Indonesian Militants React to Taliban Takeover
Quinton Temby
The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has been welcomed in Indonesia’s militant Islamist circles and even among some mainstream figures.

Quinton Temby
The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has been welcomed in Indonesia’s militant Islamist circles and even among some mainstream figures.
Max Lane
Early presidential bids by some Indonesian politicians have highlighted the lack of any policy debate in mainstream Indonesian politics.
Max Lane
Policies affecting the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have kept corruption salient in public consciousness. There is growing discontent and anger driven by the perception that the Indonesian political elites are colluding to weaken the KPK to promote their own vested interests.
Leo Suryadinata|William Choong
Washington has played up its growing relationship with Jakarta. For the latter, it is all about what Jakarta can get from the closer ties, and balancing its position within the Sino-US relationship.
Syafiq Hasyim
Speculation of the possibility of Indonesian President Jokowi seeking a third term in office remains rife. However, there currently appears to be near-unanimous opposition to the idea.
Wahyudi Akmaliah|Ahmad Najib Burhani
Covid-19 has forced various Muslim groups to adopt digital platforms in their religious activities. Controversy, however, abounds regarding the online version of the Friday Prayer. In Islamic law, this ritual is wajib (mandatory) for male Muslims.
Quinton Temby
A social media analysis of Indonesian salafi-jihadi and opposition Islamist chat groups indicates early but significant signs of crosspollination between both communities. As continuing government crackdowns drive both the violent jihadi and Islamist opposition groups into the virtual underground, there is a risk that the resultant crosspollination of both groups could push non-violent opposition activists into violent extremism.
Manggi Habir
One major impact of Covid-19 has been the early signs of consolidation in Indonesia’s fintech landscape. The prospects for fintech, in a country of 270 million people with significant internet penetration and about a third of the population still unbanked, are alluring.
Syafiq Hasyim
Although the mainstream Muslim organisations had supported closing mosques during Indonesia’s current round of emergency Covid-19 restrictions, the government subsequently compromised. This is another indication of the growing influence of conservative Muslim voices on Muslim issues.
Max Lane
In Indonesia, a paid vaccination programme bombed out in a span of days. Putting economics above health priorities had added to the negative political climate for the government.