I never thought I would witness two historic events: the president of the United States requesting cooperation from an erstwhile terrorist enemy, and the commemoration of America’s victims of 9/11 against the backdrop of victory …
Articles by: "Amin Saikal"
President Joe Biden declared on 8 July that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan would be a responsible one, the Taliban would not be able to conquer the country, and America’s departure from Kabul would not …
It is so tragic to see Afghanistan drowning in long-term structural instability and insecurity, savaged by bloody conflict, Covid-19, poor governance and poverty—and betrayed by outside actors. The population is bitterly traumatised, with little hope …
The Middle East is one of the driest regions in the world. The scarcity of water has often been touted as a source of national and interstate disputes in the area. Some scholars have predicted …
Iran and Israel have been at loggerheads since the transformation of Iran into an Islamic republic more than four decades ago and each has persistently viewed the other as a major threat to its national …
As the US and allied military exit gathers pace, war-torn and Covid-19 ravaged Afghanistan faces a multifaceted transition. The country is once again positioned to embrace a political, economic and security transformation of a magnitude …
Afghanistan has been through many painful and destructive transitions in its modern history since its consolidation as a recognisable country from the mid-18th century, but the one it’s currently experiencing is enormously tragic. If not …
Amid enormous domestic and foreign-policy challenges, the oil-rich, but US sanctioned, Islamic Republic of Iran is scheduled to hold its 13th presidential election on Friday. The voters will have a choice between seven male candidates who …
Australia has closed its Afghanistan embassy before its military involvement ends as part of the United States–Taliban peace deal for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by 11 September 2021. While that’s not unexpected, Australia …
Another round of fighting between Israel and Hamas has ended in a shaky ceasefire, with both sides claiming victory, as was the case with the two previous ceasefires since 2008. Israel justified its massive bombardment …
Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement of Hamas are once again locked in a deadly confrontation. The clashes that started between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem over the Israeli …
Iraq is at a crossroads between stability and instability, security and insecurity, peace and conflict. Whatever transpires, Iraq’s security sector has a critical role to play in the country’s transition in the years ahead. How …