‘It’s heartbreaking’: Steve McCurry on Afghan Girl, a portrait of past and present

The US photographer’s image of Sharbat Gula captured the story of a country, its people and refugees across the world. Thirty six years on, another picture tells a similar tale – but also one of hopeOn 1 September, a young Afghan girl stood in line wit…

‘We don’t want people to be in a panic,’ says chief of Taliban morality police

Exclusive: In his first interview with western media, Kandahar’s enforcer promises things will be different from the brutal 1990sMawlawi Mohammad Shebani is officially in charge of policing morals throughout Kandahar, the Taliban heartland of southern …

Taliban takeover of Afghanistan will reshape Middle East, official warns

Gulf states are having to reconsider their alliances and especially whether they can still trust the US, says senior sourceThe Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan is a shattering earthquake that will shape the Middle East for many years, a senior Gulf of…