Iran: Container shipping line from Chabahar to Indian ports

Spokesman of Iran’s Valfajr Shipping Company says his company is operating a regular container shipping line from Chabahar port to various ports in India.

According to Abbas Kabousi, 15 voyages have been conducted along the mentioned line over the past three months, ISNA reported.

“The first vessel with a full capacity of 550 TEU arrived in Chabahar from Indian ports a few weeks ago and its cargo has been completely unloaded,” Kabousi said, adding that his company is ready to transport more goods between Indian ports and Chabahar port.

The official noted that his company has also been operating some direct lines from Persian Gulf Arab countries to Chabahar port.

“Valfajr Shipping Company has reduced the time of cargo transportation on the route from the southern ports of the Persian Gulf to Chabahar while reducing the freight rate and improving the schedules,” he said.

Kabousi further said the shipping company is ready to launch a direct line from Oman to Chabahar port.

Back in May 2022, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) announced that three direct container shipping lines were launched from Chabahar Port to Nhava Sheva and Kandla ports in India as well as Jebel Ali Port in United Arab Emirate.

Iran and India had previously launched shipping lines between Chabahar and the Indian ports of Mumbai, and Mundra.

The first shipping route between the two countries was put into operation in 2017 between Iran’s Chabahar port and Mumbai.

In January 2019, Iran and India inaugurated the second direct shipping route which passes through Mumbai, Mundra, Kandla, Chabahar, and finally Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

India is using the mentioned shipping routes to transit goods to Afghanistan and Persian Gulf nations as well as the countries in Central Asia.

Through Chabahar port India bypasses Pakistan and transport goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia, while Afghanistan can get linked to India via sea.

Iran has awarded India the project for installing and operating modern loading and unloading equipment including mobile harbor cranes in Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar.

The strategic Chabahar port in southeastern Iran is the only ocean port on the Makran coast and it has a special place in the country’s economic affairs.

Back in September 2021, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on Central Asian countries to benefit from Chabahar Port capacities for expanding their trade in the region.

 

UN halts some programs in Afghanistan after ban on women aid workers

Taliban seized power in August in 2021. They largely banned education of girls when last in power two decades ago but had said their policies had changed. Taliban-led administration has not been recognized internationally.

The United Nations said on Wednesday that some time-critical programs in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely need to be paused because of a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women aid workers.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, the heads of UN agencies and several aid groups said in a joint statement that women's participation in aid delivery is not negotiable and must continue, calling on the authorities to reverse the decision.

“Banning women from humanitarian work has immediate life-threatening consequences for all Afghans. Already, some time-critical programs have had to stop temporarily due to lack of female staff," read the statement.

"We cannot ignore the operational constraints now facing us as a humanitarian community," it said. "We will endeavour to continue lifesaving, time-critical activities ... But we foresee that many activities will need to be paused as we cannot deliver principled humanitarian assistance without female aid workers."

The ban on female aid workers was announced by Taliban-led administration on Saturday. It follows a ban imposed earlier on women attending universities. Girls were stopped from attending high school in March this year.

"No country can afford to exclude half of its population from contributing to society," said the statement, which was also signed by the heads of UNICEF, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, the U.N. Development Program, and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights.

Separately, 12 countries and the EU jointly called on the Taliban to reverse the ban on female aid workers and allow women and girls to return to school.

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Britain, the United States and the EU.

The ban on female aid workers "puts at risk millions of Afghans who depend on humanitarian assistance for their survival," the statement said.

Four major global groups, whose humanitarian aid has reached millions of Afghans, said on Sunday that they were suspending operations because they were unable to run their programs without female staff.

The UN statement said the ban on female aid workers "comes at a time when more than 28 million people in Afghanistan ... require assistance to survive as the country grapples with the risk of famine conditions, economic decline, entrenched poverty and a brutal winter."

The UN agencies and aid groups - which included World Vision International, CARE International, Save the Children US, Mercy Corps and InterAction - pledged to remain resolute in our commitment to deliver independent, principled, lifesaving assistance to all the women, men and children who need it.

Taliban seized power in August last year. They largely banned education of girls when last in power two decades ago but had said their policies had changed. Taliban-led administration has not been recognized internationally.

 

 

 

 

Moscow considering gas export to Pakistan through Iran

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has said his country is considering export of natural gas to Pakistan and Afghanistan through Iran.

Novak said that in the long run, Russia can send its natural gas to the markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan, either using the infrastructure of Central Asia or by swapping from the territory of Iran.

Back in November, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji had announced a plan for cooperation with Russia and Pakistan on gas export to Islamabad.

Under the mentioned plan, Iran can tap Russian gas for a revival of its long-installed pipeline project to neighboring Pakistan.

As reported by Iranian media, Russia has agreed to supply gas to Iran for the purpose of delivery to Pakistan via the Iranian pipelines.

Russia has also agreed to build pipelines in Pakistan that were supposed to be built by the Pakistani side of a 1995 gas supply contract with Iran.

Russia’s contribution to the scheme comes as the country is trying to find new markets for natural gas supplies that were removed from the European markets because of Western sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

Iran is also keen to partner with Russia in supplying gas to Pakistan as the country could benefit financially from the project while increased gas supplies from Russia will help the country address potential gas shortages in its northern regions.

Under a proposed swap scheme, Iran will import gas from Russia either through Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan to consume the supplies in its northern regions while committing to deliver the same amount of gas on the border with Pakistan.

Iran has another option to buy Russian gas for domestic consumption in its north without committing to any swap delivery of the same amount to other countries.

That will enable Iran to meet the growing domestic demand for natural gas and increase its gas supplies for the purpose of exports to other countries.

Experts believe both scenarios could benefit Iran although some prefer the swap model because it will lead to more Russian contribution to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

 

US budget will support proxy wars in 2023

The US Senate has passed legislation for the Pentagon budget next year, whopping US$858 billion. The unprecedented package is US$45 billion more than President Joe Biden had requested and is set to have consequences for global peace and security. The bill passed so easily in both chambers tells about the priorities of Washington. 

The bill is the largest budget in the history of the world. It is about three to four times larger than the budget of China whose population last year was reported at 1.412 billion, in comparison to the 331.9 million of the United States.

It is also a conservative budget as it does not include other aspects of the US military such as America’s nuclear weapons program, which is in the region of trillions of dollars. Nor does it include the Central Intelligence Agency. Last year, Congress gave the CIA US$25 billion more than it asked for.

Experts say this huge US military budget supports a network of global occupation. An occupation that has a military presence that includes Europe, parts of East Asia, in particular Japan and South Korea, nations across West Asia, and parts of Africa.

