The taliban are starting their fifth year of ruling afghanistan. They have silenced internal dissent, tightened their control over afghan life, secured recognition from russia as the country's official … This monarchy lasted almost half a century, until zahir shah was overthrown in 1973, following which the republic of afghanistan was established.

Latest news on afghanistan. Covers politics, economy, foreign policy, nuclear and military issues. Afghanistan, officially the islamic emirate of afghanistan since the taliban took control, is a mountainous, landlocked country in south-central asia at an important geopolitical location.