Joint solution
IT’S crunch time in Afghanistan. The US has made its intent to push for a political settlement that includes the Afghan Taliban clear. The US and Pakistani positions seem to…
A toxic Twitter war
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s latest salvo against Pakistanis yet another reminder that the two countries’ already uneasy relationship is getting nastier. It was not the first time that the president launched an…
Into the Afghan labyrinth
JUST weeks after a toxic Twitter exchange between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former has reportedly sought Islamabad’s help in the Afghan peace negotiations. While the…
Three to tango
TALKS between the United States and the Afghan Taliban have begun. Where will they lead is a question that depends largely on a player who is not even there —…
Foreign policy agenda 2019
UNLIKE its daunting domestic objectives, Pakistan’s external agenda, though challenging, is fairly clear. And, although overstretched, Islamabad has the capacity in its Foreign Service and the ‘security establishment’ to address…
The great retreat
Consider. The formidable Anglo-American alliance that was forged a hundred years ago, and went on to dominate the world for decades, is finally on the wane. The space thus created…
Talking Afghan peace
IN what is being described as the most tangible step forward in the Afghan peace talks, US officials and the Afghan Taliban seem to have come close to a deal…
Afghan dynamics and déjà vu
THE decision by the US to engage in direct dialogue with the Afghan Taliban and its willingness to pull out of Afghanistan has set off a new dynamic that has…
Premature euphoria
January 27, 2019 media reports gave the impression that six days of talks in Doha, Qatar, between the US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban had all but delivered…
Endgame in Afghanistan
THE endgame in Afghanistan is evolving rapidly. Expectations of an end to America’s long military adventure in Afghanistan have unleashed multiple moves to shape the country’s future. Current diplomacy may…
