Afghanistan: Iran ramped up its deportation of Afghans with hundreds of thousands returning to Afghanistan; Russia became the first country to officially recognise the Taliban government, while farmers in the north east protested a ban on poppy cultivation.

The article describes escalating regional pressures on Afghanistan as Iran accelerates the mass deportation of Afghan migrants and Russia formally recognizes the Taliban government. Topics include forced Afghan repatriations, international recognition of the Taliban; and violent farmer protests against the poppy cultivation ban.