The amount of money being spent on the military has been met with anger among Americans, especially during this period of economic hardship on the backdrop of a global pandemic and war in Ukraine.

Since 2001, conservative estimates suggest the US has spent at least US$20 trillion on war and military adventurism abroad.

This is while the latest US$858 billion bill has no purpose to protect the people of the United States. Nobody is threatening the US mainland which raises the question of why such a large amount is being spent by Washington on its military. Nearly half of the US discretionary budget is spent on the military.

The diversion of these resources could be used for feeding, clothing, educating, building, and treating Americans back home who are desperately in need of such services.

There is a lack of healthcare or enough housing, adequate food and clean water, or a clean environment inside the United States. These issues are rarely mentioned by the US media.

There has been a very extensive propaganda campaign inside the US in support of the US proxy war in Ukraine, which seems to have won. This campaign is being launched by bipartisan parties in Congress.

This is a war that could have easily been avoided and prevented the suffering of the Ukrainian people as well as citizens across Europe.

The huge amount of money in the military is being used to support the declining US worldwide empire. Washington has to resort to keeping this sinking empire in power and in place through militarism expenditure.

The US is slipping in many ways, as far as being the dominant world power when it comes to economics and finance, and diplomacy. But it does claim to be the world’s leading military power, which other countries can depend on.

History has proven that to be false and such a claim by Washington of being the world’s number one military power is not something to be proud of considering its multiple military defeats.

The budget also allocates funds to send more military aid to Ukraine which raises the question if Washington is seeking to prolong the war.

Experts say the aim is to seek regime change in Russia, in particular, after Moscow sent its forces to Syria to help Damascus fight terrorism.

The idea of dismantling the Russian Federation has been openly talked about at the US state department. It is actively holding public forums in various places with groups that the US claims are repressed nationalities in Russia under the context of liberation movements.

Critics say Washington is doing or trying to do what was done to the Soviet Union in 1991.

But critics also say some policymakers at the US State Department are under the illusion or delusional enough to believe that Washington can re-enact the events of 1991 (when the Soviet Union was dissolved) and have the Russian Federation collapse by expanding NATO.

Washington is playing with fire in Ukraine as Russia says if it sends Patriot missile batteries to Kyiv that means American military personnel would be operating the missile systems.

This could pit Russian forces in direct combat with American forces and could potentially expand the war. Should the US military sustain casualties by Russian retaliatory attacks, this would lead to nowhere but a third world war.

It highlights the instability of America’s delusional policy-making. The US invaded Afghanistan but never succeeded in occupying the country in 20 years with no plans on how to withdraw until it fled in a very chaotic nature in similar scenes to Afghanistan.

The massive military policy bill also includes the authorization of up to US$10 billion in military assistance and fast-tracked weapons procurement for Taiwan.

One think tank says it will allow a regional contingency stockpile that will allow the Pentagon to place weapons in Taiwan (which is part of China) for use if a military conflict with Beijing arises.

The US Indo-Pacific Command’s outgoing Admiral Phil Davidson, before leaving office, said the island chain countries have to be prepared for war. In other words, places like Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and others have to prepare for war triggered by the US.

Analysts have interpreted this until today, as meaning that countries surrounding China have to be built up militarily so that if a war occurs with China these countries and regions get hit and suffer casualties as well as destruction.

But Washington needs the same countries and regions to have so much weaponry so they can continue fighting or serve as the basis for the US to continue a war against China until victory.

It highlights how little concern the US has towards those countries and how cold-blooded the US approach to war is.

It also means the United States is disregarding the Shanghai Communique which recognizes on both sides of the strait, everyone recognizes only one China. Now Washington is not treating Taiwan as part of China which is very dangerous.

There has been an ongoing drive to militarize some nations surrounding China, in a similar fashion to Russia.

In Africa, the US is fighting in five or six places in addition to the Ukraine war, the Yemen war, and other civil wars that Washington is waging through various proxies.

The timing of the budget comes at a time when the US national debt stands at around US$31 trillion, which puts into question the thought process of those making decisions in America.

US senators backed the bill overwhelmingly which means there is always consensus on the war in a congress that the US arms companies have the lawmakers their pockets. The military-industrial complex, along with the banks and the oil companies are the only beneficiaries of war.

Unlike healthcare, abortion, gun control, and so many other issues that take so long to pass Congress amid deep divisions between the Republicans and the Democrats, when it comes to militarism, there is no bickering at all.

 

Tehreek-e-Taliban ends ceasefire with Government of Pakistan

Reportedly, the armed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced the end of an indefinite ceasefire agreed with the Government of Pakistan in June 2022 and issued orders to its fighters to carry out attacks across the country.

“As military operations are ongoing against mujahideen in different areas, … so it is imperative for you to carry out attacks wherever you can in the entire country,” the group said in a statement on Monday.

The group said it is facing a rising number of attacks by the Pakistani military, particularly in the Lakki Marwat district of Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“We submit to the people of Pakistan that we have repeatedly warned you and continued to be patient so that the negotiation process is not sabotaged at least by us, but the army and intelligence agencies do not stop and continue the attacks, so now our retaliatory attacks will also start across the country,” the statement said.

The TTP has been waging a rebellion against the state of Pakistan for more than a decade. The group demands the imposition of hardline Islamic law, release of key members arrested by the government and a reversal of the merger of Pakistan’s tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

On November 16, the TTP claimed responsibility for an attack on a police patrol in Lakki Marwat, about 200km (125 miles) southwest of the provincial capital, Peshawar. Six policemen were killed.

The TTP made its declaration hours after the government said the state minister for foreign affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, will visit Afghanistan on Tuesday.

According to the foreign ministry, Khar will hold talks on regional security with the Taliban government in Kabul.

Security specialist Asfandyar Mir of the United States Institute of Peace told Al Jazeera that while the TTP has been escalating its violence recently, it has also exercised restraint by not carrying out attacks outside tribal areas.

“I have inferred the targeting as a function of Afghan Taliban pressure on the TTP to calibrate their escalation,” he saId. “Now if the TTP follows through in its declaration of countrywide attacks, the key question is how will the Taliban respond.”

The government and the TTP have held multiple rounds of talks facilitated by the Afghan Taliban, the last of which took place in June. The talks began weeks after the Taliban took control of Kabul last year.

Despite the ceasefire, the TTP continued its attacks this year, saying they were defensive in nature and only in retaliation for operations carried out by Pakistan’s military.

