Afghanistan
Who are the Taliban
Who are the Taliban
"Who are the Taliban and whose war they have been fighting" is a question that has been storming headlines in Afghan media. The question popped up after the Afghan President…
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Foreign interventions, higher expectations, and the ability to be cautious
Foreign interventions, higher expectations, and the ability to be cautious
It would be interesting to explore the extent to which Western policy-makers believed their own statements about Afghanistan's future right after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. But leaving…
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Afghanistan in Hope and Fear
Afghanistan in Hope and Fear
As the departure of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan gets ever nearer, there are fewer hopes and more worries in the hearts and minds of Afghans for their future.…
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Thank you General David Petraeus!
Thank you General David Petraeus!
During an FBI inquiry it was revealed that General David Petraeus had engaged in an extra-marital affair and that news has now also been made public. As a result, General…
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Afghanistan: The Long, Hard Road to the 2014 Transition
Afghanistan: The Long, Hard Road to the 2014 Transition
Plagued by factionalism and corruption, Afghanistan is far from ready to assume responsibility for security when U.S. and NATO forces withdraw in 2014. That makes the political challenge of organising…
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Habib Malik Orakzai from FATA: "Peace negotiations with the Taliban must include Pakistan."
Habib Malik Orakzai from FATA: "Peace negotiations with the Taliban must include Pakistan."
Hubertus Hoffmann: Mr. Habib Malik Orakzai, you are the Founder and Chairman of the Mutahida Qabail Party (MQP), Chairman of the Pakistan International Human Rights Organization (PIHRO), member of the…
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A Mafia in FATA: Haqqanis and Drones
A Mafia in FATA: Haqqanis and Drones
"So the question is really not whether drone strikes are right or wrong; or indeed in the interminable debates of exactly how many civilian casualties they cause (without free access…
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Drones and their ability to defeat al Qaeda
Drones and their ability to defeat al Qaeda
The accelerating use of drones in Yemen, as well as the recent resumption of airstrikes in Pakistan, has highlighted the US' increasing reliance on the unmanned vehicles to target enemies…
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