Latest news with #Soviet-Afghanistan
India Gazette
11-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Western reporting on India-Pakistan escalation 'one-sided'
The press is obscuring terrorism as the root cause of the latest flare-up between New Delhi and Islamabad, Kanwal Sibal has told RT The Western media has been presenting a "distorted" and "one-sided" picture of the latest military standoff between India and Pakistan, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has told RT. On Saturday, the two nuclear powers agreed to a truce following the recent escalation in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir federal territory in late April. US President Donald Trump stated that Washington had helped mediate the cessation of hostilities. Commenting on the developments, Sibal said that New Delhi never had any intention of escalating its limited military operation. He also criticized the US for seeking to "take diplomatic credit" for the truce. The retired diplomat further lamented the manner in which the escalation was reported by the Western press, which he says gave scant significance to "what caused this in the first place." "The attention is being shifted to the larger issues" existing between New Delhi and Islamabad, as opposed to the deadly terrorist attack last month, he argued. Sibal suggested that the "Western press... totally contort and distort their reporting," presenting a "very one-sided picture." "And somehow they have a very great weakness for Pakistan despite the fact that Pakistan's links with terror are so well known," Sibal claimed. He noted that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been hiding in the country for years before being killed by US special forces in 2011. In late April, anonymous sources told RT that the Indian government had sent an objection to BBC India head Jackie Martin over the British broadcaster's use of the word "militants" to refer to the perpetrators of the terrorist attack that led to the escalation of the conflict. Similar concerns were reportedly raised with other international news outlets, including the Associated Press and Reuters. READ MORE: BBC under fire in India for Kashmir terror attack coverage Speaking to RT around the same time, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that the West is to blame for his country's terrorism problem, which he explained stems from the "introduction of jihad" on behalf of the West during the Soviet-Afghanistan war in the 1980s. New Delhi has accused its neighbor of aiding and abetting Islamist militants from the Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack last month, alleging that at least two of the perpetrators are Pakistani nationals. Islamabad, for its part, has strongly denied any involvement.
Russia Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘Jihad was created by the West'
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that his country was a victim of terrorism in the region stemming from the policies of Western governments, particularly the US, tracing back decades. Speaking to RT on Saturday, Asif called a mistake the decisions by the country's past rulers to join the Soviet-Afghanistan war in the late 1980s and become a platform for training and indoctrinating jihadists on behalf of the West. The minister noted his country was a 'springboard' for the Soviet-Afghan war. 'The introduction of jihad, which was invented by the West, changed the country's ethos and led to its current issues. The whole ethos of the society was changed to support the jihad,' Asif said. According to him, during the war in Afghanistan, Islamabad 'supplied all sorts of help [to US].' Later, post 9/11 attacks, Pakistan again 'joined the coalition.' 'From our soil, all the supplies used to go to us and all of the facilities,' he said. The minister added, however: 'Both these wars, in my humble opinion, were not our wars.' Asif insisted that Pakistan bears the consequences of previous policies. 'We suffered a lot and the United States abandoned us around '89 or '90. [They] went away and we were left high and dry,' he said. The official added that the security situation deteriorated after the US' disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The minster noted that the Pashtun community's origins are divided between both Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a significant portion living in Pakistan, which he called a cause of concern. Stating the fact that almost 6 million undocumented Afghans are living in Pakistan, Asif said that 'nobody's there to take responsibility of what's happening to us.' Asif was speaking in response to questions about whether Islamabad has been backing terrorist groups on behalf of the US and UK – something that he himself admitted a day earlier in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News. India this week linked Pakistan to the terrorist attack in southern Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, all of them tourists from different parts of India. Pakistan has denied the allegations. 'The main target or main… you know, victim of terrorism, in this region is Pakistan. And we've been blamed by India for something with which we have nothing to do,' he claimed. New Delhi has consistently accused Pakistan of supporting and funding terrorist groups within the county and across the border. Following this week's attack, New Delhi expelled Pakistani diplomats, cancelled valid visas of Pakistani citizens, and closed its land border. India also suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which had been in force for decades, despite several wars the two neighbors fought, numerous skirmishes at the border, and devastating terrorist attacks against both civilians and military personnel. Pakistan responded with reciprocal moves, specifically warning that any attempt on New Delhi's part to block or divert the river under the treaty would be taken as 'an act of war.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion: In the war's aftermath, Ukraine will face a new kind of instability
