Pakistan Observer: Mahmood Khan Achakzai claimed that he had merely stated that Khyber Pukhotonkhwa was once part of Afghanistan, cannot be dismissed lightly. It is a mere after-thought, a crude attempt to escape from the aftermath. Afghans do have claim on KP, rejecting the British-created Durand Line, but it is also a fact that KP, after historical
Michael Hughes: Former first lady Laura Bush made a “case” for U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan, which The Atlantic reported on June 28 without objection, arguing that if the Americans abandoned the war her husband started, hard fought women’s rights would be reversed. Of course, she overlooks the fact that the United States only cares about
Michael Hughes: Afghanistan’s oxymoronic divided “Unity” government is finding temporary succor in the U.S. and NATO expanding their military purview in the face of a Taliban movement on the march. President Barack Obama is worried about his legacy and does not want to see more Taliban gains on his watch, but his policy shift is unlikely
Al Jazeera: Since 2001, posing as an indispensable ally in the war against terrorism, Pakistan has been benefitting from a lavish US military and development aid, while continuing to provide a safe haven for the Taliban and the Haqqani network. The two groups have been responsible for tens of thousands of Afghan casualties and more than 3,500
Pepe Escobar (via Counter Punch): The Pentagon said Mansour was on Obama’s kill list because he had become “an obstacle to peace and reconciliation.” There’s way more to it, of course. Bets can be made that Mansour’s kill will not reduce Afghanistan’s opium production – which has been steadily on the rise for years now. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada,
Counter Punch: U.S. people should earnestly ask how the U.S. could help build trust here in Afghanistan, and, as a first step, begin transferring funds from the coffers of weapon companies to the UN accounts trying to meet humanitarian needs. The “giant” could be seen stooping, humbly, to help plant seeds, hoping for a humane harvest.
Michael Hughes: There is little reason to believe that the U.S. removed an obstacle to peace talks in Afghanistan by killing Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour because his replacement is even more radical and committed to waging a “holy war” against Kabul. The Taliban’s newly-appointed emir, Haibatullah Akhundzada, may not have the military expertise but is
Michael Hughes: Instability in Afghanistan continues to hinder private investment and complicates the implementation of financial reforms, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report on Friday. In other words, Afghan policies have failed to adhere to the West’s neoliberal orthodoxy. As the war-torn poverty-stricken country operates in survival mode, free market ideologues want to
Axis of Logic: Afghanistan and Pakistan are both U.S. allies, but the latter is accused of destabilizing the former with U.S. help. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani gave a blistering speech on April 25 to a rare joint session of parliament, accusing Pakistan’s government of aiding and abetting Afghan Taliban officials in Peshawar and Quetta. “Today, I
Michael Hughes: U.S. servicemen responsible for an attack on a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan are not guilty of war crimes because they did not mean to kill more than 40 patients and staff, or so says the Pentagon, an argument that does not sit well with physicians, survivors and victims’ families. Many are