trash Atop Mountains: Sustainable Mountain Tourism

The Everest is not spared from the plastic menace and littering. Many humans may not have conquered the world’s highest peak but their trash sure has dominated the previously pristine and sacred peak. That’s the case of most peaks that are being scaled.

Rowrung primary school in Afghan Wakhan needs help

Asad Wakhi, an Afghan young man, introduced to Pamir Institute a project about a primary school, 1 to 3 level. It needs support in one of the coldest places of Afghanistan. He transmitted us pictures that he took during last week of October 2021. Asad answered some questions from us. In this article, we will try to stay factual. Though, what is reported will provoke emotion for any normally sensible reader.

Hard time for Pamiri guide/translators and fixers in the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan.

In Europe, it is heard about foreign army translators, sport people, especially sport women, musicians, dancers, etc. being under threats or being killed by Taliban. But there is also a category whose existence is compromised. It is the one of the guides who took care of foreign visitors.

Régis Genté: “Central Asia is not an Islamist powder keg nor a radicalizing space.”

Almost two months ago, all of Afghanistan fell under the control of the Taliban, including remote areas where they never gained a foothold, such as the Wakhan Corridor. A specialist in Central Asia, Régis Genté, presents us how we could anticipate the possible repercussions of this event on the stability of this part of the world, as well as how we might assess its geostrategic importance, particularly concerning Turkey, a close ally of Pakistan, the major sponsor of the Taliban.

‘How can a soldier overnight become a Taliban ?’

The fall of Wakhan: part one
This article is first part of a series based on conversations with the people in Wakhan Corridor over a period of two months. The conversations were in Wakhi and have been edited for clarity. Names of the people have been changed to protect their identities

Shugnan’s Women Condition under Taliban Regime

This is a local testimony coming from a region being ignored by regular media. In upper northeastern Afghanistan, Shugnan has similar people and values with the bordering Tajik Pamir. A young man, Arif Pamirzad, explains us how traditional strong women’s position and education are under threat as a consequence of the recent fall of the district. He calls the Taliban rulers to adopt a responsible policy in order to protect the next generation and the future of his people.

Taliban extortions and suicide attackers settlement in Ishkashim and in Wakhan corridor

According to a resident witness, Taliban live detrimentally to the poor Tajik populations of Ishkashim and of the Afghan Wakhan corridor. They reportedly brought in forces from other parts of the country as well as suicide attackers. This could be explained by the conflicting relations with Tajikistan.