Tag: Afghanistan

“Always stated India plays a very important role in Afghanistan”: Russia
9Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

“Always stated India plays a very important role in Afghanistan”: Russia

After reports emerged which suggested that Russia had asked to keep India out of Afghan dialogue, the Russian embassy in Delhi said that Moscow "always stated that India plays a very important role in Afghanistan, and its eventual deeper involvement in dedicated dialogue formats is natural".In a statement, the embassy said that it had noted "the publication in the Indian media claiming that Russia allegedly 'kept India out' of the international efforts for the Afghan peace process, which seems to be based on ill-informed sources"."Dialogue between Russia and India has always been very close and forward-looking on all global and regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. It has been intensively maintained in bilateral and multilateral formats, including the SCO-Afghanistan Con...
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India proposes inclusion of Chabahar Port in INSTC multi-lateral corridor project
4Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

India proposes inclusion of Chabahar Port in INSTC multi-lateral corridor project

India on Thursday proposed the inclusion of Iran’s Chabahar Port in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and invited Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to join the multi-lateral corridor project.“INSTC is an important trade-corridor project, wherein India is partnering with 13 countries to establish the economic-corridor for the benefit of our peoples. We also welcome the interest of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to join the multi-lateral corridor project. Establishing an Eastern Corridor through Afghanistan will maximize its potential,” Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said.He was addressing the virtual “Chabahar Day” event organised on the margins of the Maritime India Summit 2021.“India has proposed the inclusion of Chabahar in the INSTC route. I am hopeful t
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Soldiers without ranks
2Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, Business, Conflict, Opinion

Soldiers without ranks

Young Muslims trained in arms and light ammunition are sought after pawns in the markets of conflict and turmoil. Wearing the masks of Islam, they are out to create mayhem and massacre. In most cases, theses forces are out to challenge the State and its well-structured armies and police forces. In old times, such confrontations were a part of the game between rulers and their opponents.However, in modern times, the rules of the game have changed. Generally, the confrontations take place according to rules of war, as well as according to the international law approved by international community. But in this case, the engagement and employment of pawns is either overlooked or ignored. This strategic game was being played in pre-colonial and even colonial era as a state craft.The rulers who u...
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Nabbed IS terrorist recruited on behest of Pak’s ISI, has Afghanistan links: Sources
11Sep By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Nabbed IS terrorist recruited on behest of Pak’s ISI, has Afghanistan links: Sources

Islamic State terrorist Abu Yusuf, who was nabbed by security forces in Indian capital New Delhi was in contact with Yusuf-al-Hindi - also known as Safi Armar – Indian Mujahideen's absconding terrorist who hails from Bhatkal, Karnataka, sources have revealed.Yusuf-al-Hindi has been running the Khorasan module of Islamic State from Afghanistan, in collaboration with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).A per reports, after Indian Mujahideen was exposed in India, Yusuf-al-Hindi built the IS' Khorasan module with absconding terrorists of IM at the behest of Pakistan's ISI. IS Khorasan was given the responsibility of 'shaking Delhi', on behalf of the ISI.Yusuf-al-Hindi, also known as Safi Armar, had chosen Abu Yusuf for this task. Abu used to stay in touch with other terrorists present
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New China-Pakistan relationship undermines U.S. in Afghanistan
28Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

New China-Pakistan relationship undermines U.S. in Afghanistan

In an attempt to secure Beijing's influence in Afghanistan, China and Pakistan have begun an unprecedented intelligence-sharing arrangement, designed to help China exploit its economic investments in Afghanistan while also stifling outcry over its persecution of the Uighur population near China's western border with Afghanistan and Pakistan.The timing of the new relationship has become disturbing as President Donald Trump decides to pull out U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Now, American intelligence officials, who believe China will capitalize on ongoing problems in the administration's effort to secure a peace deal with the Taliban, says that Beijing will further expand its influence into other contested parts of the region."The reality is now dawning within the intelligence community," say...
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## Pitiful state of Pakistan ##
26Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Business, Opinion, Politics

## Pitiful state of Pakistan ##

In July 2018, Pakistan was accused by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of not doing enough to counter terrorism and subsequently was put on FATF’s grey list. It is only after FATF’s approval that millions of dollars in grants and aid are given to countries combating terrorism.The next session of FATF, which has seen delays due to COVID 19 pandemic, is due again shortly. Pakistan’s recent admission and subsequent denial of designated global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, who is accused by India of the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb attacks that claimed the lives of more than 250 and wounded 900 innocent civilians, is testimony to the pitiful state Pakistan has got herself into. Not only that, this demonstrates Prime minister Imran Khan’s desperation for seeking financial aid (admitting that Dawoo
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Pakistan’s ‘Durand Line’ is perhaps bloodier than LoC
24Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Pakistan’s ‘Durand Line’ is perhaps bloodier than LoC

The clashes between Afghan Taliban and Pakistani troops along the Durand line - the international land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan – is now every day news.Between July and August, the Afghan Taliban have claimed that they have killed many Islamabad soldiers. The citizens of Khyber Pakhtoonqkhwa are, once again, sounding the alarm and the good old strategy of chaos so dear to Pakistan army and intelligence is becoming more and more complex and elaborate.According to locals, Islamabad is playing on the usual different tables, sponsoring both Taliban and ISIS -Khorasan. According to US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad these two organizations are each other’s’ “mortal enemies, and in the war against ISIS, Taliban have played an important role”. For more than a year the Taliban are re
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China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces new threats from militancy
23Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces new threats from militancy

Ever since its launch in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been facing a lot of cynical scrutiny, with the United States cautioning that CPEC projects are neither transparent nor cost-efficient, and warning Islamabad that it is subjecting itself to expensive loans under China’s Belt and Road Initiative – through which Beijing has pledged more than US$60 billion so far.However, supporters of the project, including the Pakistani government, say that Islamabad will not end up being a client state of Beijing’s, and that the CPEC is its best shot at economic development.Indeed, the CPEC has not progressed as planned, with several large projects shelved and others still uncompleted. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to slow things down further, even though Pakistan has approved
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Pentagon says Taliban maintains Al Qaeda ties, jeopardizing US-Taliban deal
14Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pentagon says Taliban maintains Al Qaeda ties, jeopardizing US-Taliban deal

A report released by the US Department of Defense has prompted the Donald Trump administration to reconsider its deal with the Afghan movement.The report, released ahead of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan under the US-Taliban deal, says that the Taliban continues to hold relations with Al Qaeda.The report appears to be a huge embarrassment for the Trump administration, which is keen on pulling American troops out from the war-torn Central Asian country before the US presidential elections in November.For Trump, the exit will be proof to American voters that he has fulfilled one of his campaign promises to end the endless wars.According to the US-Taliban deal, the Afghan group will stop targeting US and Western-led coalition troops, promising to give no support to groups like Al Qa...
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Pakistan Still On FATF Grey List: When Will This ‘Farce’ End?
29Jun By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Pakistan Still On FATF Grey List: When Will This ‘Farce’ End?

While the rest of the world was busy dealing with lockdowns and COVID-19 related medical news, Islamabad and its army used this 'suspended' time to ‘clean their house’ and deal with a couple of hot issues. In their own way, of course.And the hottest issue on the table was the FATF meeting. June has come, and again, Pakistan will try and avoid being blacklisted by the FATF. So naturally, Pakistan must keep its house in order.Due to the increasing scrutiny on the activities of the terror groups in Pakistan by the FATF, the the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has, in the last few months, been tirelessly working towards shifting the training camps of groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad to Afghanistan.Further, with Taliban’s influence growing in Afghanistan, especially afte
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