According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, an Islamabad-based research organization, at least 65 such attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the end of October. These killed at least 98 people and wounded 75, it said.

 

Iran Emerging Regional Transit Hub

For thousands of years, Iran has been an important route for the transit of foreign goods due to its geopolitical position. The country played a significant role in transporting commodities from west to east as one of the main stations along the ancient Silk Road.

In the modern day, this huge capacity became dormant due to war, political conflicts, and sanctions and consequently lack of infrastructure. Now the global conditions are changing in Iran’s favor and new opportunities have appeared on the horizon.

The Ukraine war, despite its grave consequences for many countries, has presented Iran with a golden opportunity to realize the long-awaited goal of becoming the global transit hub it once was.

The row between Europe and Russia over the Ukraine war, which resulted in harsh sanctions being imposed on the country, cornered the Russian government economically and many European countries closed their borders on Russian goods making it very hard for its traders to be able to access their destination markets. As a result, the country started looking for new ways for distributing its goods across the world, especially in Asia and the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) once again came under the spotlight.

The agreement for launching INSTC was signed by Iran, India, and Russia in 2000. Despite all the interest and hype, the attention to the route faded due to geopolitical hurdles including the global economic stagnation, the US sanctions on Iran, the conflict in Karabakh, and the pandemic.

Now the multi-modal network of ships, rail, and roads is once again gaining its importance, as the most important trade link between Asia and Europe.

According to official data, one of the major advantages of this transportation route is that the cost of transporting goods through this corridor is 30% cheaper. It also halves the time it takes to transport Indian goods to Russia via the Suez Canal.

Iran can use this transit route to distribute European commodities in the shortest possible time and at a lower cost than other routes to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

It is predicted that after the full operation of INSTC, Iran will be able to earn US$20 billion in transit profits annually, something helping it reduce its dependence on oil revenues amid the American ban on the sector.

Iran has been taking serious measures for the development of its railway network as well as its ports and shipping infrastructure in order to encourage more countries to join the project.

Using the capacities of INSTC, Iran will be able not only to expand the volume of trade with Russia and the countries of the region; it can also gain a huge share of the mentioned countries’ annual transit.

Currently, Russia has proposed to take part in some railway projects in Iran in order to accelerate the development of the Islamic Republic’s railway network along the mentioned route.

Last week, Igor Yevgenyevich Levitin, aide to the president of the Russian Federation, visited Iran on top of a high-ranking delegation to meet with Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Rostam Qasemi and discuss the expansion of transport ties.

According to the Iranian Transport Ministry, Levitin was tasked by Russian President Vladimir Putin to take the necessary measures for the implementation of Iran’s Rasht-Astara railway and the signaling of the country’s Incheh Borun-Garmsar railway line (both of which are along the INSTC route).

Besides linking India to Europe via this corridor, Iran can connect Central Asia to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Landlocked countries in Central Asia can use the corridor's railway to access the high seas. Over time, Iran's place in the corridor would become known to all.

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iraq, and Afghanistan have also shown interest in joining the huge project by linking their railways to that of Iran.

Earlier this month, Kazakhstan reached an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran for using the country’s rail network and the southern Shahid Rajaee Port for transiting goods to the Central Asian and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions.

Iran has also been seeking to join its railway with Iraq in order to use the Arab country to facilitate access to the Syrian market, this way Syria can also be somehow linked to the INSTC.

The rail and sea route can also join the Chinese Road and Belt project, which seeks to revive the ancient Silk Road. As one of Iran’s major trade partners China has also shifted to Central Asia and the Caspian Sea to transit its goods to Europe after the eruption of the Ukraine crisis and Iran could play a significant role in delivering Chinese goods to their destinations.

The current international conditions have presented Iran with a proper opportunity to play a bold role in the broader implementation of the INSTC and to transform into a regional trade hub by developing its rail and transit infrastructure.

Given the lower costs and shorter time of trade via this route, Iran can become the main trade link between Asia and Europe and effectively neutralize the US measures aimed to isolate Iran from the global economy.

 

 

Unveiling the real face of United States

The United States has been involved in hundreds of wars, invasions, coups and conflicts around the globe, yet it claims to be the flag-bearer of the international fight for freedom, liberation and human rights.

Even a cursory look reveals that in addition to its crimes, atrocities and attempts to divide countries, Washington stands accused of seditious acts through a widespread social media campaign and its embassies around the globe have been censured for their role in destabilizing different regions of the world.

It is often alleged that the United States itself was founded on violence against the indigenous people of America and since then it has survived on instigating violence with its hegemonic dreams and hopes of global hegemony following the collapse of the British Empire.

Over the past two decades Washington has had its eyes on West Asia with the disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as its support for Takfiri terrorist groups in countries such as Syria and Libya and in particular Iran.

It has since expanded its warmongering approach towards Eastern Europe with the aim of containing rising superpowers such as Russia. It has also pinned its hopes on China’s domestic issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang and elsewhere with the hope of containing the rising economic and military power of Beijing. In essence, what is very clear is that wherever there is a US presence, there is also insecurity and no stability in that part of the world.

President Joe Biden claims the US will free Iran. Speaking at a campaign speech in California recently, he said, "Don't worry, we're gonna free Iran". The reality is, as noted by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran was freed from US captivity by toppling the Pahlavi regime. 

"I am telling Biden that Iran was freed 43 years ago," Raisi said in reference to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

It is also important to note that the Iranian people were free in 1953 before the American CIA and British MI6 orchestrated a coup that toppled the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq and replaced it with a puppet regime to loot the country’s large oil and gas resources.

This is something both Washington and its Western allies publicly acknowledge. The reality is that the US has been trying to repeat the exact same scenario in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It has no interest in freedom or the livelihoods of Iranian people. Experts say human rights are observed in Iran more than the United States where minority groups, including Black Americans, face systematic discrimination.

The US claims it wants to free the Iranian nation while at the same time it has imposed the harshest ever sanctions on Iranian people that have caused the majority of the country's population to suffer. American sanctions prevented and continue to prevent patients suffering from serious diseases, such as cancer or rare skin diseases, to gain access to vital medicines by banning money transfer from Iran. This is under the name of "US freedom".

American widespread support for riots in Iran over the past few weeks have also led to the brutal death of police forces. This is the freedom and human rights that America seeks to spread and preach about. 

The closer the United States approaches Iranian borders or any other border in West Asia and beyond, the more insecurity grows in that country. And the US has dozens of military bases surrounding Iranian borders but an independent Iran has proven it has the capability to prevent the Pentagon from toppling the Islamic Republic because of Tehran's military might.

