Afghan Northern Alliance

He's a milquetoast, but he's our milquetoast

Hamid Karzai is America's favourite weakman(9)

Afghanistan: Lions at bay

The victors against the Russians and the Taliban are now losers(0)

Sundance film festival: Shooting history

“September Tapes” is so real that the Defence Department seized its early footage(0)

Fragile Afghanistan

The government of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s interim president, is in serious trouble. The accidental bombing of a wedding by American forces, and then the assassination of a senior figure in Mr Karzai’s government, threaten to shatter the country's fragile unity(0)

Fragile Afghanistan

The government of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s interim president, is in serious trouble. The accidental bombing of a wedding by American forces, and then the assassination of a senior figure in Mr Karzai’s government, threaten to shatter the country's fragile unity(0)

America and Afghanistan: Stand by me

The American administration argues that things are better than they seem in Afghanistan. Is that right, or just hopeful?(0)

Politics this week

The next phase: On the ground

Gains in Afghanistan, losses in the battle of ideas(0)

The ground war: Everybody in - Fighting terrorism

America at last puts large numbers of men on the ground(0)

Planning for peace

Less than two weeks after the liberation of the Afghan capital Kabul from Taliban rule, the future of the country remains unclear. The war is not yet over, and UN sponsored talks aimed at establishing a new government are fraught with difficulties(0)

Special report: Distantly, the shape of peace

The people long for it. Afghanistan's warlords have other ideas(0)

Planning for peace

Less than two weeks after the liberation of the Afghan capital Kabul from Taliban rule, the future of the country remains unclear. The war is not yet over, and the shape of peace is far from planned(0)

After the Taliban

Their leaders are issuing defiant statements, but the rule of Afghanistan’s Taliban militia has crumbled almost overnight. This has left a dangerous power vacuum but is a big step forward in the hunt for Osama bin Laden(0)

After the Taliban

Their leaders are issuing defiant statements, but the rule of Afghanistan’s Taliban militia has crumbled almost overnight. This has left a dangerous power vacuum but is a big step forward in the hunt for Osama bin Laden(0)

War and politics in Afghanistan: Now for an equally hard part

The sudden capture of Kabul has left those on the winning side a host of fresh problems: order, government, humanitarian aid. And the war is not over(0)

Politics this week

Fighting terrorism: After the rout

Progress, at last, in the fighting, but politics and aid must now catch up(0)

The battle for Kabul

After making rapid advances across the north of the country, Afghanistan’s anti-Taliban opposition, the Northern Alliance, has captured the capital Kabul. The military victory will bring diplomatic complications(0)

The battle for Kabul

Helped by American bombing, Afghanistan’s anti-Taliban opposition, the Northern Alliance, has made sweeping territorial gains in the north of the country and is threatening to capture the capital, Kabul. But that military victory might be a diplomatic setback for America(0)

After the Taliban: Who should lead?

Burhanuddin Rabbani, leader of the Northern Alliance, is not the answer. Zahir Shah, the former king, has drawbacks too(0)

Escalation?

Facing a stalemate in Afghanistan, America is brushing aside concerns about winter and Ramadan, and says it is getting ready for larger-scale military action on the ground. The Taliban, too, seem to be preparing for more intense fighting, as does their “guest” Osama bin Laden(0)

The long haul

With uncertainty growing about the conduct of the war in Afghanistan, and the handling of terrorist threats at home, American and British leaders have had to reply to critics and to repeat their warning that the war against terrorism will be a long one(0)

The long haul

After one grim week, and facing another, American and British leaders have had to reply to critics and to repeat their warning that the war against terrorism in general, and even its first step, the conflict in Afghanistan, could take years(0)

The long haul

After one grim week, and facing another, American and British leaders have had to reply to critics and to repeat their warning that the war against terrorism in general, and even its first step, the conflict in Afghanistan, could take years(0)