In The News

India, Pakistan, Kashmir: The Guardian

Amanda Holpuch March 23, 2019
Tensions run high between Pakistan and India in recent weeks after political violence in the disputed Kashmir region. The Guardian reports that the path to possible war opened up after “Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday, carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a 14 February suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops.” Although Kashmir is...

US Golan Heights Decision: Middle East Eye

Mohsen Abu Ramadan March 22, 2019
Israel has occupied large sections of Palestinian territory for more than 50 years, and the US president suggested on Twitter: “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability.” The stance reinforces policies of Israel’s prime minister before a...

Joint Operation Against PKK: Anadolu

Hatice Ozdemir Tosun March 18, 2019
Turkey and Iran launched a joint attack against the Kurdish group PKK – the far left Kurdistan Workers Party – on Turkey’s eastern border, reports Anadolu Agency, adding Turkey for the first time has confirmed a raid. Turkish security forces have often clashed with PKK members and the country regards PKK as a terrorist group. The two sides came close to negotiating a peace deal, and PKK...

Mass Murder, Terror Alert in New Zealand: Stuff

Henry Cooke and Stacey Kirk March 15, 2019
New Zealand mourns a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch that left at least 49 people dead. Three suspects are in custody. At least one gunman, from Australia and reported to espouse white supremacy ideologies, filmed the attack and live-streamed parts online. None of the four had been on security watchlists. “Questions would likely be asked later over how they managed to go unnoticed...

Turkey, Iran to Target Kurds: Al Jazeera

March 6, 2019
Kurdish fighters were key in defeating the Islamic State in Syria. The ethnic group represents 10 percent of the population in Iran and Syria, and up to 20 percent in Turkey and Iraq, and it’s no secret that many prefer autonomy and even a country of their own. As the war in Syria winds down, Turkey’s interior minister announced a joint operation with Iran against Kurdish rebels, but offered no...

Africa Drawdown: International Policy Digest

Steven Leach March 5, 2019
The United States is planning to reduce its forces stationed in Africa. The poorest nations in Africa are vulnerable to extremist ideologies due to poverty and poor governance. “It is no accident that al Shabaab evolved in a defunct Somali state (in some ways it is shocking that it did not happen sooner), that al Qaeda found a safe haven in rural Afghanistan, that Boko Haram resides on the...

Maturity and De-escalation: Asian Age

KC Singh March 2, 2019
India-Pakistan relations are at a crisis point after a terrorist car-bomb attack on a bus in Pulwama that left 40 dead. India responded with an air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp near the Line of Control separating the two nations. “India had reliable intelligence that terrorists and suicide bombers there were training to attack India; India had no desire to target the Pakistani military or...