The governments and kingdoms that have linked their own national security interests (knowingly or unknowingly, willingly or unwillingly) to the US have been toppled because of their lack of sovereignty.

In cases where they have not been toppled, the US is stirring sedition and divide nations. This policy of spreading instability helps American arms manufacturers make lucrative profits from weapons deliveries, as has been witnessed in many countries, such as Cuba and other Latin American countries and more recently to Syria, Libya, Ukraine, etc.  

The US State Department has demanded that North Korea refrain from taking any defensive measures to protect its territory, and instead engage in dialogue. This is while the United States has hundreds of warplanes buzzing around North Korean borders in joint war games that have been extended and which Pyongyang views as a rehearsal for an imminent invasion. North Korea has test-fired ballistic missiles in response to these war games and Pyongyang, unsurprisingly, has been denounced by Washington for stirring up trouble.

The US is allowed to hold the largest ever war games next to North Korea with the deployment of B-1B strategic bombers but the North is not allowed to test its own missiles to protect its territorial integrity.

The US Navy missile-guided destroyers and other warships including US warplane carriers and strike groups regularly sail in the South China Sea and expect China to remain silent, which by the way Beijing has exercised praiseworthy patience with its diplomatic approach to the US provocations. A reflection of how one country is not after seeking military confrontation and how another has a warmongering approach under the pretext of spreading freedom that nobody even requested in the first place.

Critics argue that the delusional idea that Washington can provide security guarantees for another country can’t be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is, as history has shown and proven, the US only looks after its own interests, makes lucrative profit from its military adventurism and once these America’s interests are gone, so are the alleged security guarantees that Washington once promised to provide for certain governments and rulers and kings.

 

Young Americans turning against Israel

A new extensive research has revealed American public views toward Washington’s foreign policy with the majority of younger American opposing Washington's arms sales to the Israeli regime. The study also reveals massive support among the Americans toward a return to the Iran nuclear deal.

The survey conducted by the Eurasia Group Foundation suggests that the younger American generation is becoming politically more aware of Israeli atrocities and the insecurity it brings to West Asia. The majority of those surveyed (18-29 years old) disapprove the ongoing arms assistance to Israel. Albeit Americans of older age groups (above 60 years of age) are more supportive of the US military assistance to the occupying regime.

The United States provides Israel with some US$4 billion in annual military aid. That makes the regime the largest recipient of American military aid. However, the money comes from the pockets of American taxpayers, many of whom are not aware that their money is funding genocide and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of Palestine. 

Nearly 80% support the Biden administration negotiating a return to the Iran nuclear deal. There has been strong regional and international debate over how much ordinary Americans support their government's military assistance to authoritarian, occupying, apartheid regimes and dictatorships. Washington regularly claims security reasons for the assistance it provides but very few buy this argument. 

Mark Hannah, a senior fellow at Eurasia Group Foundation said, "We began this survey five years ago because we believed lawmakers and foreign policy leaders conducting foreign policy on behalf of the American people would benefit from a window into their opinions and priorities." 

Hannah expressed hope, "Those inside the Beltway use this survey to make the activities they pursue more sensitive to — and informed by — the opinions of their constituents, and to bridge the gap between the concerns of policymakers and those of ordinary Americans."

Just last month, the US aviation giant Boeing revealed that it will be providing the Israeli regime with four Boeing refueling military aircrafts in the coming years as part of the free military aid it receives from Washington.

The contract between Boeing and the US Defense Department is to the tune US$927 million for the four KC-46A aircraft. In essence, that means the US taxpayer will pay the price by footing the bill of US$927 million. Boeing will make a considerable profit and the regime will find more opportunities to create regional instability.

The Israeli war minister, Benny Gantz said, "This is yet another testament to the powerful alliance and strategic ties between the defense establishments and governments of Israel and the United States."

As per the norm the war minister and other regime’s officials alongside their counterparts in Washington cite Iran as the pretext for the massive military aid budget. 

US military aid to Israel has mostly bipartisan backing in Congress and continues to be approved by a majority of lawmakers each year.

The University of Maryland found less than one percent of respondents viewed Israel as one of Washington's top two allies. Over the years there have been other polls that reflect the findings by the Eurasia Group Foundation. Earlier this year, a Pew Research poll also showed critical views toward Israel among younger Americans - respondents (under 30 years of age) 61% of this age group had favorable views of the Palestinian people.

Also this year, the University of Maryland found less than one percent of respondents viewed Israel as one of Washington's top two allies.

Zuri Linetsky, a research fellow at EGF, told Middle East Eye, "We asked the question about ranking why you would stop selling [arms] and specifically respondents who were against selling arms to Israel said that it violates human rights through its enduring occupation of Palestine. So that resonates with people."

The latest poll also shows American opposition to the ongoing US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with nearly 70% of respondents disapproving the massive sale of US weapons to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has used Western-supplied weapons, especially Americans, to level Yemeni infrastructure to the ground.

This is despite growing concern among rights groups that more arms sales to countries, such as Saudi Arabia bombing Yemen or Israel attacking other nations, continue to be approved by the Biden administration. In August, President Biden approved a massive US$5 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for missile technology.

The study also shows how respondents are in favor of curbing US military adventurism overseas and the increasing support of more efforts by the US administration towards diplomacy, even with American adversaries.

Among the top takeaways of the Eurasia Group Foundation findings in the West Asia region are:

On the Iran Nuclear Deal:

Regardless of the partisan leanings, Democrat or Republican, most Americans are in favor of negotiations with Iran. Nearly 80% support the Biden administration negotiating a return to the Iran nuclear deal. That support is notably bipartisan; more than 70% of Republicans believed the US should continue to pursue these negotiations.

"We found that there are vocal critics on both sides of the political aisle in Congress, against pursuing an agreement with Iran, but those views don't necessarily reflect what we're finding amongst the survey respondents," Lucas Robinson, an external relations associate at the foundation, told MEE.

The Biden administration has continued with his predecessor's policies on Iran; the so-called maximum pressure campaign that have led to the death of children with rare diseases and cancer patients alongside a whole range of other humanitarian issues that have hurt ordinary Iranian people.

On War Powers:

Roughly 80% believe the president's war-making abilities should be more restricted by Congress, representing a consecutive two-year increase. The US has waged numerous invasions of countries, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq. It continues to occupy parts of West Asia illegally and is invoked in secret military programs without the consent of Congress. 

On Afghanistan:

Nearly two-thirds of respondents think the most important lesson from the war in Afghanistan was that the United States should not be in the business of nation-building or that it should only send troops into harm's way if vital national interests are threatened.

