6 days ago
Dari-Language Website: 'The New Middle East Project Is Essentially A Revised Version Of Classical Colonialism'; 'The Taliban Are... A Deliberately Engineered Project For The Destruction Of Regional Se
On July 14, 2025, the Dari-language Afghan media outlet Rewayat News published an article accusing the West of implementing a new colonial project for the fragmentation of the Middle East and Central Asia, and arguing that the Taliban rulers of Kabul are a tool in this project.
"Today's Afghanistan is the operational backbone of proxy terrorism in West Asia – a tool for pressuring Iran, destabilizing China's borders in Xinjiang, and threatening Russia in its traditional sphere of influence," according to the article, titled "The New Middle East: A Project of Fragmentation, Crisis, and Neo-Colonial Domination by the West."
The writer claims that the U.S. and Israel are reviving the "New Middle East" strategy to destabilize the region through proxy terrorism, ethnic division, and internal crises, but the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, an obstacle in this strategy, "proved that Tehran is not only resilient in the face of aggression, but also possesses high capability in responding. This resistance, in the short term, halted the enemy's plan."
Following are excerpts from the article, as translated from Dari:
"In Recent Years, The Phrase New Middle East Has Once Again Turned Into The Central Slogan Of The Foreign Policy Of The United States Of America And The Zionist Regime"
"In recent years, the phrase New Middle East has once again turned into the central slogan of the foreign policy of the United States of America and the Zionist regime – a slogan that, although it appears to have a democratic and developmental gloss, is in fact a re-reading of an old colonial project with newer and more destructive tactics.
"The real goal of this project is nothing other than the fragmentation of the countries of the region, the weakening of the Axis of Resistance, and the reconstruction of Western domination over the resources and strategic equations of West Asia.
"In the meantime, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the main pillars of the new multipolar world order, and Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, as a base of proxy terrorism, have been placed at the center of this complex game.
"The New Middle East was first proposed in the 2000s, in the context of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, by Western political and military elites. On the surface, slogans such as democratization, combating terrorism, and economic development were presented, but the reality on the ground was nothing but military occupation, the promotion of sectarian violence, the collapse of states, and the formation of extremist groups."
"Today's Afghanistan Is The Operational Backbone Of Proxy Terrorism In West Asia – A Tool For Pressuring Iran, Destabilizing China's Borders In Xinjiang, And Threatening Russia In Its Traditional Sphere Of Influence"
"Now, this project has returned with a new face, relying on proxy war, regional terrorism, and the erosion of security from within borders. One of the main obstacles to the realization of the New Middle East project is the Islamic Republic of Iran – a country with an independent policy, strategic ties with China, Russia, and the BRICS axis, and continuous support for the Axis of Resistance.
"The recent 12-day war [from June 13-24, 2025] between the Zionist regime and Iran, which began with the green light from the West and with the aim of testing Iran's deterrent power, proved that Tehran is not only resilient in the face of aggression, but also possesses high capability in responding. This resistance, in the short term, halted the enemy's plan, but it was a sign of the beginning of a new phase of multi-layered aggression against Iran and its allies.
"After the hasty withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban, with covert support from the West, took control of the country. Contrary to initial claims, stability and security did not return. Today, the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has turned into a safe haven for terrorist networks – from ISKP [the Islamic State Khurasan Province] to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish al-Adl, Ansarullah of Tajikistan, and other regional extremist groups.
"Today's Afghanistan is the operational backbone of proxy terrorism in West Asia – a tool for pressuring Iran, destabilizing China's borders in Xinjiang, and threatening Russia in its traditional sphere of influence.
"The greatest strategic mistake of countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and the Central Asian republics is underestimating the emerging reality of the Taliban. If Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, as a center for the export of proxy terrorism, continues to be viewed with wishful thinking and appeasement, the region will soon face a new wave of instability, internal uprisings, and war of attrition. The Taliban are not a force for reconstruction, but a deliberately engineered project for the destruction of regional security."
"Groups Such As Jaish Al-Adl In Southeastern Iran, TTP In Pakistan, And Extremist Islamists In Central Asia Are All Tools For Eroding The Territorial Cohesion Of Independent Countries"
"As part of this same project, the West is pursuing targeted fragmentation within the countries of the region from within. Inciting minorities, arming extremist ethnic and religious currents, and supporting separatist armed groups are parts of this strategy. Groups such as Jaish Al-Adl in southeastern Iran, TTP in Pakistan, and extremist Islamists in Central Asia are all tools for eroding the territorial cohesion of independent countries. The ultimate goal is to reshape weak states, embroiled in internal crises and dependent on external support – a pattern that has been experienced repeatedly in other parts of the world as well.
"The New Middle East project is essentially a revised version of classical colonialism with modern tools. This time not through direct invasion, but through proxy terrorism, war of attrition, ethnic incitement, and narrative warfare.
"The Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has now become the central base for the implementation of this project. If the countries of the region, especially the members of the BRICS axis, do not respond to this intelligent and coordinated threat, we should expect in the not-too-distant future an explosion of violence, insecurity, and ... fragmentation throughout the region.
"Today is the time to stand firm. The time to move beyond wishful thinking. Either the region reaches unity and a redefinition of independent regional security, or it will burn in the fire of the new version of colonialism."
Source: (Afghanistan), July 14, 2025.
