The Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies (CSRS)
Until recently, the chances of a direct war between Israel and Iran seemed low. Both countries were deterred by fear of one another, particularly because Iran, through its network of proxy groups known as the Axis of Resistance, was able to keep pressure on Israel.
Although a direct war between Turkey and Israel is not yet a reality, rising political, military, and ideological tensions could push both countries closer to open conflict.
An analysis of the European Union’s relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reveals a profound divide between the EU’s normative values and its geopolitical imperatives concerning Afghanistan.
Saudi Arabia, once a staunch supporter of the Islamic Emirate, severed its ties following global and regional shifts concerning Afghanistan. In alignment with international sentiment at the time, largely opposed to the Islamic Emirate, Riyadh sought to delegitimize the Emirate’s struggle by portraying it as religiously unjustified.
At one point in its history, the United States pursued an isolationist strategy, famously known as the Monroe Doctrine, to distance itself from international conflicts. While Trump never explicitly advocated for isolationism, his policies and actions suggest that he may have been leaning toward a modern version of it.
Overall, Trump’s policies toward Afghanistan are unlikely to achieve their intended goals. Instead, they risk deepening the country’s humanitarian, economic, and political crises. His dual approach—reducing U.S. military involvement while simultaneously exerting pressure on the Islamic Emirate and politicizing humanitarian aid—fails to provide a viable solution for Afghanistan’s challenges.
Turkey is making significant efforts to achieve its goals in Middle Eastern politics, striving to establish itself as a leading regional power. This ambition has led Turkish leaders to refer to the current era as the “Turkish Century.” Turkey is working to strengthen its influence across various fields, particularly in science, technology, economics, and diplomacy. To overcome regional and global challenges, Turkey alternates between aligning with Western nations and collaborating with coalitions led by Russia and China, such as BRICS.
The main reason behind the recent conflict between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan is the issue of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Pakistani government accuses the Islamic Emirate of providing safe havens to TTP and collaborating with them across the Durand Line. Although the Islamic Emirate has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that Afghan soil will not be used against anyone, Pakistan does not trust these statements. Consequently, Pakistan has continued to conduct airstrikes in Paktika and other regions, claiming to target TTP fighters.
Perhaps if Bashar al-Assad had shown political wisdom and responded positively to the demands of the Arab Spring protesters early on, the conflict would not have escalated into a civil war with half a million deaths, millions of displaced people, and widespread destruction. Assad’s resistance to his people’s legitimate demands and reliance on foreign support led to the devastation of the country, and ultimately, he was disgracefully exiled.
This article thoroughly analyzes the railway cargo transport initiative from China, highlighting it as a significant economic and political opportunity for Afghanistan. Through this initiative, Afghanistan can strengthen its trade and political relations with China and other regional countries.