With regards to the issue of nuclear weapons, nearly 75% are concerned with nuclear weapons. Respondents who have served or are currently serving in the military are significantly less concerned than those without military experience.

"For the vast majority of the 21st century, the United States has been involved in conflicts and in far-flung parts of the world. So the question is, is this what the American people want? Does this represent their interests?" Linetsky asks.

"This is very much a test to see where people who take surveys fall down on what American policy is towards the world and what they think their leaders' priorities should be, be they international or domestic."

The White House is at odds with most respondents - a diverse group of Americans across the country from different religions, political affiliations, age groups and income levels.

The foundation surveyed more than 2,000 voting-age Americans online with detailed questions about US foreign policy and America's global role.

 

 

Why is the US avoiding penalizing 9/11 facilitators?

Today marks the anniversary of “the strangest incident” which plunged the world in turmoil. Some quarters say the US administration has kept the ‘facilitators’ immune and avoided taking any punitive measures against them.

The lack of any action by Washington in pursuing the inquiry displays utter disregard to killing of people in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This explains lack of US interest in seeking any justice for the millions of civilians killed by its bombing in          Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere. One may recall that the US had waged two wars on the pretext of fighting terrorism. 

Both of which went horribly wrong with civilians paying the price for the policies of hawks and arms manufacturers in Washington. They thrive on the US military adventures abroad or other conflicts that the US supports with constant arms supply. 

The billions of dollars spent on two invasions in the aftermath of 9/11 made the world less safe and could have been invested domestically instead to eradicate the many problems plaguing America such as homelessness, child hunger, poverty or even the country’s outdated infrastructure. 

Last year, President Joe Biden administration came under strong pressure by 9/11 family members, survivors and emergency responders to declassify an earlier FBI report, summarizing an investigation into the attacks. 

In a sign of how fed up the 9/11 families had become, Biden was told he would not be welcome at the 9/11 memorial events unless he fulfilled a pledge to be more transparent than other presidents. 

In what was an expected U-turn, the American president travelled to Saudi Arabia this year, asked for greater oil production and recently approved a multi-billion-dollar arms deal to the Kingdom. 

In 2017, the US clinched deal with the Saudis worth US$350 billion. The trade is simply too lucrative and would not be possible if ties to Saudi Arabia are broken.

America has made accusations against others over the 9/11 attacks, including Iran, something which is quite laughable and touching on borderline stupidity. However, it is not unexpected from the US officials, who have blamed Iran for just about everything. 

The accusation against Iran is more for domestic audience and aimed to make up for Washington’s failures in genuinely addressing the attacks with any tangible results.

What is even more regrettable is that people of Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks but were made to suffer for 20 years after their land was invaded and occupied by American forces. 

20 years later, the US chaotically withdrew from Afghanistan; but in a severe blow to humanitarian efforts in the country, the White House has frozen seven billion dollars of Afghan funds. 

 

 

Afghanistan: One year of Taliban rule, but no recognition by international community

Taliban marked the first anniversary of their rule in Afghanistan on Wednesday. This reminds humiliating defeat of US-led forces who invaded Afghanistan following September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. 

Two of the most regrettable points are: 1) United States has not allowed the world to recognize Taliban government and 2) to continue its tyranny United States has not released foreign reserves of Afghan central bank as yet.

"The experience of the past 20 years can be a good guide... Any kind of pressure and threats on Afghans in the last 20 years has failed and just increased the crisis," Taliban said in a statement.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - the name the Taliban give their government - is the "legitimate government of the country and the representative of the brave Afghan nation", the statement said.

No country has recognized Taliban, who took over Afghanistan with a speed and ease that took the world by surprise, following which President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and his government collapsed. The US led forces left two weeks later in chaos.

Taliban statement called on the international community to allow Afghans to have an independent Islamic government that has a positive interaction with the world.

The international community has pressed Taliban on human rights, particularly those of girls and women whose access to school and work has been limited. It has also urged Taliban to stopping harassing critics, activists and journalists.

The Taliban say they are discussing the matter of girls' education and deny cracking down on dissent.

Fireworks lit up Kabul sky on Tuesday night on the first anniversary of the withdrawal of foreign troops which Taliban are marking as "Freedom Day". 

Wednesday was also a public holiday, with small celebrations across Kabul including parades by Taliban forces.

Pakistan: Crucial IMF Board Meeting Today

Reportedly, Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to meet Today (Monday) to consider a bailout package for Pakistan.

If the Board approves the deal, the IMF will immediately disburse about US$1.2 billion to Pakistan and may provide up to $4 billion over the remainder of the current fiscal year, which began on July 01, 2022.

“The board is likely to approve the disbursement of the 8th and 9th tranche (over US$1.2 billion) on Monday.” “Not doing so will send a negative signal, particularly during the floods.”

Pakistan, could also request emergency help from the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), which may bring additional funds of up to US$500 million.

In April 2020, the Board approved the disbursement of US$1.386 billion to Pakistan under the RFI to address the economic impact of the Covid-19 shock.

Also, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sunday that in recent weeks Pakistan has tied up at least US$37 billion in international loans and investments, pulling the country away from the kind of financial collapse seen in Sri Lanka”.

Both WSJ and Voice of America (VOA), a semi-official broadcasting service, confirmed that the Board is meeting on Monday to consider Pakistan’s request.

The VOA reported that in the last six weeks Pakistan has secured loans, financing, deferred oil payments and investment commitments close to US$12 billion from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE to avoid a default. But such commitments will become available only after the IMF Board approves the package.

The VOA quoted experts as telling, “Pakistan’s economy is broad and deep and its geostrategic position strong enough for it to avoid default.”

Tamanna Salikuddin, Director of South Asia programs at the United States Institute of Peace, told VOA that despite differences Washington still supports the loans through the IMF because a crisis on Afghanistan’s border is not something that the US wants to see.

She identified “Counterterrorism, nuclear security and stability” as being the main factors for continued US interest in Pakistan.

Salikuddin noted that “Geostrategic importance (often) leads Pakistan to make irresponsible economic policies as the leadership perhaps believes the country is too big to fail.”

The WSJ noted that the IMF had asked the country to first arrange additional funds to cover the rest of its external funding shortfall for the fiscal year, pointing out that Islamabad appears to have met that target.

Among allies, “China led the way, providing more than $10 billion, mostly by rolling over existing loans,” the report added.

In an interview to WSJ, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said Saudi Arabia was rolling over a US$3 billion loan and was providing at least US$1.2 billion worth of oil on a deferred payment basis. Riyadh would also invest US$1 billion in Pakistan.

