Tag: conflict

The Coming Peace in Afghanistan

[Yead Mirza] USA's growing desperation to end the Afghan war – driven by the understanding of 'costs versus benefits' of the longdrawn conflict –  would bring about a positive result for achieving peace in not-so-distant future.

Syria, Hezbollah’s Next Lebanon

[Manish Rai] With its permanent presence in Syria, Hezbollah wants to deliver the message that the borders have collapsed and that there are new rules of engagement, to the detriment of the Sunni countries as well as Israel.

War against ISIS: Does the Battlefield Success Alone Count?

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] While the intervening powers have palpably shown enough resolve in removing despotic regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam of Iraq or in keeping Assad Regime in Syria, they failed to provide any stable alternatives which could bring about normalcy and political and social stability.

Instead of Blaming Neighbors, Afghans should Fix the Problems at Home

[Manish Rai] The ethnic and sectarian imbalance within the Afghan national military creates misunderstanding and mistrust among different ethnic and sectarian groups towards the army, making it look like a foreign force.

Cooperation between Assad and Kurds in Syria

[Manish Rai] The Damascus negotiations [between Assad and Kurds] are more realistically an attempt to test the waters and we should not have any high hopes from these initial talks. The negotiations will be long and arduous process, as the Assad regime is very centralized. keeping the country united and stable requires decentralization by way of delegating the powers at the local level. In multi-ethnic countries like Nigeria and India, this kind of model has arguably helped to hold these countries together.

World Humanitarian Day: Honoring Aid Workers and Civilians Trapped in Global Hotspots

[Michael Curtin] To those who closely follow the United Nations, the World Humanitarian Day is a day of special remembrance for the loyal UN aid workers who travel to the world’s most dangerous hotspots assisting civilians caught in the crosshairs of conflict and global health emergencies.

Time to Re-Examine the Atlantic Alliance

[Conn M. Hallinan] The NATO was a child of the Cold War, when the West believed that the Soviets were a threat. But Russia today is not the Soviet Union, and there is no way Moscow would be stupid enough to attack a superior military force. It's time the NATO went the way of the Warsaw Pact and recognize that the old ways of thinking are not only outdated but also dangerous.

Maiden UN Report on Human Rights Status in Kashmir Attracts Criticism from New Delhi

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] Despite India’s long-standing concerns over the Kashmir issue, human rights are no more considered domestic concerns with the growing institutionalization of international human rights laws and norms and, therefore, the UN report falls squarely with the Pakistani attempt at internationalizing the issue. However, even after several Pakistani attempts in seeking international support on the Kashmir issue, the major powers of international politics have preferred to stay off the course.

Hard to Replace Khalifa Haftar in Libya

[Manish Rai] Khalifa Haftar, a veteran general and strongman in Libya has recently returned to his stronghold and headquarter in the eastern city of Benghazi following an extended absence, including reported treatment in Paris hospital for a stroke. General Haftar has been part of the Libyan political scene for more than four decades, shifting from … Continue reading Hard to Replace Khalifa Haftar in Libya