Central Asia

Screenshot of Gulmurod Halimov in video talking about his defection. The video has since been deleted.

Why Tajikistan's special forces chief joined ISIS

Tajikistan's government claims nearly 400 Tajik nationals are fighting with ISIS. The latest to join from this Central Asian nation might be the highest profile: the head of the country's special forces branch of its police.

Why Tajikistan's special forces chief joined ISIS
A billboard calling for the release of US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held for nearly five years by the Taliban after being captured in Afghanistan, is shown in this picture taken near Spokane, Washington on February 25, 2014. Bergdahl has been released

Like Sergeant Bergdahl, reporter David Rohde knows about being a prisoner of the Taliban

Like Sergeant Bergdahl, reporter David Rohde knows about being a prisoner of the Taliban
An Afghan election commission worker arranges boxes containing election material in Mazar-I-Shariff April 1, 2014.The Afghan presidential elections will be held on April 5.

Afghans are registering to vote despite Taliban intimidation

Afghans are registering to vote despite Taliban intimidation
Hafez Nazeri

This Iranian composer makes a new kind of music that's 'neither east nor west'

This Iranian composer makes a new kind of music that's 'neither east nor west'