The UAE will invest a similar amount in Pakistan’s commercial sector, and it is rolling over a $2.5 billion loan. Last week, Qatar announced it would invest US$3 billion in the country.

But the WSJ report warned that the scale of the flooding from heavier-than-usual monsoon rains means that the country will need more financing than it had planned for.

It goes without saying that the opposition and government forces in Pakistan also need to end fighting each other over everything if they want to stabilize the economy.

 

Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan

According to an article by Ambassador, Mark Green, President, Director and CEO, Wilson Center, at a time when the majority of Afghan population struggles to afford food under the collapsed economy and severe drought, the “poppy pledge” threatens to devastate the livelihoods of entire communities. 

According to Green, Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of poppy. Its production grew during the years when United States and coalition forces were present, despite the US spending more than US$8 billion to eradicate the crop.

Production grew during Taliban’s years of insurgency, despite its public opposition to poppy  production because narcotics are contrary to Islam, and perhaps because the militant group reportedly imposed “taxes” on poppy farmers and others involved in the trade as a way of funding its operations.

As Taliban representatives negotiated over the drawdown of Western forces with, first, the Trump Administration and then, later, Biden representatives, they promised to end poppy production in Afghanistan once they regained power.

Even though observers say Taliban have broken many of its other pledges—on matters like the role of women in society and tolerance for diversity of opinion— the “poppy pledge” may be one they’re serious about trying to keep.

In April, Taliban issued a decree that banned poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and government spokespersons said that offenders would be tried according to Shariah laws and courts.

A representative of the interior ministry told the Associated Press, “We are committed to bringing poppy cultivation to zero.” 

Farmers in Helmand, the center of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, recently reported that armed Taliban officials have begun seizing farms and tearing up fields of poppies with tractors.

Taliban campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation poses significant challenges for millions of impoverished farmers and day laborers that rely on their earnings from the profitable crop.

In 2021, the value of Afghanistan's poppy production was 14% of the country’s GDP at US$1.8 billion to US$2.7 billion, and day laborers can make more than US$300 a month harvesting poppy.

 

US fabricating excuses for not releasing frozen assets of Afghan central bank

On the first anniversary of Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the Biden administration announced that it will not release US$3.5 billion in frozen Afghan funds.

“An American official said the United States could not guarantee that the money would not fall into terrorist hands, so it has ruled out releasing it anytime soon,” reported The New York Times.

Tom West, the State Department’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, told journalists in Washington that he did “not see recapitalization of the Afghan central bank as a near-term option”.

Taliban’s “sheltering of Ayman al Zawahiri reinforces deep concerns we have regarding diversion of funds to terrorist groups,” he added.

A National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson told CNN, “There has been no change” in efforts to get the funds to the Afghan people, but Ayman al Zawahiri’s presence in Kabul had a direct impact on how the administration deals with the Taliban.

“The recent revelations of Taliban’s flagrant violation of the Doha agreement illustrate the importance of remaining clear-eyed in our dealings with the Taliban. Our approach to the future of these assets will continue to reflect that reality,” the NSC spokesperson said.

The New York Times noted that the Biden administration outlined its position on the funds on the one-year anniversary of the takeover of Afghanistan by Tali­ban and just over two weeks after an American drone strike killed Ayman al Zawahiri

West pointed out that the American officials had engaged for months with the central bank about how to shore up Afghanistan’s economy but had not secured persuasive guarantees that the money would not fall into terrorist hands.

“We do not have confidence that the institution has the safeguards and monitoring in place to manage assets responsibly,” West said in a statement reported by The Wall Street Journal. “And needless to say, Taliban’s sheltering of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri reinforces deep concerns we have regarding diversion of funds to terrorist groups.”

At a State Department news briefing, spokesman Ned Price said the administration was searching for alternative ways to use the money to help Afghans at a time when millions are afflicted by a growing hunger crisis.

The Washington Post noted that a year after withdrawing US troops, “the Biden administration wields scant leverage in Afghanistan as it struggles to assist needy Afghans, evacuate US allies and protect women’s rights in a nation where it once held unparalleled sway”.

It pointed out that US officials were now working with Islamic organizations and nations including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as they seek to employ the few tools they have to influence the Taliban government — sanctions and travel bans, and the promise of potential diplomatic recognition — in hopes of preventing terrorist attacks, helping US-linked Afghans emigrate and recovering an American hostage”.

 

US Commits a Perfect Murder in Kabul

The theatrics of the July 31 airstrike in Kabul momentarily at least distracted attention from the miserable picture Biden drew for himself as a weak, ineffectual POTUS (The President of the United States.

Eleven days after the US President Joe Biden’s dramatic announcement of August 01 regarding the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, Moscow has broken its silence. Ten days back, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had replied to a query that Moscow was yet to get the details on what had happened on July 31.

Revisiting the topic during yesterday’s MFA press briefing, in response to a follow-up question, the deputy spokesperson Ivan Nechayev has stated, “We do not undertake to confirm the authenticity about the destruction in Kabul on July 31 this year as a result of a drone strike of the leader of Zawahiri.”

No doubt, this is a very carefully worded Russian statement that focuses on the reliability of Biden’s version. Indeed, Biden got away scot-free since he made the announcement from the White House without taking any questions from the media.

Nechayev pointed out, “Washington has not provided the public with any evidence of the elimination of this terrorist.” And he merely took note of media reports that the apartment building hit by the Americans in Kabul belonged to the “Haqqani clan”.

However, Nechayev offered that the first conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the official comments of the authorities in Kabul — they have no information about Zawahiri’s stay in the Afghan capital.

Russia has traditionally kept a robust intelligence system working on Afghanistan providing real time inputs to Moscow, including during the Taliban rule from 1996-2001, when the Russian embassy and consulates remained closed.

In fact, Russian sources were far ahead of others in sharing the details of former Ashraf Ghani’s hasty evacuation from Kabul on August 15 last year amidst the chaotic arrival of the Taliban in the city.

Ghani apparently chose to keep even his hand-picked vice-president and super spy Amrullah Saleh in the dark that he was fleeing with his wife and then national security advisor Hamdullah Mohib.

Therefore, it is a reasonable surmise that Nechayev probably spoke on what security experts would call a need-to-know basis. That makes his remarks doubting the authenticity of Biden’s remarks truly astounding. It is as good as saying that Moscow has received conflicting reports.

However, Nechayev plunged the knife deep and raised some very pertinent questions in this strange case of a murder without evidence. He commented, “Such aggressive actions of the US Air Force, which invaded the sovereign territory of Afghanistan, raise a number of serious questions.