The Russian war in Ukraine, the most devastating military engagement in Europe since 1945, has persisted for three years, and the prospect of its resolution — with the Trump administration opening talks with Russia — has not generated widespread optimism. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Polish President Andrzej Duda warned that the war's conclusion, if and when it comes, could unleash a wave of organized crime flooding into Poland and then spreading across Europe and even into the U.S. His concerns echo a sentiment long whispered in Western political circles. He compared the situation to the 1990s in Russia, when the return of veterans from the Soviet-Afghanistan war fueled violence across the former USSR. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry pushed back, calling his remarks unfair: 'Ukrainian soldiers and veterans are not a threat but a factor of security for Ukraine, Poland and all of Europe.' Read more: News Analysis: Trump cedes to Russia on Ukraine, but the bigger victim may be NATO Duda's comparison, however, may understate the dangers ahead. The Soviet war in Afghanistan lasted a decade but didn't produce the level of social upheaval that Russia's invasion has inflicted on Ukraine. The country's military now numbers 980,000, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, and hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened and battle-scarred soldiers will return to civilian life — many with missing limbs, many more with deep psychological wounds — and all to a country in ruins. Where will they go? What will they do? Ukraine has already experienced the downstream effects of post-war mental health problems. In April 2018, when Russia's aggression wasn't called a war but a 'terrorist' action in the Donbas, data revealed that more than 1,000 Ukraine veterans of those less-intense battles had committed suicide. Now the Ukrainian Health Ministry estimates that nearly 15 million people — in a population of less than 40 million — will require psychological support due to the war. Read more: Russia claims capture of another village in eastern Ukraine Yet the nation's shattered economy — its public debt reached $166.1 billion in December — raises serious doubts about its ability to fund essential services, including mental health programs. Last year, amid much fanfare, Ukraine legalized medical cannabis in part to help troops and civilians suffering from PTSD and other war-related mental illnesses. But medical marijuana is little more than a Band-Aid on a bullet wound for a military in which, according to one study, there is just one psychologist for every 400-500 service members. Before the war, there were an estimated 4 million firearms in Ukraine, most of them unregistered, and an untold number circulating on the black market. After the invasion, gun ownership laws were liberalized and Zelensky promised that the government would give a weapon to anyone who wanted to defend the country. In the Kyiv area alone, 18,000 rifles were distributed to civilians, and homefront militias were encouraged. When thousands of active duty troops are demobilized, military-grade weapons may add to the increase in armed civilians and the risks of higher crime rates. Read more: Zelensky to Vance: Ukraine wants 'security guarantees' as Trump seeks deal with Russia Despite the powderkeg potential, the Ukrainian government seems more focused on political maneuvering — both in domestic power struggles and international diplomacy — than on preparing for the war's aftermath. Officials frequently make statements about global politics and security alliances, yet meaningful efforts to address veterans' reintegration and welfare remain conspicuously lacking. A peace agreement perceived as a capitulation could further erode national morale that is already at a low point, with falling troop levels and Russia's recent front-line gains in the fighting. History shows that in such moments often public disillusionment grows, weakening confidence in leadership. During these periods, extreme factions may emerge, stoking unrest and pending a fragile order. When Russia launched its full-on invasion in February 2022, Ukrainians united under symbols that had previously divided them. The slogan Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine), once associated with ultra-right-wing nationalist movements during World War II, was embraced nationwide, even in regions where nationalism had been controversial. Read more: Opinion: Trump promised to end the Ukraine war, but neither side is ready But in 2025, extreme nationalist fervor has waned. This could be a temporary lull before another eruption of unrest, provoked by post-war trauma, hardship and disillusionment. That, combined with an armed population and a generation of young men forged in war could threaten Ukraine as much as Russian aggression has. It seems certain that once the war ends, Ukraine will face a new battle — internal strife. Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly factoring this into any peace deal. What he failed to achieve through his 'special military operation,' he may attempt to achieve from within. Ukraine will need significant Western support to navigate these challenges. Financial aid, infrastructure development and comprehensive mental health services will be crucial to reintegrate veterans and maintain stability. Yet support for Ukraine 'until it wins' has been waning in Western Europe and in America. A recent Guardian poll highlights a sharp decline in enthusiasm, coinciding with increasing doubts about U.S. foreign and military aid. Whether allies will step up to prevent a post-war collapse in Ukraine — or let it unravel from within — remains an open question. Peace may come, but there is a real concern that the war's aftermath could be almost as destabilizing for Ukraine as its beginning. Sergey Maidukov, author of "Life on the Run: One Family's Search for Peace in War-torn Ukraine" among other books, is based in Kyiv. If it's in the news right now, the L.A. Times' Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: In the war's aftermath, Ukraine will face a new kind of instability
