Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-19

Family photo of the 20th summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Dushanbe, September 17, 2021  19. SCO won’t be subaltern to QUAD  As expected, the situation in Afghanistan was the focal point of the discussions at the 20th summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe on Friday. Yet, the SCO’s Dushanbe …

Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-18

Pentagon claimed its “righteous strike” by a Reaper drone on Aug. 28 in Kabul killed an ISIS terrorist who turned out to be an aid worker. Attack killed 10, including 7 children, in a residential block. 18. India’s ‘over-the-horizon’ dilemma  In England, they’d plan a park, build it but wouldn’t complete it until they could observe  …

Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-17

Trade caravan on the Silk Road, Central Asia 17. Foreign Devils on the Silk Road   The title of an unputdownable 1980 classic by Peter Hopkirk comes to mind even as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation are preparing to hold back-to-back summit meetings at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 17.  Foreign …

Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-15

Afghan tribal leaders and religious scholars and youth leaders from the central provinces (Hazarajat) met former president Hamid Karzai regarding formation of inclusive government, Kabul, September 11, 2021 15. Enter regional states  The Taliban hoisted their black and white flag on the presidential palace in Kabul on September 11, which happens to be the twentieth …

Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-13

13. Panjshir revolt becomes footnote  At the daily foreign ministry briefing in Beijing on Friday, Russian correspondent of Sputnik asked spokesperson Ambassador Wang Wenbin how China viewed the Taliban decision to attack Panjshir and how this will affect the Afghan situation.  Ambassador Wang replied that “it is China’s sincere hope that all parties in Afghanistan …