Nechayev posed two questions, 1) who provided the airspace for the airstrike on Kabul? 2) Who will be responsible in case of collateral civilian casualties during such actions?

Afghanistan shares borders with six countries namely Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

It is a safe bet that Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China wouldn’t have got involved in such a murderous act by the Americans in violation of international law and UN Charter.

As for Tajikistan, its airspace is under Russian control

That makes Pakistan the only plausible culprit

 

Biden Administration refuses to provide evidence for fear it might put Rawalpindi in a tight spot at a time when the incumbent army chief is a strategic asset for Washington.

There are no easy answers. All we know is that the present Army Chief General Bajwa is known to take a hands-on role in all major issues and most minor issues in Pakistan-US relations.

He even reached out to Wendy Sherman, the US Deputy Secretary of State, with a request seeking her intervention with the IMF to release the pending tranche of financial bailout for Pakistan.

Significantly, Nechayev alluded to attempts to use a real threat to cover up US geopolitical ambitions.

He concluded, “Washington, judging by this incident, prefers to act as it pleases, following strictly in line with its foreign policy benefits, regardless of international law and the national sovereignty of other states.”

What could be the foreign policy benefits here?

There are three ways to look at the question.

First and foremost, Biden burnishes his image as a decisive leader when his incoherent public behavior on numerous occasions lately came to be widely noticed within the US and abroad.

Indeed, Biden’s August 01 remarks were peppered with large dollops of self-praise taking credit for the decapitation of the dreaded al-Qaeda. He projected himself as a “hands-on” president.

Second, the US has created a precedent by this act of July 31 — underscoring its prerogative to act as it chooses on Afghanistan.

Simply put, the Rubicon has been crossed and the US military might has returned to Afghanistan, now that Washington claims that al-Qaeda is very much active in Afghanistan.

Of course, it is a humiliating blow for the Taliban whose two-decade long resistance was all about regaining Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Furthermore, the door has been firmly shut on any US-Taliban engagement for a foreseeable future, now that Washington doesn’t have to look beyond that to allege a continuing Taliban-al Qaeda nexus.

Logically, the US can even justify joining hands henceforth with the UK and France to extend support to the Panjshiris’ armed rebellion against Taliban.

Taliban faces a pincer move from Pakistani military and the Biden Administration at a time when, ironically, its best supporter, Imran Khan, is also being defanged systematically in a nutcracker by the civilian government in Islamabad and the so-called powers that be.

Of course, keeping Afghanistan in turmoil would serve the US and Nato interests at the present juncture when Russia, the provider of security for Central Asia, is preoccupied with the Ukraine conflict, and China is brooding over Taiwan’s reunification.

Third, the timing, Biden struck when only about 24 hours were left for House Speaker Nancy policy’s plane to descend on Taipei.

The fiction that Washington propagated to the effect that the Administration had no control over the Speaker had, ironically, boomeranged, casting Biden in a poor light as a commander-in-chief who could not even order a military plane to change direction.

Suffice to say, the theatrics of the July 31 airstrike in Kabul momentarily at least distracted attention from the miserable picture Biden drew for himself as a weak, ineffectual POTUS.

All in all, this indeed becomes a perfect murder, worthy of being a sequel to the Michael Douglas-Gwyneth Paltrow crime thriller on a murder that left no clue to trace the perpetrators. By the way, the pleasurable 1998 film also had two alternate endings. The viewer was at liberty to choose which version was found more agreeable.

Courtesy: South Asia Journal

Pakistan a victim of tug of war among super powers

This year Pakistan is celebrating Independence Day, when the clouds of imminent default are getting thicker. While the people have complete faith in the economic resilience of the country, a lot needs to be done on war footings. 

To carve out its future strategy, a dispassionate review of nearly three-quarters of a century has to be done, find out the mistakes and develop a conviction that Pakistan is a sovereign state and not a colony of any global or regional super power.

It is an undeniable fact that since independence Pakistan has remained the focus of global and regional super powers. The country is termed a natural corridor for trade, gateway to Central Asia and landlocked Afghanistan.

The perception is getting credence often regimes are installed and toppled in Pakistan by the super powers to achieve their vested interest. This is evident from Pakistan fighting US-proxy war is Afghanistan for more than four decades and love and hate relationship with India.

At present Pakistan faces extremely volatile situation, which has become a threat for its own existence. Fighting a US proxy in Afghanistan has completely destroyed the economic and social fabric of the country. Pakistan is suffering from the influx of foreign militant groups getting funds and arms from different global operators.

Analysts say over the years Pakistan has been towing US foreign policy and military agenda, which has often offended Russia, China, India and Iran. To improve internal security Pakistan must revisit its foreign policy, particularly relationship with Afghanistan, India and Iran, enjoying common borders with the country. It may not be wrong to say that at present Pakistan doesn’t enjoy cordial relation with none of these countries.

Many Pakistanis believe that when Britain decided to take an exit from the subcontinent in 1947 it left a thorn, Kashmir. Since independence India and Pakistan have been living in constant state of war, spending billions of dollars annually on the purchase of conventional as well as non-conventional arms and have also attained the status of atomic powers. However, both the countries suffer from extreme poverty.

There seems no probability of reconciliation between the two countries because of presence of hawks on both the sides. Even the trade relations could not be normalized due to the lingering Kashmir dispute as Hindus are not ready for another division of Hindustan on the basis of religion.

Iran has been persistently enduring economic sanctions for more than four decades. Pakistan suffers from severe energy crisis but it is not allowed to construct Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline or even buy Iranian crude oil under food for oil program. Iran has often complaint that certain outfits, most notorious being Jundullah, having its base in Baluchistan province of Pakistan, are involved in cross border terrorism.

Pakistan offers the shortest and most cost effective route to landlocked Afghanistan, leading to Central Asian countries. Gwadar deep seaport has been constructed in Baluchistan province with the financial and technical assistance of China. India often raises its concerns on Chinese presence along Pakistan’s coastal belt. However, it is on record that India played a key role in the construction of Chabahar port in Iran as well as road and rail links up to Central Asia via Afghanistan.

Pakistanis completely fail to understand the duality of US policy. India was asked to withdraw itself from Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project and also rewarded nuclear technology in return. However, it was not stopped from building port and supporting infrastructure in Iran.

 

 

 

United States remains adamant at not releasing frozen Afghan assets

Please allow me to begin my today’s blog with the Iranian indictment, “United States is the biggest terrorist in this world”. The United States is often accused of killing of hundreds and thousands of people every year in proxy wars or through direct assaults. 

