Saman Ayesha Kidwai

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘Afghanistan’s Throes of Instability and Conflict’ has been published in Chanakya Forum on 19 June 2023.

Afghanistan, the ‘graveyard of empires,’ has experienced continuous conflicts and instability within its borders and with Pakistan and Iran. The Taliban has enforced strict rules on ordinary Afghans, leaving them no means to evade their oppressive regime, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 19 June, 2023

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article Af-Pak: Terrorism, Organized Crime, And Competitive Violent Jihad – Analysis’ has been published in Eurasia Review on 19 June 2023.

The last two years have proven catastrophic for Afghanistan’s stability and security in traditional and non-traditional domains. The regime change has also resulted in fissures between Pakistan and its previously strategic depth partner (Afghan Taliban), while the former has borne the consequences of nurturing terrorism and oppressing its Baloch populace, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 19 June, 2023

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘Taliban Vs ISKP: Warring Actors in an Unstable Afghanistan’ has been published in Eurasia Review on 15 June 2023.

Groups like ISIS or any of its prominent affiliates have been infamous for their demonstrated adaptability in response to on-ground circumstances. This has posed a grave security threat to the affected states. Afghanistan is poised to be caught in this dilemma for a prolonged duration.

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• Published: 15 June, 2023

Al-Qaeda and ISIS have attempted to monopolise the transnational jihadist movement and emerge as the sole vanguard of the Ummah (community).

• Published: May 23, 2023
• Issue Brief

Border clashes and failure to act against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have led to rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• Published: December 09, 2022
• IDSA Comments

The principles encompassing the Delhi Declaration reiterate that India’s core security concerns broadly resonate with the members of the UNSC.

• Published: November 16, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s research article ‘Rivalry between the Taliban and ISKP: The Collision of Terror’ has been published in India Quarterly Journal on 20 October 2022.

Today, Afghanistan finds itself in the cross hairs of a security vacuum and a near-failed state, where the increasing radicalisation of its populace appears to be an inevitable reality. Despite the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 by the allied forces, it was able to resurge as a powerful non-state actor from 2006 onwards, under the leadership of Mullah Omar. However, that failed to prevent the emergence of other terrorist groups, like the Islamic State—Khorasan Province (ISKP), whose formation in 2015 heralded the beginning of the ongoing rivalry between the two organisations, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 20 October, 2022

Concerns of radicalisation in SDF-run facilities in Syria remain high, given that reports flag corruption, crime, and deplorable security conditions at these camps.

• Published: October 18, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a 2000 per cent surge in heroin-related drug seizures between 2017 and 2022, with significant national security and societal consequences.

• Published: September 12, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Balochistan is one of the most restive areas in Pakistan that has endured systematic and extraordinary suppression at the hands of the Pakistani State and its security forces. The Baloch form a distinct ethno-national identity, and dream of creating a Baloch nation-state, but this runs contrary to the overarching Pakistani identity and State, attracting their fury. The Baloch have struggled for decades for international recognition of their plight but have hardly received any support.

• Published: September 2022
• Strategic Analysis