The Russian war in Ukraine, the most devastating military engagement in Europe since 1945, has persisted for three years, and the prospect of its resolution — with the Trump administration opening talks with Russia — has not generated widespread optimism. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Polish President Andrzej Duda warned that the war's conclusion, if and when it comes, could unleash a wave of organized crime flooding into Poland and then spreading across Europe and even into the U.S. His concerns echo a sentiment long whispered in Western political circles. He compared the situation to the 1990s in Russia, when the return of veterans from the Soviet-Afghanistan war fueled violence across the former USSR. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry pushed back, calling his remarks unfair: 'Ukrainian soldiers and veterans are not a threat but a factor of security for Ukraine, Poland and all of Europe.' Duda's comparison, however, may understate the dangers ahead. The Soviet war in Afghanistan lasted a decade but didn't produce the level of social upheaval that Russia's invasion has inflicted on Ukraine. The country's military now numbers 980,000, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, and hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened and battle-scarred soldiers will return to civilian life — many with missing limbs, many more with deep psychological wounds — and all to a country in ruins. Where will they go? What will they do? Ukraine has already experienced the downstream effects of post-war mental health problems. In April 2018, when Russia's aggression wasn't called a war but a 'terrorist' action in the Donbas, data revealed that more than 1,000 Ukraine veterans of those less-intense battles had committed suicide. Now the Ukrainian Health Ministry estimates that nearly 15 million people — in a population of less than 40 million — will require psychological support due to the war. Yet the nation's shattered economy — its public debt reached $166.1 billion in December — raises serious doubts about its ability to fund essential services, including mental health programs. Last year, amid much fanfare, Ukraine legalized medical cannabis in part to help troops and civilians suffering from PTSD and other war-related mental illnesses. But medical marijuana is little more than a Band-Aid on a bullet wound for a military in which, according to one study, there is just one psychologist for every 400-500 service members. Before the war, there were an estimated 4 million firearms in Ukraine, most of them unregistered, and an untold number circulating on the black market. After the invasion, gun ownership laws were liberalized and Zelensky promised that the government would give a weapon to anyone who wanted to defend the country. In the Kyiv area alone, 18,000 rifles were distributed to civilians, and homefront militias were encouraged. When thousands of active duty troops are demobilized, military-grade weapons may add to the increase in armed civilians and the risks of higher crime rates. Despite the powderkeg potential, the Ukrainian government seems more focused on political maneuvering — both in domestic power struggles and international diplomacy — than on preparing for the war's aftermath. Officials frequently make statements about global politics and security alliances, yet meaningful efforts to address veterans' reintegration and welfare remain conspicuously lacking. A peace agreement perceived as a capitulation could further erode national morale that is already at a low point, with falling troop levels and Russia's recent front-line gains in the fighting. History shows that in such moments often public disillusionment grows, weakening confidence in leadership. During these periods, extreme factions may emerge, stoking unrest and pending a fragile order. When Russia launched its full-on invasion in February 2022, Ukrainians united under symbols that had previously divided them. The slogan Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine), once associated with ultra-right-wing nationalist movements during World War II, was embraced nationwide, even in regions where nationalism had been controversial. But in 2025, extreme nationalist fervor has waned. This could be a temporary lull before another eruption of unrest, provoked by post-war trauma, hardship and disillusionment. That, combined with an armed population and a generation of young men forged in war could threaten Ukraine as much as Russian aggression has. It seems certain that once the war ends, Ukraine will face a new battle — internal strife. Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly factoring this into any peace deal. What he failed to achieve through his 'special military operation,' he may attempt to achieve from within. Ukraine will need significant Western support to navigate these challenges. Financial aid, infrastructure development and comprehensive mental health services will be crucial to reintegrate veterans and maintain stability. Yet support for Ukraine 'until it wins' has been waning in Western Europe and in America. A recent Guardian poll highlights a sharp decline in enthusiasm, coinciding with increasing doubts about U.S. foreign and military aid. Whether allies will step up to prevent a post-war collapse in Ukraine — or let it unravel from within — remains an open question. Peace may come, but there is a real concern that the war's aftermath could be almost as destabilizing for Ukraine as its beginning. Sergey Maidukov, author of 'Life on the Run: One Family's Search for Peace in War-torn Ukraine' among other books, is based in Kyiv.