It played ‘the game of death’ in Afghanistan for four decades. After facing the defeat in August last year, it may have pulled its troops from Afghanistan but it is still making lives of Afghans miserable on one or the other pretext.

It is a fact that the United States has neither recognized the Taliban government nor allows other countries to recognize their government is Afghanistan. On top of all it has frozen Afghan foreign exchange reserves. The acts of United States tantamount to worst kind of aggression against Afghans, as the country find it almost impossible to import even basic necessities due to non-availability of foreign exchange.

To maintain the US hegemony in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has launched the US-Afghan Consultative Mechanism (USACM), which would enable Afghan citizens to communicate directly with American policymakers.

Addressing the launching ceremony, the top US diplomat said that besides Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar and Turkey, and others were also backing US efforts to convince the Taliban to reverse their decision to keep Afghan girls out of school.

The new platform — USACM — is aimed at bringing together Afghan women, journalists, and at-risk ethnic and religious communities with the representatives of the US State Department. It will facilitate regular engagement with the US government on issues ranging from human rights documentation to women in Islam.

With USACM’s launch, “We are taking these relationships to the next level. That’s why I’m so pleased about today,” Secretary Blinken said. He identified the group’s priorities as supporting income-generating activities for Afghan women; strategizing ways to help Afghan human rights monitors safely document abuses, and devising new methods to promote religious freedom.

The United States has discussed with Taliban officials the possible release of Afghan central bank’s assets frozen after the fall of Kabul in August last year. The two sides discussed ongoing efforts to enable the US$3.5 billion Afghan central bank reserves to be used for the benefit of the Afghan people.

However, in nearly one year, the US administration has failed in addressing the urgent humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

To further complicate the situation a meeting, involving Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West and Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson, took place on Wednesday in Tashkent. The meetings took place after the conclusion of the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan that Uzbekistan hosted on July 26.

Media reports on the meeting claimed that the talks had made some progress and the US and Taliban officials had exchanged proposals for unfreezing the assets. But some differences remained unresolved.

One of the key differences was over the Taliban’s refusal to replace the bank’s top political appointees, “one of whom is under US sanctions as are several of the movement’s leaders,” one of the reports added.

Iranian non-oil trade with neighbors up 18% during March-June 2022 quarter

The value of Iran’s non-oil trade with its neighboring countries increased 18% during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (March-June), as compared to the same period last year, the spokesman of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced.

Ruhollah Latifi put Iran’s non-oil trade with its neighbors at 20.973 million tons worth US$12.363 billion in the three-month period.

He said trade with the neighbors accounted for 49% of the value and 59% of the weight of Iran’s non-oil trade during the period under review.

The country exported 16.05 million tons of non-oil goods worth US$6.736 billion to the neighboring countries in the three-month period of this year, indicating 20% rise in value, while 10% drop in weight, as compared to the same period last year, the official stated.

He named Iraq, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Afghanistan, and Oman as the five top export destinations.

Latifi further announced that Iran imported 4.433 million tons of goods worth US$5.627 billion from its neighbors during this period, with 15% growth in value and one percent rise in weight YoY.

He named UAE, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, and Oman as the five top sources of imports.

As previously announced by the IRICA head, the value of Iran’s non-oil trade with its neighbors during the previous Iranian calendar year 1400 was reported at US$51.875 billion, an increase of 43% YoY.

Alireza Moghadasi put the weight of non-oil trade with the neighboring countries at 100.131 million tons in the said year, stating that trade with the neighbors also increased by 23% in terms of weight.

The official put the annual non-oil exports to the mentioned countries at 75.445 million tons valued at US$26.29 billion, with a 29% rise in value and a 12% growth in weight.

Major export destinations of the Iranian non-oil goods were Iraq with US$8.9 billion, followed by Turkey (US$6.1 billion), United Arab Emirates (US$4.9 billion), Afghanistan US$1.8 billion) and Pakistan with (US$1.3 billion) in imports from the Islamic Republic, others countries included Oman, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, according to the official.

Moghadasi further stated that Iran imported 24.686 million tons of non-oil commodities worth over US$25.846 billion in the previous year, with a 60% growth in value and a 68%YoY increase in weight.

The United Arab Emirates was the top exporter to Iran during the period exporting US$16.5 billion worth of goods to the country, followed by Turkey, Russia, Iraq, and Oman, he stated.

Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain were other top neighboring countries that supplied goods to Iran in 1400, respectively.

Increasing non-oil exports to the neighboring countries is one of the major plans that the Iranian government has been pursuing in recent years.

Iran shares land or water borders with 15 countries namely UAE, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Taliban seek international recognition

It must be highly disappointing for Taliban that their government has neither been recognized by Muslim countries as well as non-Muslim countries. The pretext is most whimsical, education for girls.

The dichotomy of super powers is the universal truth, in the recent half century they have killed millions of people in proxy wars, used all sorts of lethal weapons and committed worst war crimes. If the heads of the states ordering killing of people can’t be trialed for war crime, why is Taliban government being punished for not providing education to girls?

One may not be wrong in inferring the conclusion that the world super powers have joined United States in punishing Taliban for defeating the self-proclaimed super power.

A Taliban-run gathering of thousands of male religious and ethnic leaders ended on Saturday by asking foreign governments to formally recognize their administration, but made no signals of changes on international demands such as the opening of girls' high schools.

The Afghan economy has plunged into crisis as Western governments have withdrawn funding and strictly enforced sanctions, saying the Taliban government needs to change course on human rights, especially those of women.

"We ask regional and international countries, especially Islamic countries … to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ... release all sanctions, unfreeze (central bank) funds and support in development of Afghanistan," the gathering's participants said in a statement, using the group's name for their government, which has not been formally recognized by any country.

The group's reclusive leader joined the three-day gathering of more than 4,000 men on Friday, and delivered a speech in which he congratulated the participants on the Taliban's victory and underlined the country's independence.

The Taliban went back on an announcement that all schools would open in March, leaving many girls who had turned up at their high schools in tears and drawing criticism from Western governments.

In speeches broadcast on state-run television, a small number of participants brought up girls' and women's education. The Taliban's deputy leader and Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, said the world had demanded inclusive government and education and these issues would take time.

But the group's supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, who is normally based in the southern city of Kandahar and rarely appears in public, said foreigners should not give orders.

The gathering's final statement said defence of the Islamic Emirate was obligatory and that the Islamic State militant group, which has said it was behind several attacks in the country, was illegal.

It said it would not interfere with neighbouring countries and they should not interfere in Afghanistan.