Analysis & Opinion
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An Interim Government would Bring Ruin to Afghanistan
The tragedy of the US Afghan strategy is that it has proved to be a gift that keeps on giving the Taliban concessions while delegitimising the Afghan state, government, military and people
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Pakistan’s Taliban Strategy: A Half-Century of Terror?
An Islamist Afghanistan suzerain to Pakistan is the ISI’s ideal solution but, failing that, an insurgency-ridden perpetually destabilized Afghanistan will do
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Afghanistan crisis; What Issues Biden Hide from Americans?
While ultimately Afghanistan may need to develop a viable government structure that shares power with the Taliban, neither side has shown any particular interest in such an arrangement
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New US plan could Erase Decades of Progress in Afghanistan
The draft plan has certainly re-energised the talks in Doha, with the Afghan sides meeting almost daily ever since its announcement. However, the proposal also has several shortcomings and could prove detrimental to peace in the long term
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International Consensus Needed for Taliban’s “Non-Return Through Force”
A Taliban onslaught behind their traditional rural bases, and in the absence of a credible international deterrent, could result in the worst kind of civil war and mass murders
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Making Sense of Indian and Pakistani Involvement in Afghanistan
While India’s alleged anti-Pakistan activities in Afghanistan may be concerning, in Pakistan both the Indian involvement and its associated threats are exaggerated
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Biden Must Revive ‘Six Plus Two Group’ to Successfully Exit Afghanistan
If the United States wishes to extend an already planned withdrawal of its troops and ultimately end the longest war in American history, it must formally revitalize the “Six Plus Two” framework and expand it to include more regional and…
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Doha Deal meant to End war in Afghanistan, only Embolden Taliban
Instead of peace, Taliban offensives swept the country, overrunning checkpoints and surrounding key cities like Kandahar and Lashkar Gah
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Why Pakistan does not Pressure Taliban for Ceasefire?
Despite Islamabad’s hesitations, the prevailing view in Washington is that by bringing the Taliban to the table without convincing them to reduce violence, Pakistan sold the Trump administration a car without an engine.
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As Biden visits Pentagon, Topic A is Plan B for Afghanistan
The big problem is that the Taliban have not been holding up their part of the deal, which requires them to lower the level of violence and negotiate a power sharing agreement with the Afghan government in good faith.
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