Nian Peng is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow at the Department of Foreign Languages and Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. He is also the Director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies (RCAS), Hong Kong. He holds a PhD in Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. His main research interests are in the areas of China’s relations with Southeast Asian/South Asian states, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and maritime security of the Indo-Pacific. He authored nearly 10 books and more than 20 papers in SSCI/SCOPUS/CSSCI-indexed journals. Recent publications include Populism, Nationalism and South China Sea Dispute: Chinese and Southeast Asian Perspectives (Singapore: Springer Nature, 2022). His refereed articles have been notably published in Ocean Development and International Law, Pacific Focus, Asian Affairs, etc. He also contributes his perspectives to various local and international media outlets such as The Diplomat in the United States, East Asian Forum in Australia, Bangkok Post in Thailand, etc. His e-mail id is jixi2212@163.com. Khalid Rahman is Chairman of the Islamabad-based think-tank, the Institute of Policy Studies. He has over thirty-five years of experience in research, training, and management. His main research contribution has been on national, regional, and social issues which include an active focus on Pakistan's Relations with its neighbors, and Domestic and Regional Politics. Rahman is also associated as a Non-Resident Research Fellow with the Research Centre for SAARC States (RCSS), Hainan Normal University, Haikou, and the Research Center for Social Development of Islamic Countries, Hebei University. He has 40 publications (written/Edited) to his credit. He is also editor-in-chief of the IPS Journal ‘Policy Perspectives’. His e-mail id is kr@ips.net.pk.

• Introduction.- Afghan Peace Negotiations: Over the years.- Taliban Retaking of Afghanistan.- The Challenges Ahead.- Afghanistan under the Taliban Rule.-  Security Threats and Regional Response.- US Post 9/11 Objectives and Policy in Afghanistan.-  A Tale of Persistent Failures.

Nian Peng is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow at the Department of Foreign Languages and Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. He is also the Director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies (RCAS), Hong Kong. He holds a PhD in Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. His main research interests are in the areas of China’s relations with Southeast Asian/South Asian states, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and maritime security of the Indo-Pacific. He authored nearly 10 books and more than 20 papers in SSCI/SCOPUS/CSSCI-indexed journals. Recent publications include Populism, Nationalism and South China Sea Dispute: Chinese and Southeast Asian Perspectives (Singapore: Springer Nature, 2022). His refereed articles have been notably published in Ocean Development and International Law, Pacific Focus, Asian Affairs, etc. He also contributes his perspectives to various local and international media outlets such as The Diplomat in the United States, East Asian Forum in Australia, Bangkok Post in Thailand, etc. His e-mail id is jixi2212@163.com. Khalid Rahman is Chairman of the Islamabad-based think-tank, the Institute of Policy Studies. He has over thirty-five years of experience in research, training, and management. His main research contribution has been on national, regional, and social issues which include an active focus on Pakistan's Relations with its neighbors, and Domestic and Regional Politics. Rahman is also associated as a Non-Resident Research Fellow with the Research Centre for SAARC States (RCSS), Hainan Normal University, Haikou, and the Research Center for Social Development of Islamic Countries, Hebei University. He has 40 publications (written/Edited) to his credit. He is also editor-in-chief of the IPS Journal ‘Policy Perspectives’. His e-mail id is kr@ips.net.pk.

• Introduction.- Afghan Peace Negotiations: Over the years.- Taliban Retaking of Afghanistan.- The Challenges Ahead.- Afghanistan under the Taliban Rule.-  Security Threats and Regional Response.- US Post 9/11 Objectives and Policy in Afghanistan.-  A Tale of Persistent Failures.

Nian Peng is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow at the Department of Foreign Languages and Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. He is also the Director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies (RCAS), Hong Kong. He holds a PhD in Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. His main research interests are in the areas of China’s relations with Southeast Asian/South Asian states, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and maritime security of the Indo-Pacific. He authored nearly 10 books and more than 20 papers in SSCI/SCOPUS/CSSCI-indexed journals. Recent publications include Populism, Nationalism and South China Sea Dispute: Chinese and Southeast Asian Perspectives (Singapore: Springer Nature, 2022). His refereed articles have been notably published in Ocean Development and International Law, Pacific Focus, Asian Affairs, etc. He also contributes his perspectives to various local and international media outlets such as The Diplomat in the United States, East Asian Forum in Australia, Bangkok Post in Thailand, etc. His e-mail id is jixi2212@163.com. Khalid Rahman is Chairman of the Islamabad-based think-tank, the Institute of Policy Studies. He has over thirty-five years of experience in research, training, and management. His main research contribution has been on national, regional, and social issues which include an active focus on Pakistan's Relations with its neighbors, and Domestic and Regional Politics. Rahman is also associated as a Non-Resident Research Fellow with the Research Centre for SAARC States (RCSS), Hainan Normal University, Haikou, and the Research Center for Social Development of Islamic Countries, Hebei University. He has 40 publications (written/Edited) to his credit. He is also editor-in-chief of the IPS Journal ‘Policy Perspectives’. His e-mail id is kr@ips.net.pk.

• Introduction.- Afghan Peace Negotiations: Over the years.- Taliban Retaking of Afghanistan.- The Challenges Ahead.- Afghanistan under the Taliban Rule.-  Security Threats and Regional Response.- US Post 9/11 Objectives and Policy in Afghanistan.-  A Tale of Persistent Failures.