December, 2018
IN THE NEWS: AFGHANISTAN DELAYS PRESIDENTIAL VOTE UNTIL JULY (DECEMBER 31, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten Afghanistan Delays Presidential Vote Until July SOURCE: Gandhara Monday, December 31, 2018 KABUL — Afghanistan’s election authorities say they have decided to delay a presidential election by three months to July 20 due to delays in registration and ongoing technical issues. IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad added […]
IN THE NEWS: INDO-PACIFIC SECURITY ENDANGERED BY UNITED STATES’ LIKELY EXIT FROM AFGHANISTAN (DECEMBER 30, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten Indo-Pacific Security Endangered by United States’ Likely Exit From Afghanistan SOURCE: South Asia Analysts Group Sunday, December 30, 2018 By SUBHASH KAPILA Afghanistan’s geostrategic location and presence of US Forces embedded in Afghanistan provide a sheet anchor for Indo Pacific security on its Western Periphery. Indo Pacific […]
IN THE NEWS: IN CONVERSATION WITH JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR STEVE COLL (DECEMBER 29, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten IN CONVERSATION WITH JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR STEVE COLL SOURCE: Newsweek Pakistan Saturday, December 29, 2018 Interview: NICK JACKSON Also read: review article about ’Directorate S’ on this website Steve Coll is Dean of Columbia University’s Journalism School. He has reported on South Asia since the 1980s. Ghost […]
IN THE NEWS: TALIBAN URGE U.S. TO EXIT AFGHANISTAN OR FACE SOVIET-STYLE DEFEAT (DECEMBER 28, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten TALIBAN URGE U.S. TO EXIT AFGHANISTAN OR FACE SOVIET-STYLE DEFEAT SOURCE: NEWSWEEK Pakistan Friday, December 28, 2018 *MILITANT GROUP’S SPOKESMAN SAYS AMERICA SHOULD ‘ABANDON THOUGHTS OF TESTING THE METTLE OF THE ALREADY PROVEN AFGHANS’ The Taliban warned the United States on Thursday it would face the same […]
IN THE NEWS: INDIA AND CHABAHAR (DECEMBER 28, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten India and Chabahar SOURCE: Daily Times Friday, December 28, 2018 Editorial India has this week officially taken over control of operations at the Iranian port of Shaheed Behesti in Chabahar. And credit for this must go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who remained steadfast in the face […]
IN THE NEWS: AFGHANISTAN – OBSTACLES TO TROOP PULLOUT (DECEMBER 27, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten Afghanistan — obstacles to troop pullout SOURCE: The Express Tribune Thursday, December 27, 2018 By RUSTAM SHAH MOHMAND As Afghanistan plunges into a vicious cycle of ever-expanding mayhem, voices are being raised belatedly for some genuine reconciliation that would end the 17-year-old conflict. The year 2018 was […]
IN THE NEWS: BENAZIR BHUTTO’S 11TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY: A LADY LARGER THAN LIFE (DECEMBER 27, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten Benazir Bhutto’s 11th death anniversary: a lady larger than life SOURCE: Asia Times Thursday, December 27, 2018 By IMAD ZAFAR December 27 marks the 11th anniversary of the death of Benazir Bhutto, a woman who embodied resistance, courage, and political wisdom in a land that has been […]
IN THE NEWS: A GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD IS A GREAT TREASURE (DECEMBER 26, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten A Good Neighbourhood is a Great Treasure SOURCE: Daily Outlook Afghanistan Wednesday, December 26, 2018 By LIU JINSONG As friendly neighbours connected by mountains and rivers, in the past millennia, China and Afghanistan have enjoyed friendship, mutual trust and mutual help rather than suspicion, dispute or war. […]
IN THE NEWS: INDIA TAKES OVER IRAN’S STRATEGIC CHABAHAR PORT (DECEMBER 25, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten India Takes Over Iran’s Strategic Chabahar Port SOURCE: Gandhara Tuesday, December 25, 2018 India has formally taken over operations at Iran’s strategic Chabahar Port, a move that could have significant geopolitical ramifications in the region. The port on the Indian Ocean, inaugurated last year, is being built […]
IN THE NEWS: CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (Part II). ON THE ROAD IN THE KARAKORAM (DECEMBER 25, 2018)
Selected by Olivier Immig & Jan van Heugten CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (Part II) On the road in the Karakoram SOURCE: Asia Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 (Posted) By PEPE ESCOBAR *The greatest geological and geopolitical road trip on earth symbolizes the mighty ambitions of the CPEC project The snowed-over Khunjerab Pass, at 4,934 meters, stands […]