Latest news with #US-Taliban
Mint
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Iran-Israel Ceasefire: 5 times oil-rich Qatar played master mediator in global conflicts
Iran-Israel Ceasefire: Qatar, , independent emirate on the west coast of the Persian Gulf, intervened on behalf of the President Donald Trump-led US administration and persuaded Iran to agree to a cease-fire with Israel, the New York Times reported on Monday (local time). Trump announced on social media that a cease-fire was imminent after 12 days of military actions between the two nations in the Middle East. "President Trump spoke with Qatar's Emir and informed him the US got Israel to agree to the ceasefire. The president asked Qatar to help persuade Iran for the same, following which vice president JD Vance coordinated with Qatar's prime minister on the details," news reports said. Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, secured Tehran's agreement to a US-proposed ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Iran, Reuters said, quoting a senior official involved in the negotiations. This isn't the first time oil-rich Qatar has stepped in to mediate a conflict. Since the 1990s, the Gulf nation of 3.15 million has built a global reputation for its role as a trusted intermediary. Not just in the Middle East but in far away African nations like Sudan. Before the fresh wave of Iran-Israel conflict, Qatar had mediated the Sudan civil war, the US-Taliban deal, the Israel-Hezbollah agreement and almost came close to mediating the Russia-Ukraine war. The nation has had a significant role in resolving vulnerable hostage situations between the two nations by freeing prisoners. Qatar is a monarchy, ruled by the al-Thani family. The country is headed by an Emir – the ruler. The current Emir of Qatar is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He ascended to the position in 2013, succeeding his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Qatar was the first Arab country to open a Trade Office for Israel following the Oslo agreement signed in the early 1990s for establishing peace in the Palestine-Israel region. Since then, the rules of the monarchy have built the Gulf Nation's foreign policy by forging alliances with dissidents, aiding revolutionaries and militant groups, and also playing a third-party medator. At the 77th UN General Assembly in 2022, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani stated that conflict mediation is a key element of Qatar's foreign policy, aiming to establish the country as a dependable international ally Here is a look at five earlier conflicts in which Qatar played a mediator's role: Qatar used its soft power to let US leave Afghanistan after about two decades in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 attacks. Qatar's involvement in facilitating the US -Taliban deal ended the nearly two decades of conflict in Afghanistan. In 2013, Qatar allowed the Taliban to open an office in Doha. This was theTaliban's first office outside Afghanistan after the US intervention. Qatar hosted several rounds of talks between the US and the Taliban camps to mediate the agreement signed on February 29, 2020, outlining the conditions for the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the Taliban. Finally, the US left the country, and the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. Qatar facilitated a peace agreement in Darfur, Sudan, in 2011 and then again in 2020. The 2011 Darfur Peace Agreement, also known as the Doha Agreement, was signed in July 2011 between the government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement. This agreement established a compensation fund for victims of the Darfur conflict, allowed the President of Sudan to appoint a vice-president from Darfur, and established a new Darfur Regional Authority to oversee the region until a referendum can determine its permanent status within the Republic of Sudan The Darfur peace deal, also known as the Juba Peace Agreement, was signed on August 31, 2020, in Juba, South Sudan. It aimed to end the long-standing conflict in Darfur. The agreement culminated negotiations between the Sudanese government and various armed movements from Darfur, including the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF). The deal was signed years after the US-mediated deal of 2006 had collapsed. Qatar was instrumental in brokering a deal between Russia and Ukraine to free more than 15 children taken captive by either side in 2023. The country also hosted children freed through the deal. Qatar announced on October 16, 2023, that the four Ukrainian children had been reunited with their families as a result of its mediation efforts. Six more Ukrainian children were set to be returned to Ukraine from Russia under a deal brokered by Qatar, as per reports. Washington Post had then reported that Russia and Ukraine were on the brink of engaging in indirect ceasefire negotiations in Qatar's Doha in August 2023. In the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Qatar has been one of the lead mediators in securing some of the hostages Hamas had taken during its October 7 attacks on Israel. Qatar has played a notable role, particularly in facilitating the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. One of the most significant instances of Qatari mediation was in the case of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was captured by Hamas in 2006 near the Israeli-Gaza border. After years of negotiations, a deal was reached in 2011 for Shalit's release in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Qatar, along with Egypt and Germany, played a crucial role in brokering this agreement. With established relationships with both Israel and Hamas, Qatar was considered best country in the region to mediate. Qatar's past involvement in Gaza, including significant investments in infrastructure and humanitarian aid, gave it leverage with Hamas, while its economic ties and security cooperation opened channels of communication with Israel. Qatar then also played a key role in five-year-long negotiation for the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas in 2006. In 2008, Qatar played a crucial role as a mediator, successfully brokering the Doha Agreement that averted a potential civil war in Lebanon. The crisis stemmed from a political deadlock and armed clashes between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. The crises were fuelled by the government's attempt to dismantle Hezbollah's communication network Conflict mediation is a key element of Qatar's foreign policy, aiming to establish the country as a dependable international ally. As fighting escalated in Beirut, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani invited Lebanese political factions to Doha. The resulting Doha Agreement, signed on May 21, 2008, included a ceasefire, a power-sharing government, and a commitment to electoral reform. The agreement laid the groundwork for parliamentary elections in 2009 and eventually granted Hezbollah a significant role in a government.
