EXTRICATION from a long war is the trickiest of decisions. It can get tougher when the world’s most powerful nation—the United States—has to do it.
It took 19 years, the longest armed engagement in American history, for the US to realise that despite possessing by far the most modern army and sophisticated weaponry, it no longer wanted to play ‘policeman’ in Afghanistan, particularly when caught in a quagmire. Rather, it was prudent to cut losses and run.
Actuated by that wisdom, the US entered into a “peace agreement” with the Pakistan-backed militant group, the Taliban, on February 29 in Doha that promises to pave the way in legitimising the latter as a key player in Afghan affairs. There is a strong possibility that Afghanistan may now enter into a fresh and prolonged bout of violence, as rival players prepare to expand their influence in the war-ravaged country.
India looks at the recent Afghan developments with mostly well-founded trepidation and some hope. For its past brushes with a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan had been decidedly unpleasant. On top of the list is IC 814. In December 1999, an Indian Airlines aircraft was hijacked to Kandahar by Pakistani terrorists who, aided by the Taliban, secured the release of the Jaish-e- Mohammed chief Masood Azhar from an Indian jail in exchange of the hapless passengers’ freedom.
More worrying is the price Pakistan is likely to extract from the US for delivering the Taliban to the talks table. An obvious concession could be getting it off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list to help it get international loans and investments. The India-obsessed Pakistani establishment regards Afghanistan as a country that provides it with ‘strategic depth’. A Pakistan-Taliban combine using Afghanistan to launch anti-India terrorist activities would pose a serious challenge to New Delhi.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Towering Inferno
The draft Environment Impact Assesment has triggered outrage for watering down earlier provisions to protect the fragile ecology
Turncoats: An Open Season
As Trinamool embarks on an aggressive rehabilitation and induction drive, BJP keeps looking for poaching opportunities
‘I am happy about the new phase in my life'
Bobby Deol made a grand entry into Bollywood with Barsaat way back in 1995 and followed it up with major hits like Gupt (1997) and Soldier (1998). The youngest son of Dharmendra, however, failed to hold onto his early successes and had to sit at home without any work for three years in the new millennium. The 51-year-old, who makes his digital debut with Class of ’83, a Shah Rukh Khan-Netflix production on August 21, speaks to Giridhar Jha about his latest film, his 25 years in movies and how he handled his failure. Excepts:
Styled Yours, Mahi
Seen from the perch of his great brand appeal, Dhoni is in the sublime present, and as grounded and undemonstrative as ever .
Bharat Cadre
The IAS isn’t a preserve of the elite any longer. Candidates from the hinterland, often with disadvantaged backgrounds, are laying claim to its hallowed ranks.
Language of politics
More voices from the state demand learning of Hindi
A Rotor Blade
MSD impressed as rookie, champ, skipper in the quest to excel for India
Kamala, Here She Comes
First Indian-American to run for US vice president
Mewat In The Mirror
Jasraj was one of the early popularisers of Hindustani classical, his voice timbrally pleasing and rich, but ductile enough to be drawn into thin filigree
A Covid-Era How-To For The Money-Wise
Lessons on investor behaviour during the unprecedented pandemic
AILERON/RUDDER MIXING EXPLAINED
Build good habits now and fly better tomorrow
CALLS TO REOPEN CLASSROOMS GROW AS TEACHERS GET VACCINATED
State leaders around the U.S. are increasingly pushing for schools to reopen this winter — pressuring them, even — as teachers begin to gain access to the vaccine against the raging pandemic.
US SPACE COMMAND SITE TO BE LOCATED IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
The U.S. Air Force announced that the new U.S. Space Command headquarters will be in Huntsville, Alabama, after the state was selected over five others competing for the project, including Colorado, where Space Command is provisionally located.
America's Missing Workers
Near-record levels of absenteeism could be hampering the recovery
YOGA & PEACE
DEEPAK CHOPRA speaks with DAAJI about the role Yoga has to play in bringing about world peace. This is an excerpt from their conversation broadcast on International Day of Peace, September 21, 2020. That documentary is available at https://heartfulness.org/en/international-day-of-peace/.
Create the habit of meditation
CHIRAG KULKARNI, Co-Founder and CMO of Medly Pharmacies in the USA, speaks with RISHIKA SHARMA about creating a regular meditation practice, so as to make it a habit. He also shares how meditation has benefited both his personal and professional life.
Beyond Organic: Buy Regenerative!
Improving soil health is an overlooked key for nutrient-dense food and a healthier planet. We can support farming that has this focus through the products we purchase.
US HOLDS FIRST OIL LEASE SALE FOR ALASKA'S ARCTIC REFUGE
The U.S. government held its first-ever oil and gas lease sale for Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an event critics labeled as a bust with major oil companies staying on the sidelines and a state corporation emerging as the main bidder.
MICROSOFT SAYS HACKERS VIEWED SOURCE CODE, DIDN'T CHANGE IT
Microsoft said in a blog pos t that hackers tied to a massive intrusion of dozens of U.S. government agencies and private companies sneaked further into its systems than previously thought, although the intrusion doesn’t appear to have caused any additional harm.
HARRY RISKS HIS TITLES IF HE BECOMES U.S. CITIZEN
PRINCE HARRY and his high living wife, Meghan, will finally cut all ties to royalty — and lose their cash-spinning titles — if he follows through with a vow to become a U.S. citizen, sources tell GLOBE.