Coronavirus and the prognosis for Afghanistan’s faux peace deal
by Rashmee
Posted on March 21, 2020
Afghanistan is at a particularly unenviable moment as the coronavirus outbreak shuts down the planet. Its government is paralysed by a tense political power struggle, a supposed “peace deal” has been signed between the US and the Taliban and the coronavirus is affecting the promised withdrawal of US troops. Meanwhile, the impact of … Continue reading “Coronavirus and the prognosis for Afghanistan’s faux peace deal”
Read MoreThe Taliban and the Nobel Peace Prize – the Malala connection
by Rashmee
Posted on February 29, 2020
Now that the Taliban has signed a deal with the US, making possible the final withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, it’s worth considering a point made by my friend and colleague Tom Hussain @tomthehack: One day the Taliban may win the Nobel Peace Prize Tom writes in the South China Morning Post. Even though … Continue reading “The Taliban and the Nobel Peace Prize – the Malala connection”
Read MoreMr Trump’s proposed NATOME will be in the Middle East. That’s as ludicrous as the acronym
by Rashmee
Posted on February 14, 2020
It’s hard to see the rationale for Donald Trump’s call on the NATO alliance to increase its involvement in the Middle East. He’s dreamt up a name for the mission – NATOME (NATO plus the initials of Middle East) – but beyond, there’s no clarity on anything very much. NATO is primarily focused on collective … Continue reading “Mr Trump’s proposed NATOME will be in the Middle East. That’s as ludicrous as the acronym”
Read MorePeace in Afghanistan? It’s September all over again
by Rashmee
Posted on January 18, 2020
Going by the news, the Taliban might be closer than at any point in a whole year of negotiations with the United States to signing a preliminary peace deal. But we have, of course, been here before. In September, Donald Trump reversed US approval for a deal that was all but signed. (Plans for the … Continue reading “Peace in Afghanistan? It’s September all over again”
Read MoreBiggest failure of the US-Taliban talks was the lack of preconditions
by Rashmee
Posted on September 10, 2019 / The National
Now that Donald Trump has peremptorily cancelled an unprecedented Camp David meeting with the Taliban, the Afghan peace negotiations remain just as impenetrable as the day they began 11 months ago. Where do they go from here, and should they go anywhere in the current format? What were the peace talks really about if the … Continue reading “Biggest failure of the US-Taliban talks was the lack of preconditions”
Read MoreIn the new Afghanistan, the future of women must be protected
by Rashmee
Posted on July 16, 2019 / The National
In 2012, a novel titled The Taliban Cricket Club, by the writer Timeri N Murari, was published worldwide. Set in Kabul, its main protagonist was Rukhsana, a young journalist who chafed at the restrictions placed by the Taliban regime on Afghan women. Fired from her job at the fictional Kabul Daily, Rukhsana uses a pseudonym … Continue reading “In the new Afghanistan, the future of women must be protected”
Read MoreIn Bishkek, multi-polarity builds its brand. It’s called SCO
by Rashmee
Posted on June 13, 2019
What should the world expect from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which kicked off in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Thursday (June 13)? You see what you want to see. The Chinese hail the SCO as the world’s largest transregional organisation by population and land area. The Russians regard it as an important Eurasian political, economic, … Continue reading “In Bishkek, multi-polarity builds its brand. It’s called SCO”
Read MoreA new era of pragmatic foreign policy appears to be emerging in Modi’s India 2.0
by Rashmee
Posted on June 11, 2019 / The National
How will Narendra Modi’s India deal with the world now? Differently from his first term as prime minister, as far as confidence and competence are concerned. Mr Modi is newly empowered, having won an emphatic re-election last month. Bestriding India and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Modi faced no political pushback in the swift … Continue reading “A new era of pragmatic foreign policy appears to be emerging in Modi’s India 2.0”
Read MoreAn acting president, no plan for the future. What happens to Afghanistan now?
by Rashmee
Posted on June 7, 2019
Afghanistan technically has an acting president right now and no particular plan for the future. Ashraf Ghani’s five-year term expired on May 22, but he’s remained in the job and is even pursuing long-term projects such as boosting exports or cleaning up the Kabul River. An Afghan Supreme Court decision allows Mr Ghani to remain in … Continue reading “An acting president, no plan for the future. What happens to Afghanistan now?”
Read MoreAmerica’s closing act in Afghanistan is playing out as both tragedy and farce
by Rashmee
Posted on June 5, 2019 / The National
Only the ignorant or incurably optimistic would be encouraged by the situation in Afghanistan right now. The Trump administration is heading for yet another round of talks with the Taliban in a stated attempt to “facilitate a peace process that ends the conflict”. President Ashraf Ghani, still in office although his five-year tenure ended on … Continue reading “America’s closing act in Afghanistan is playing out as both tragedy and farce”
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Rashmee has lived and worked in several countries in the past decade, including Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Tunisia, the UAE, US and UK