Express Tribune
15-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Realism and shifting tides of international relations
The writer is a former Secretary to Government, Home and Tribal Affairs Department and a retired IGP. He can be reached at syed_shah94@ Listen to article In the ever-evolving arena of international politics, the concept of permanent alliances or perpetual hostilities often proves to be a myth. As Lord Palmerston had put it long ago, "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." This preposition remains central to realist thought in foreign policy, where national interest overrides ideological consistency or historical ties. Recent geopolitical developments — from the US President Donald Trump's unconventional diplomacy to shifting alliances in South Asia -— demonstrate these powerful illustrations of this timeless truth. Trump recently visited the Middle East and had diplomatic engagements amid scenes of pomp and show. He had interactions with Saudi Arabia - which is poles apart from the US from an ideological perspective. One espouses democratic values and the other Sharia law with a dynastic rule. However, overridding considerations of lucrative arms deals and mutual economic benefits set all those ideals to naught. Trump even declared Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East, emphasising the promise of economic prosperity over instability in a region reeling from multiple wars. Similarly, Trump's brief chat with President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria, though on the sidelines of his diplomatic initiatives, was widely speculated and analysed. He also announced easing sanctions on Syria to give the country "a chance at peace". Trump's remarks and subsequent actions, however melodramatic in presentation, reflect the primacy of interest over principle. In the complex chessboard of international relations, strategic considerations often overshadow moral judgments. Perhaps one of the most glaring examples of realist foreign policy was observed during the US-Taliban talks culminating in the 2020 Doha Agreement between the two. After nearly two decades of warfare that claimed thousands of lives and cost billions of dollars, the US opted to negotiate directly with its once-archenemy. The very group that had been the target of a massive military campaign post-9/11 was now being recognised as a legitimate stakeholder in Afghanistan's future. This position from combat to the negotiating table, sidelining Ashraf Ghani and finally abandoning his government, was not a reflection of ideological transformation but rather a calculated move to pull out the US troops from a protracted and unwinnable conflict. It was a textbook case of interest-based diplomacy. This trend is not unique to the United States. China's recent diplomatic initiatives further portray the realist approach. The trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan in Beijing marked a strategic reevaluation in the region. Expressing unanimity of views, the three states agreed to shore up diplomatic and economic engagement, assuring a cooperative stance on counterterrorism. From a Chinese perspective this move would further enhance security along its western borders, ensuring the success of the Belt and Road Initiative, and countering the influence of rival powers in a geopolitically sensitive area. Pakistan's participation in this meeting also reflects a realist recalibration. Once a frontline ally in the US-led War on Terror, Pakistan is increasingly leaning towards regional partnerships that align more closely with its evolving strategic and economic interests. The re-engagement with Afghanistan, under Taliban leadership no less, is a nod to regional stability over ideological divergence. It's a pragmatic choice aimed at containing security threats and fostering economic integration. The meeting has also provided a fair chance to the de facto rulers of Afghanistan to gain legitimacy and economic lifelines. By engaging with regional powers like China and Pakistan, the Taliban seek to break out of international isolation and gain access to trade routes, infrastructure investments and diplomatic recognition. Once again, national interest overrides historical enmities or ideological moorings. All those aforementioned events, underscore the relevance and utility of realism in international politics. Realism postulates that the international system is anarchic and that states primarily follow the law of self-preservation and prosperity. In such a system, moral principles, while not entirely absent, are often subordinated to strategic calculations. Ideological allies may quickly turn into enemies and former foes may transform into partners as dictated by the circumstances. Critics of realism often decry its perceived cynicism and lack of moral compass. However, proponents argue that it is a sober and necessary lens through which to view global affairs. Idealism may inspire, but it is realism that governs the actions of states when stakes are high and options are limited. Moreover, the real-world consequences of deviating from realism can be severe. History is replete with examples where ideological rigidity led to strategic blunders — from the Vietnam War to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Conversely, moments of pragmatic diplomacy — such as Nixon's visit to China or the Iran nuclear deal — have often yielded more sustainable outcomes.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan pleaded for an understanding after suffering catastrophic losses: BJP
A day after India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that Islamabad pleaded for an understanding after suffering 'catastrophic losses'. In a post on X, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said India called out Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" with strategic resolve. 'Make No Mistake — Pakistan Pleaded for Understanding After Suffering Catastrophic Losses,' Bhandari wrote on X. 'In just 72 hours, under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has rewritten the rules of engagement with Pakistan.' Also Read | Ceasefire after 4 days of fighting: What weapons did India, Pakistan use? He added that India struck deep inside Pakistani military zones, from Lahore to Rawalpindi, and destroyed terror headquarters of Jaish and LeT in Munirke and Bahawalpur. "Sent a clear message: no inch of Pakistani territory is beyond India's reach, crippled Pakistan economically by pausing the Indus Water Treaty," he said. Bhandari also said that India isolated Pakistan diplomatically, exposing its terror ecosystem globally. Also Read | Pakistan's dubious record casts shadow over ceasefire deal "In an era where conventional wars -- from Russia-Ukraine to US-Taliban -- have failed to achieve strategic ends, India under Prime Minister Modi has adopted 'Chanakya Neeti' - smart, swift, and sovereign," the BJP spokesperson said. "This is not strategic restraint. This is strategic dominance, and the fight against Pakistani terror is not over," he added. India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to immediately cease all hostilities across land, air, and sea, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump was the first to announce the ceasefire on social media, followed by a formal statement from Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Briefing the media, Misri informed that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan had called his Indian counterpart at 3:35 pm IST. Also Read | India strikes 8 military sites in Pak with precision weapons in counterattack 'The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 15:35 hours Indian Standard Time earlier today. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea, with effect from 17:00 hours IST today,' Misri said. However, hours after the announcement of the ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir was rattled by a series of drone sightings in the night, followed by the sound of explosions, prompting security personnel to engage air defence systems to bring them down. The developments led to a hurriedly called press briefing at 11 pm, where Misri confirmed that Pakistan violated the ceasefire in the evening and that the armed forces had given an adequate and appropriate response.
The Print
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
BJP hails PM Modi, says India isolated Pakistan diplomatically
In a post on X, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said Pakistan 'pleaded for an understanding' after suffering 'catastrophic losses', 'In just 72 hours, under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has rewritten the rules of engagement with Pakistan,' he added. The party's remarks came after India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. New Delhi, May 11 (PTI) The BJP on Sunday asserted that India has rewritten the rules of engagement with Pakistan under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhandari said India called out Pakistan's 'nuclear bluff' with strategic resolve, struck deep inside Pakistani military zones from Lahore to Rawalpindi and destroyed terror headquarters of Jaish and LeT in Munirke and Bahawalpur. 'Sent a clear message: no inch of Pakistani territory is beyond India's reach, crippled Pakistan economically by pausing the Indus Water Treaty,' he said. India isolated Pakistan diplomatically, exposing its terror ecosystem globally, he added. 'In an era where conventional wars — from Russia-Ukraine to US-Taliban — have failed to achieve strategic ends, India under Prime Minister Modi has adopted 'Chanakya Neeti' – smart, swift, and sovereign,' the BJP spokesperson said. 'This is not strategic restraint. This is strategic dominance, and fight against Pakistani terror is not over,' he added. PTI PK DV DV This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
