Waiting with bated breath
Taliban race on to almost all of Afghanistan’s border posts while Pres Ghani continues to hold on to Kabul
The writer served as executive editor of The Express Tribune from 2009 to 2014
The Taliban have raced on to almost all of Afghanistan’s border posts while President Ashraf Ghani continues to hold on to Kabul and a good number of crucial cities. The whole world, especially the regional countries and the anxious neighbours, are awaiting with bated breath the imminent clash for Kabul between the government troops and the Taliban.
The Taliban have not tried to cross over to the countries beyond the border posts perhaps because they do not wish to test their strength against the troops guarding the borders of the neighbouring countries before they finally take over Kabul. Or perhaps, they really do not wish to invade the neighbours. Interestingly, they have let the customs offices manning Tajikistan’s border to continue working as usual, pocketin
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Russia-China-Iran alliance is taking Afghanistan’s bull by the horns.
The Great Game: This lithograph by British Lieutenant James Rattray shows Shah Shuja in 1839 after his enthronement as Emir of Afghanistan in the Bala Hissar (fort) of Kabul. Rattray wrote: ‘A year later the sanctity of the scene was bloodily violated: Shah Shuja was murdered.’ Photo: Wikipedia
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a Central Asian loop all through the week. He’s visiting Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The last two are full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded 20 years ago.
The SCO heavyweights are of course China and Russia. They are joined by four Central Asian “stans” (all but Turkmenistan), India and Pakistan. Crucially, Afghanistan and Iran are observers, alongside Belarus and Mongolia.