By Malcolm E. Whittaker, RealClearDefense: "The Thirty Years War? The Hundred Years War? The Forever War? More than 17 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan to depose the Taliban regime, the United States has failed to crush the resulting Taliban insurgency and cannot withdraw without allowing them to return to power.
Michael Rubin | The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies
Zalmay Khalilzad, President Trump’s special envoy for Afghanistan, continues to pursue a diplomatic settlement with the Taliban framed mostly around the idea that the US will withdraw from Afghanistan and, in exchange, the Taliban will forswear terrorism. That strategy cannot work.
By Dr. James M. Dorsey, May 19, 2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Pakistan risks falling off a tightrope as it attempts to balance its relations with rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.
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(TOLO News) The U.S. and NATO Forces Commander in Afghanistan Gen. Scott Miller has said that there are some indications about the movements of al-Qaeda elements in some parts of Afghanistan but gave no details about the nature of these movements.
Sadanand Dhume writes: But although federalism may ensure that Mr. Modi does not quite become an Indian Vladimir Putin, it will do little to quell the fears of those who worry that the BJP will use its mandate to marginalize India’s Muslim and Christian minorities, empower Hindu zealots who espouse violence, replace scientific rationalism with Hindu mythology, and use tax authorities to bully and badger opponents. Mr. Modi may well prove his critics wrong by reining in party hotheads and focusing more on economic growth and less on divisive cultural issues. But until that happens, anxiety about what his mandate means cannot be dismissed. – Wall Street Journal
Muhammad Akbar Notezai writes: If these attacks continue, the CPEC’s chances of success will decrease, as will the possibility of Saudi-Iranian tensions on Pakistani soil. It is time for Islamabad to start treating the Baloch as stakeholders in the development of the Gwadar port, to make the CPEC successful. But unfortunately, Islamabad has always treated the Baloch as a problem, not a solution—and even increasing violence probably won’t change that. – Foreign Policy