Afghan Army personnel destroying an IED. Al Jazeera Photo
Srinivas Mazumdaru & Masood Saifullah, DW: Is US pressure pushing Taliban toward peace?
The Taliban have issued a letter seeking to end the brutal, protracted bloodshed in Afghanistan through dialogue. Experts say it is a reaction to increased US airstrikes against the group and pressure on Pakistan.
In an unusual move, the Afghan Taliban issued a letter Wednesday addressing directly the "American people" and urging them to put pressure on their government to withdraw from conflict-stricken Afghanistan. The letter was addressed to "the American people, officials of independent non-governmental organizations and the peace loving Congressmen."
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 15, 2018
Will Trump administration accept Afghan Taliban's talks offer to end the 17-year-long war? -- Vasudevan Sridharan, IBTimes
Could North Korea be America's Next Forever War? -- Christopher Preble, National Interest
Trump dispatches China hawk to Australia -- Alan Boyd, Asia times
British Royal Navy Will Send a Frigate to the South China Sea -- Ankit Panda, Diplomat
Relations between Washington and Islamabad? It’s Complicated -- The Cipher Brief
China’s Arctic Endeavours Walking on Thin Ice? -- Adam P. MacDonald, East Asia Forum
The War in Syria Has Entered a Dangerous New Phase -- Rebecca Collard, Time
US keen on Russia distancing itself from Iran’s Syrian ambitions -- David Goldman, Asia Times
Jordan's economic crisis threatens political stability -- Ali Younes, Al Jazeera
Zuma's Resignation Marks South Africa's Moment -- Bloomberg editorial
South Africa's lost decade -- Claus Stäcker, DW
Ethiopia 'at crossroads' after Hailemariam resignation -- Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera
U.S. Allies Are Failing to Fill the Global Leadership Void -- Hal Brands, Bloomberg
“Who Needs a Controversy Over the Inauguration?”: Reince Priebus Opens Up About His Six Months of Magical Thinking -- Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair
