AFGHANISTAN
Taliban announce surprise talks with US in Pakistani capital
0 comments | by SAM Staff
The Taliban has said it will meet envoys from the United States for talks next week in Pakistan, even as another round of negotiations is scheduled in Qatar by the end of this month. The unexpected move on Wednesday was followed by a US State Department spokesperson saying in a statement that Washington had “noted” the announcement but had not “rec
Read Full ArticleAsian Water Crises in the Shadow of Nuclear War
0 comments | by Tayyab Baloch
The Indian government’s declaration to scrap the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960 unilaterally shocked Pakistan as it failed to build dams on rivers at the lower riparian. This unexpected Indian action came after the Uri attack on Indian soldiers in Kashmir. In fact, Modi’s government in New Delhi is taking every step to isolate and terrorize Pakista
Read Full ArticlePakistan-Afghanistan-US Relations
0 comments | by Dr Shahid Qureshi
There seems to be no clear policy of Zardari regime as how to deal with the challenges concerning the US lead military occupation of Afghanistan and drone attacks on Pakistan. Pakistan suffered approximately $60 billion economic losses, deployed more than 147,800 troops conducting combat operations in the tribal areas along the Afghan border. The Pakistan armed forces
Read Full ArticleDefining Success in Afghanistan
0 comments | by admin
There is a prior definition of success that shaped the Bush administration’s approach to Afghanistan in its early phases. The goal here was the disruption of al Qaeda’s operations in Afghanistan and the prevention of further attacks on the United States from Afghanistan. This definition did not envisage the emergence of a stable and democratic Afghanistan
Read Full Article0 comments | by admin
The military operations, night raids and drone attacks may not bring stability in this war-ravaged country. These operations would further fuel the anti-Americanism and number of militants would keep multiplying. Political solution indeed, is the only way forward in Afghanistan. Such an option would enable U.S and its NATO allies to have an honourable exit from Afghan
Read Full ArticleWould Obama try for a settlement with Taliban
0 comments | by George Friedman
Well, according to what’s been said by the administration, they are attempting to negotiate with the Taliban right now. I think, either way you play it politically, it’s equally troubling for President Obama if he doesn’t have peace by the time the election, the charge can be made that he has an open-ended war, that he doubled-down on Bush’s po
Read Full ArticleHas Obama Finally Thrown the Towel
0 comments | by Usman Khalid
It appears that President Obama has decided that the US must cut its losses and withdraw from Afghanistan . What will it leave behind? A civil war? A clandestine war between India and Pakistan ? Both? The USA does not have much time or many options. A lot depends on the terms on which Pakistan facilitates a smooth exit and protect residual US presence after exit The Obama administration, f
Read Full ArticleAfghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires
0 comments | by Eric S. Margolis
The US will continue strikes by drones, warplanes, and attacks by Special Forces from a small number of fortress bases. Pakistan will be cajoled or bribed by Washington to keep its forces active against Pashtun tribal fighters. Washington and London will keep issuing cheery claims about the success of the Afghan war. But the hard truth cannot be avoided. A
Read Full ArticleObama should take the road not taken in AF
0 comments | by M K Bhadrakumar
The Union of Ten Nations of ECO is the future of the 'Heartland' that would determine who has commanding influence over the world .Now that the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan is drawing near with no deal made with the Taliban, there is nervousness in Delhi and Washington DC This article by a former Indian diplomat outlines the options for va
Read Full ArticleA view from Kabul: Obstacle to Afghan peace
0 comments | by Imtiaz Gul
The intra-Afghan peace talks are up against multiple internal and external challenges. There has been a surge in Taliban attacks alongside increasingly conflicting views on the peace process within Afghanistan’s National Unity Government – reflected in the pro-Karzai and pro-Ghani camps. Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG), have intensified their
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