Mullah Hasan is presently head of the Taliban’s powerful decision-making body - Rehbari Shura or leadership council - which serves much like a government Cabinet running all the group's affairs subject to the approval of the top leader.

"Tactically, it is also good to remain engaged with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides also consulting our smaller neighbours within South Asia." - Lt. Gen (Retd) Hasnain

In nearly two decades since 9/11, the ‘September 11 mindset’ has gained global acceptance as reflected in several defensive or pre-emptive wars. These wars began in Afghanistan in October 2001, escalated to Yemen a year later, spread to Iraq in March 2003…

In nearly two decades since 9/11, the ‘September 11 mindset’ has gained global acceptance as reflected in several defensive or pre-emptive wars. These wars began in Afghanistan in October 2001, escalated to Yemen a year later, spread to Iraq in March 2003…

The mansion's owner, Abdul Rashid Dostum, is a notorious figure woven into the fabric of Afghanistan's recent history.

The minister, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, laid out the new policies at a news conference Sunday, several days after Afghanistan's new rulers formed an all-male, all-Taliban government.

"There was hardly anyone on the plane, around 10 people... maybe more staff than passengers," said an AFP journalist aboard the flight from Islamabad.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar noted that the issue of travel and safe passage that can emerge as an obstacle to humanitarian assistance should be immediately sorted out.

China recently announced that it would send $31 million worth of food and health supplies to Afghanistan, among the first foreign aid pledges since the Taliban took power.