South Asia

By Frud Bezhan | (RFE/ RL) | – – With the Taliban threatening to overrun large parts of Afghanistan, First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum is seeking help from an old ally — Russia. h/t Wikipedia A graduate of the Soviet Military Academy and a general in the Soviet-backed Afghan army, Dostum is hoping his […]

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Elite Special Forces led in Recovering most of Kunduz from Taliban

contributors

By Frud Bezhan | (RFE/RL) | – – Afghanistan’s much-maligned security forces were facing their greatest challenge yet in trying to retake a key northern city from the Taliban — and expectations were not high. But, when the smoke cleared, Kunduz was back in government control, and predictions of a bloody and protracted street war […]

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: The Taliban reign of Fear in Kunduz belies Charm Offensive

contributors

By Frud Bezhan | ( RFE/ RL) | – – An expected Afghan government counteroffensive to retake Kunduz from the Taliban appears to have largely stalled as troops await reinforcements.” “The citizens of Kunduz should not worry about safeguarding their lives and properties. Carry out your ordinary livelihoods in absolute security. All traders, workers, staff […]

Afghanistan

The Final Collapse of Bush’s Nation-Building: Kunduz falls to Taliban

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Monday, the Taliban swept into the provincial capital of Kunduz, taking it in half a day from a large and well-equipped Afghan National Army force. Tuesday’s riposte had only mixed success, with the ANA saying it had taken back the (no-empty) prison. An attempt to […]

censorship

Can Digital India flourish without Freedom of Speech? PM Modi in Silicon Valley

contributors

Priya Satia | (Huffington Post) | – – The Indian community of Silicon Valley is preparing to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with open arms next week, in a route stop that has outshined the PM’s ultimate U.S. destination–his meeting with President Obama. Mr. Modi comes to promote Digital India, and local Indians are […]

Books

How Persian Literature shaped the culture of Iran and India

contributors

Sunil Sharma interviewed by Maryam Kamali | ( Iranian Medieval History) Sunil Sharma is the Associate Professor of Persianate and Comparative Literature at Boston University’s Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature Dear Prof. Sharma, it is my great pleasure to have an interview with you regarding medieval Persian literature. One of the controversial issues […]

Afghanistan

Is al-Zawahiri’s oath to Taliban a sign al-Qaeda is finished? Will ISIL step In?

contributors

By Joanna Paraszczuk | ( RFE/ RL ) – – After almost a year of silence, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has released an audio message swearing bay'ah — an oath of allegiance — to Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur, the new leader of the Taliban. Zawahri's message is in many ways another response to, and nullification of, […]

China

US Right needs to get over Self: Iran Deal is International

contributors

By Thalif Deen | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The single biggest misunderstanding about the nuclear agreement with Iran is that it is a bilateral deal with the United States. Not true. “Beware of American and Israeli politicians and commentators who claim this agreement will enable Iran to acquire nuclear […]

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: The First Rule of Counter-Insurgency is that it Doesn’t Ever Work

contributors

By William R. Polk | (Informed Comment) | – – The people of Afghanistan at least since the time of Alexander the Great had repeatedly and violently demonstrated their determination not to be ruled by foreigners. In 1842 they inflicted the worst defeat the British army suffered in the Nineteenth century. Soberly, the British then […]