August, 2021

• 30 August

  U.S. Evacuation Efforts in Afghanistan Receive a Boost from Key Allies

  

  Qatar has played an outsized role in facilitating the safe passage and evacuation of U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan. The Biden administration has been criticized heavily for its handling of the evacuation, with charges that it was unprepared for such a complex operation despite setting the timeline. Coordination …

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• 30 August

  Gas Shortage Boosts Russia’s Sway Over Europe’s Energy Markets

  

  Europe is facing a natural-gas shortage just as Russia is completing a controversial pipeline to Germany, increasing President Vladimir Putin’s leverage over the continent’s energy flows. Europe’s gas stores are at their lowest levels for years after demand rebounded from a pandemic-induced low that had led producers to slash output. …

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• 30 August

  Putin, Xi Agree to Jointly Combat Afghanistan ‘Threats’

  

  Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed their countries will step up efforts to counter “threats” emerging from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, the Kremlin said Wednesday. In a phone call, the two leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of …

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• 30 August

  Putin Takes Shot at West, but Says He’ll Work to ‘Normalize’ Afghanistan

  

  President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan showed that it was time for the West to end its “policy of imposing someone’s outside values from abroad.” President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Friday that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan showed that it was …

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• 30 August

  China-Russia drill signals new era in joint exercises: spokesperson

  

  A joint military exercise between China and Russia, code-named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, has charted the course for a new high-point in bilateral relations, opened new horizons for military drills between major countries, and explored new models for planning exercises together, a Chinese military spokesperson told a press conference on Thursday. The joint …

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• 30 August

  How Dangerous Is Afghanistan’s Islamic State Group?

  The Islamic State offshoot that Americans blame for Thursday’s deadly suicide attacks outside the Kabul airport coalesced in eastern Afghanistan six years ago and rapidly grew into one of the more dangerous terror threats globally. Despite years of military targeting by the U.S.-led coalition, the group known as Islamic State …

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• 30 August

  How Dangerous Is Afghanistan’s Islamic State Group?

  

  The Islamic State offshoot that Americans blame for Thursday’s deadly suicide attacks outside the Kabul airport coalesced in eastern Afghanistan six years ago and rapidly grew into one of the more dangerous terror threats globally. Despite years of military targeting by the U.S.-led coalition, the group known as Islamic State …

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• 30 August

  The Neocons Speak: Afghanistan As Political Real Estate – OpEd

  

  When the tears dry, it is worth considering why there is so much upset about the fall of Kabul (or reconquest) by the Taliban and the messy withdrawal of US-led forces. A large shield is employed: women, rights of the subject, education. Remove the shield, and we are left with …

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• 30 August

  Did The Taliban Win? – OpEd

  

  On February 29, 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal following months of tense, highly publicized bilateral peace talks. The finalized agreement had four key points, firstly a staggered withdrawal of foreign troops over fourteen months. Secondly assurances by the Taliban that Afghanistan will not be used …

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• 30 August

  Erdogan Says Turkey Holds Talks With The Taliban In Kabul

  

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey has held its first talks with the Taliban in Kabul, adding that Ankara was still assessing Taliban’s offer to run the Afghan capital’s airport. The Turkish leader said the talks were held at a military section of the Kabul airport where …

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