The ongoing border dispute between India and China combined with the hyper-nationalist and religiously sectarian Hindutva politics of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have led India to try and reinvent the wheel or more specifically, reinvented the road on which the wheels turn.
It often appears that “true Afghanistan” is not here in Kabul and not in Jalalabad or Heart either; not in the ancient villages, which anxiously cling to the steep mountainsides.
Many foreigners and even Afghans are now convinced that the “true” Afghanistan is only what is being shown on the television screens, depicted in magazines, or what is buried deep in the archives and libraries somewhere in London, New York or Paris.
The deep state with the assistance of outside interests? Can't say for certain. Let's just say there is a high probability of outside interest involvement considering all players and nation states affected by the removal of Nawaz SharifI used the term soft coup. Was it a soft coup? I would say so.
Barack Obama began his administration with the idea that the US would ‘pivot’ the epicentre of its hegemonic power to Asia. Forgetting the fact that the word ‘pivot’ is in this context, borrowed from the imperialist geo-political writings of Halford MacKinder, the plan which was arrogant in the first place, failed spectacularly by the end of Obama’s time in power.
With the United States increasingly isolated in the Middle East, traditional alliences are shifting. Iraq is now an ally of Iran and Syria and seeks Russia’s alliance, while Qatar is moving further away from Saudi influence and towards what could be a pragmatic relationship with Iran. Meanwhile Turkey and its traditional partner the United States are completely at odds over the Kurdish question, in spite of both countries being in NATO.
The Duran’s Managing Editor sat down with Nedka Babliku of Division Bell Media to discuss recent events in the Middle East.
China has confirmed that the forced resignation of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not negatively impact cooperation on building the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Many in the Pakistani and global media were concerned that after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that Sharif could no longer hold political office due to his Panamanian tax shelter, the project could be under threat.
Pakistan’s long serving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has resigned after the Supreme Court in Islamabad ruled to disqualify him from public office over alleged corruption relating to a Panamanian tax shelter.
Sharif has long been a household name in Pakistan holding the powerful office of Prime Minister between 1990-1993, then again between 1997-1999 and most recent between 2013 up to his present resignation in the summer of 2017.
Wasserman Schultz continued to retain Awan despite knowing for months that he was a prime suspect in a cybersecurity probe. [...]
On this solo episode I discuss two major geopolitical situations and their possible impact in the region and on the US. I begin by breaking down the political crisis that is unfolding in Afghanistan with Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum and the allegations that he ordered the beating and rape of a political rival. I explain the back story of these allegations and how they have presented a serious political challenge for Afghan President Ghani these past several months.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wears a pilot’s jacket which was presented to him during his “Talk with the Airmen” on the anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, Sept. 13, 2016 at the Philippine Air Force headquarters in Manila.
