Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 19, 2019

ISIL fighters are now stuck in limbo, unwanted by their home countries and unlikely to receive a trial by the SDF [File: Rodi Said/Reuters]

Zaheena Rasheed & Farah Najjar, Al Jazeera: Burden of victory: What should happen to European ISIL prisoners?

Fate of more than 1,000 European ISIL prisoners, detained by Kurdish forces in northern Syria, hangs in the balance.

In a tiny sliver of land along the Euphrates River in northern Syria, about 300 battle-hardened ISIL fighters are making a last stand, with just a "few days" remaining for the group's total military defeat, according to US-backed Kurdish forces battling the fighters.

But US President Donald Trump - even while hailing an impending "100 percent victory" - has issued a threat that, if executed, could help the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group rise once again.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 19, 2019

ISIS fighters had thousands of children. So what happens to them now? -- Saphora Smith, NBC

Sunni Jihad Is Going Local -- Hassan Hassan, The Atlantic

What’s next in Syria? Here are 10 takeaways. -- Tara Copp, Military Times

Iran’s

regional ambitions set to suffer -- Dnyanesh Kamat, Asia Times

Violence breeds more violence in Kashmir -- Ather Zia, Al Jazeera

Pakistan unlikely to act against terror group -- Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, Asia Times

This Is How the Kashmir Terrorist Attack Could Start a Major War -- Mohammed Ayoob, National Interest

Singapore defense minister: Cost of conflict in South China Sea 'too high' -- Shamil Shams, DW

Now Is Not the Time for a Referendum on Taiwanese Independence -- J.Michael Cole, National Interest

Vietnam opens up about past clashes with China -- Doan Xuan Loc, Asia Times

Resurgent Russia: Myth and reality -- Dimitar Bechev, Al Jazeera

'There is no free press': Freedom of speech in Mexico -- Courtney Tenz, DW

Trump might have a solid case for emergency declaration, analysts say -- Tom McCarthy, The Guardian

China watchers in US debate ‘strategic competitor’ label Donald Trump has pinned on Beijing -- Robert Delaney, SCMP

How Chinese Theft Becomes a Global Menace -- Gordon G. Chang, American Conservative

Never mind Huawei: US is already winning the 5G race, Cisco report claims -- SCMP/Washington Post