Afghan Commentary Post

 Here is a link to my recent commentary published by Stars and Stripes newspaper https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2024-02-25/ukraine-billions-loan-13115386.html

      Summary: Ukraine desperately needs U.S. assistance to stand against Russian aggression, and if the U.S. ceases such aid, it could embolden Vladimir Putin to seize more territory in Europe and perhaps even attack a NATO member, thereby forcing a U.S. military response. But billions of dollars’ worth of financial and military aid should not be free, but rather given as a loan.   Why Ukraine Should Be Given Billions, But Only as a Loan By Wahab Raofi In his book The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman wrote that “the world is an interconnected economic integration, which supersedes ideological and political differences, and no player would likely dare to jeopardize that arrangement.” Then along came Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is not one of the NATO countries. The U.S. has no obligation to defend them. But for several logical reasons, U.S. taxpayer money is being sent by the billions in hopes it can help save Ukraine from Russian aggression. Th...

  By Wahab Raofi While Pakistan's recent election may not meet all Western standards of perfection, it certainly serves as a demonstration of democracy in action. Its ramifications could potentially influence its neighbor, Afghanistan, particularly if the Pakistani military relinquishes its subtle support for the Taliban. Among the various forms of battle, a war of hatred, suspicion and envy is just as pernicious as battles fought on traditional fields. This is precisely the conflict ongoing between the Afghans and the Pakistani security establishment. Afghans accuse their neighbor Pakistan of pursuing a duplicitous policy toward the Afghan people. While ostensibly endorsing democracy and elections within its own borders, Pakistan is alleged to support the Taliban, a group seemingly disinclined to let Afghans go to voting polls to select their leaders. Pakistan held elections amidst political, economic, social and political scandals that led to the imprisonment of former...