Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan Please submit all media inquiries to media@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Borhan Osman is Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for Afghanistan. He is a leading expert on the militant networks operating in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and has researched the Afghan conflict since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Borhan has written extensively about the Taliban insurgency and militant groups in Afghanistan, including Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). Areas of Expertise The conflict in Afghanistan Insurgency, terrorism and militant networks Peace dialogue and reconciliation Religious extremism and radicalisation Salafi-jihadism Professional Background Before joining Crisis Group, Borhan worked as a researcher/analyst for over five years at the Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). Before that, he worked with different national and international media organisations in Kabul. His research and reporting has mostly been based on fieldwork across Afghanistan. He holds an MA degree from the Freie Universität of Berlin on Islamic intellectual history. Languages Pashto (native) Dari (native) English (fluent) Arabic (fluent) Turkish (intermediate) Urdu (basic) French (basic) In The News 1 Aug 2018 Attacking lightly defended targets has been part of [the Islamic State's] modus operandi from the outset. AFP Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan 11 Jun 2018 This mutual [Afghan] ceasefire, if successful, can possibly inspire or encourage future, more substantial steps towards peacemaking. Fighting has been the integral feature that has characterized the Taliban since the movement was born. A break from it, although very brief, represents an important departure from its modus operandi. AFP Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan 8 Feb 2018 The U.S. and Afghan governments are unleashing more violence based on the same rationale that it would tilt this stalemate to favor their conditions at the table. Reuters Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan 30 Jan 2018 Increasing pressure on [Kabul's] battlefield may lead [the Taliban and IS] to hit back in an area where they can publicly disprove the rhetoric of the U.S. military or Afghan government. AFP Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan 30 Jan 2018 [High-profile Taliban attacks in Kabul are] an attempt to disprove statements by U.S. and Afghan officials that the Taliban are weakened. NBC Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan 16 Jan 2018 U.S. strategy [in Afghanistan] is so military-centric. Even 100,000 troops couldn’t finish the Taliban, and ever since those days, they have been zealously confident. The Washington Post Borhan Osman Senior Analyst, Afghanistan Latest Updates Q&A / Asia 2 October 2019 Afghanistan’s Low-turnout Election, Insecurity and Unsettled Prospects for Peace Afghanistan’s fourth presidential election since 2001 brought perhaps 26 per cent of the electorate to the polls. In this Q&A, Crisis Group consultant Graeme Smith and Senior Analyst Borhan Osman explain the weak participation rate and explore the contest’s implications for the country’s stability. Q&A / Asia 9 July 2019 Afghanistan Diplomacy Gathers Steam Even as Attacks Increase This week the Afghan government and Taliban met publicly for the first time – albeit informally – for a peace dialogue. Crisis Group’s Senior Afghanistan Analyst Borhan Osman explains what the talks mean and what may lie ahead. Commentary / Asia 5 July 2019 Intensifying Violence Dulls Afghans’ Hopes for Peace A return visit to Taliban strongholds in rural Afghanistan reveals that hopes for peace last year’s brief ceasefire sparked have dimmed amid growing violence – despite progress in peace talks. Q&A / Asia 29 January 2019 Interpreting the U.S. Talks with the Taliban Talks with the Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha have raised hopes that the U.S. could end its involvement in Afghanistan’s war. Our Asia Program Director Laurel Miller and Afghanistan analysts Borhan Osman and Graeme Smith break down what was achieved and what remains unresolved. Commentary / Asia 5 September 2018 As New U.S. Envoy Appointed, Turbulent Afghanistan’s Hopes of Peace Persist The new U.S. adviser on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has a tough assignment: fostering peace between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Crisis Group’s Borhan Osman says that recent violence has soured the public mood, but that leaders on all sides still appear committed – at least rhetorically – to peace talks. Load more