Lynne O’Donnell

Lynne O’Donnell is a columnist at Foreign Policy and an Australian journalist and author. She was the Afghanistan bureau chief for Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press between 2009 and 2017.

Articles by Lynne O’Donnell
Taliban fighters wait as people gather for a ceremony to raise the Taliban flag in Kabul.
Taliban fighters wait as people gather for a ceremony to raise the Taliban flag in Kabul.

The Taliban Detained Me for Doing My Job. I Can Never Go Back.

Report
Lynne O’Donnell
Afghan miners work.
Afghan miners work.

‘The Taliban Have Picked Up the Resource Curse’

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
A child walks amid the rubble of damaged houses in Bermal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 23, following a 5.9 magnitude earthquake.
A child walks amid the rubble of damaged houses in Bermal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 23, following a 5.9 magnitude earthquake.

A Modest Proposal to Save Afghanistan—From Itself

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Burqa-clad women wait in line for food.
Burqa-clad women wait in line for food.

The U.N. Knows Afghanistan Is Messed Up. But It’s Keeping Mum.

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, seen here in 2014, is a member of a group of exiled warlords and other leaders who want the Taliban to widen the makeup of Afghanistan's government and include them.
Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, seen here in 2014, is a member of a group of exiled warlords and other leaders who want the Taliban to widen the makeup of Afghanistan's government and include them.

Afghanistan’s Warlords Prepare Their Comeback

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Members of Taliban stand in front of the site where the Shahmama Buddha statue once stood before being destroyed in Afghanistan.
Members of Taliban stand in front of the site where the Shahmama Buddha statue once stood before being destroyed in Afghanistan.

The Taliban Take Aim at Buddhist Heritage

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Armed militants of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan pose for photographs.
Armed militants of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan pose for photographs.

Pakistan Sponsored Terror Next Door. Now, It’s Back to Roost

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
A primary and secondary school is destroyed.
A primary and secondary school is destroyed.

Al Qaeda Isn’t Dead Yet

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
265 people are evacuated out of Kabul.
265 people are evacuated out of Kabul.

Trump and Biden Let Afghanistan Collapse

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Afghan resistance movement and anti-Taliban uprising forces take position.
Afghan resistance movement and anti-Taliban uprising forces take position.

The Afghan Resistance Is Still Fighting

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
A burqa-clad woman with a child
A burqa-clad woman with a child

The Taliban Have Made the Burqa Mandatory Again

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
A man passes in front of the rubble of the Medina hotel in Somalia.
A man passes in front of the rubble of the Medina hotel in Somalia.

Terrorism Is Making a Comeback, and Africa Is the Hot Spot

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
A Taliban member stands guard outside of the Pul-e-Charkhi prison, located on the outskirts of Kabul, on Oct. 17, 2021.
A Taliban member stands guard outside of the Pul-e-Charkhi prison, located on the outskirts of Kabul, on Oct. 17, 2021.

Millions of Afghans Want to Flee. LGBTQ Afghans Have To.

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Taliban fighters in armored vehicles take part in a military parade.
Taliban fighters in armored vehicles take part in a military parade.

Afghanistan Regains Its Crown as Terror Central

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
Afghan resistance forces take a rest as they patrol on a hilltop.
Afghan resistance forces take a rest as they patrol on a hilltop.

Afghan Resistance Groups Eye Spring Offensive

Analysis
Lynne O’Donnell
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