Afghanistan has recently held activities marking five years since the Taliban returned to power. Having been devastated by decades of conflict, Afghanistan is striving to rebuild the country from the ashes of war. Although the security situation has improved, the country remains beset by numerous challenges.

The rapidly escalating military tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan since late February, beyond bilateral issues, have also exposed Central Asia to new risks. The conflict not only affects regional security, but also threatens to cause major political, economic, and international security disruptions.