Afghan politics

Afghanistan's political transition: Here's your new constitution

The face of the new Afghanistan starts to take shape0

Only a start

Afghanistan has unveiled a draft constitution. But even if the document is approved and President Hamid Karzai wins next year’s elections, the country’s problems will be far from over0

Afghanistan: On the Alamo

Dealing with the rising violence0

Afghanistan: Cash with strings

Worries over American aid0

Afghanistan: A question of resolve

Enter the suicide bomber0

Afghanistan: Taking on the warlords

A rare victory for Afghanistan's put-upon president0

Afghanistan: Taliban resurgent

Efforts to destabilise the government0

Don’t start what you can’t finish

America kicked the Taliban out of Afghanistan but stands accused of failing to follow through on promises to make the country more stable and democratic: many areas remain lawless, and Afghanistan’s neighbours are trying to exert influence over regional warlords. Lessons here for the looming war with Iraq?0

Securing peace

Hamid Karzai, the interim president of Afghanistan, has unveiled plans to build a national army over the next year. It will be a tough job: outside the capital there is fierce fighting between long-standing rivals0

Securing peace

Hamid Karzai, the interim president of Afghanistan, has unveiled plans to build a national army over the next year. It will be a tough job: outside the capital there is fierce fighting between long-standing rivals0

Money, murder and bin Laden

As the anniversary of September 11th approaches, fears are rising of more attacks by the al-Qaeda terrorist network. It still has cash and may have been involved in several recent incidents, including an attempt to assassinate the Afghan president0

Afghanistan: How to rebuild a country

New thinking by the Americans?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 unity0

Afghanistan: Murder in a “safe” city

Repairing the damage to the new government0

Afghanistan: A little less bombing, please

America has won the Afghan war. To win the peace, it may have to let the odd enemy get away0

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 unity0

Afghanistan: Taking lives, losing friends

By mistakenly killing Afghan civilians, America has harmed its cause0

Small change

Afghanistan's new president, Hamid Karzai, has sworn in most of his cabinet. It was approved last week after days of debate and confusion by a traditional council, or loya jirga, which had earlier elected Mr Karzai. His interim government can now set about the task of unifying the country and preparing for elections in 18 months' time, though the loya jirga also showed how difficult this will be0

Afghanistan's government: Small change

Tajiks still dominate0

Small change

After days of debate and confusion, Afghanistan’s loya jirga has elected Hamid Karzai as president and approved a new cabinet. The interim government can now set about the task of unifying the country and preparing for elections in 18 months' time, though the loya jirga also showed how difficult this will be0

A loya jirga or a fix?

Hamid Karzai, just elected Afghanistan’s leader by a traditional council, or loya jirga, has promised a “better life” for his countrymen. The loya jirga, the first in decades, got off to a bumpy start earlier in the week. Some delegates are complaining that most important decisions have already been taken0

Afghanistan: A scramble

The loya jirga convenes at last, to authentic confusion0

A loya jirga or a fix?

Afghanistan’s first traditional council, or loya jirga, in decades has got off to a bumpy start this week. After a lengthy debate a chairman for the council has been chosen, and it can now move on to its task of electing a new head of state and transitional government. But some delegates are complaining that most important decisions have already been taken0

So much to do

Afghanistan's traditional tribal gathering, or loya jirga, has opened in Kabul and is expected to endorse Hamid Karzai, the country's interim leader, as head of state. The loya jirga is to choose a new administration that will draw up a national constitution. Wrangling and politicking delayed its opening for a day, showing how, though much has improved, Afghanistan's political stability remains fragile0

Afghanistan: So much done, so far to go

As the loya jirga meets to plan Afghanistan's future, the country is still too fragile for comfort0