Epstein Secrets

ressure on the Northern Alliance during the Bonn Conference. They made sure that their Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara allies would accept the leadership of Hamid Karzai, with whom they did not want to share power at first. On this issue again, the US and Iran were having the same vision: a more centralised Afghanist

supremacists. In fact, as Afghan trade is now very dependent on Iran, to close the Iran- Afghanistan border would be enough to put great pressure on Karzai68. By talking to the neo- Taliban, the Iranians are doing no more than what the Americans, the Pakistanis, and even the Russians69 are already doing,

able to finance himself independently, reportedly thanks to drug trafficking66. Broadly speaking, it seems that relations were established between the Afghan Taliban and Tehran over the years. Despite the difficult past with the 'Afghan Emirate', the Iranians seem to have accepted the idea that the Taliban repre

ly support the Taliban's ideological and revolutionary program. Rather, they see the Taliban's fight against the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai's administration as a legitimate national resistance struggle, just like the war of the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviets and their Afghan comm

nst the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai's administration as a legitimate national resist

re. The Davis affair caused intense anger among ordinary Pakistanis. Americans, meanwhile, are furious at Pakistan for sheltering the leadership of the Afghan Taliban, who are fighting U.S. forces and the Kabul government in Afghanistan. Given this explosive situation, is it really possible for the United States

that NATO/ISAF bases and pockets of control will see combat and attacks. The withdrawal date of US troops is still up in the air, with President Karzai refusing to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement with the US unless certain conditions are met (not those reported in the media).* Hence while the

ce should be coordinated by the Afghan authorities with the "shadow" Taliban authorities in advance; (ii) a "safe passage letter" issued by the Afghan Taliban should be obtained; and (iii) no foreigners should be part of the health team. So far all sides have kept to this bargain. It is equally clear

m all directions for an accelerated U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. Fears of a negotiated strategic agreement between Washington and the Karzai government allowing a residual presence of foreign forces would disappear. Opportunities for Iran to expand its already extensive political and eco

e Hezbollah and Hamas to act as surrogates and launch rockets against Israel, or it might increase the clandestine stream of weapons it provides to the Afghan Taliban. Meanwhile, many would applaud the Tehran regime for showing restraint. For Iran, a Western-led attack could be a gift that keeps on giving. Marvi

curity situation may worsen. Afghanistan post-2014: If the US withdrawal leaves behind an unstable environment, and depending on who comes in after Karzai, and if there is no agreement with the Afghan Taliban, there will be civil war. Even with an orderly withdrawal, there will still be a dip in the se

ility" and "Safe Passage" (originally introduced by UNICEF precisely to enable child immunization, and now used in Afghanistan with the approval of the Afghan Taliban) could be introduced in the two FATA Agencies where the ban is in effect as well as in trouble zones in other FATA agencies; (ii) follow-up on the

m all directions for an accelerated U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. Fears of a negotiated strategic agreement between Washington and the Karzai government allowing a residual presence of foreign forces would disappear. Opportunities for Iran to expand its already extensive political and ec

Hezbollah and Hamas to act as surrogates and launch rockets against Israel, or it might increase the clandestine stream of weapons it provides to the Afghan Taliban. Meanwhile, many would applaud the Tehran regime for showing restraint. For Iran, a Western-led attack could be a gift that keeps on giving. Marvi

NDC. Central and South Asia Afghanistan: Seemingly focused on facilitating the Afghan High Peace Council's efforts at talks with the Taliban, the Karzai government has distanced itself from its US allies over the past few weeks. This was most recently exemplified by its decision to release 65 Afghan

y 17th of 23 Frontier Corps soldiers held hostage since 2010. Skepticism about the talks in Pakistan parallels the skepticism surrounding talks with the Afghan Taliban (see above). In this mix of efforts by both Afghanistan and Pakistan, Western and regional press are carrying reports of US EFTA00684388 diplomat

curity situation may worsen. Afghanistan post-2014: If the US withdrawal leaves behind an unstable environment, and depending on who comes in after Karzai, and if there is no agreement with the Afghan Taliban, there will be civil war. Even with an orderly withdrawal, there will still be a dip in the s

Uilitr and "Safe Passage" (originally introduced by UNICEF precisely to enable child immunization, and now used in Afghanistan with the approval of the Afghan Taliban) could be introduced in the two FATA Agencies where the ban is in effect as well as in trouble zones in other FATA agencies; (ii) follow-up on the

curity situation may worsen. Afghanistan post-2014: If the US withdrawal leaves behind an unstable environment, and depending on who comes in after Karzai, and if there is no agreement with the Afghan Taliban, there will be civil war. Even with an orderly withdrawal, there will still be a dip in the s

Uilitr and "Safe Passage" (originally introduced by UNICEF precisely to enable child immunization, and now used in Afghanistan with the approval of the Afghan Taliban) could be introduced in the two FATA Agencies where the ban is in effect as well as in trouble zones in other FATA agencies; (ii) follow-up on the

curity situation may worsen. Afghanistan post-2014: If the US withdrawal leaves behind an unstable environment, and depending on who comes in after Karzai, and if there is no agreement with the Afghan Taliban, there will be civil war. Even with an orderly withdrawal, there will still be a dip in the s

Uilitr and "Safe Passage" (originally introduced by UNICEF precisely to enable child immunization, and now used in Afghanistan with the approval of the Afghan Taliban) could be introduced in the two FATA Agencies where the ban is in effect as well as in trouble zones in other FATA agencies; (ii) follow-up on the