Keen to use its presidency of the U.N. Security Council to demonstrate its commitment to multilateralism, Germany has laid itself bare to criticism from disenchanted allies of double standards on defence spending, energy and arms exports. Powerful business interests and the compromises needed to hold together conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel’s loveless coalition with the Social […]
NATO
NATO anniversary party turns ugly as US scolds Germany, Turkey
Tensions soared Wednesday between the United States and two of its NATO partners, Germany and Turkey, marring a 70th birthday celebration for the alliance aimed at showing a united front against a resurgent Russia. Hours before foreign ministers from the 29-member Western alliance opened talks in Washington with a leisurely reception, Vice President Mike Pence […]
US suspends F-35 deliveries to Turkey over Russian arms
The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, sources familiar with the situation said, marking the first concrete US step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system. In recent days, US […]
Russia’s obsession or geographic trap
Vladimir Putin says he is a religious man, a great supporter of the Russian Orthodox church. If so, he may well, go to bed each night, say his prayers, and ask God: “Why didn’t you put some mountains in Ukraine”. These are the famous words of Tim Marshall in his famous book “Prisoners of geography”. […]
NATO says no progress in Russia talks on arms treaty
Senior NATO and Russian officials failed to make a breakthrough Friday in talks on saving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, raising the spectre of a renewed arms race in Europe. Western capitals allege that Russia’s latest generation of medium-range missiles breach the terms of the Cold War era INF treaty, and put European cities at […]
US soldier killed in ‘apparent insider attack’ in Kabul: NATO
One US soldier was killed and another wounded in an “apparent insider attack” in Kabul on Saturday, NATO said, in the latest such assault on international forces in Afghanistan. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the third so-called “green-on-blue” attack in less than three weeks that have rattled foreign troops tasked with training […]
Afghanistan waits for Taliban response to truce offer
Afghanistan was waiting Monday for a Taliban response to President Ashraf Ghani’s suggestion of a three-month ceasefire, an offer welcomed by the United States and NATO after 17 years of war. Ghani unveiled the government’s latest gambit during an Independence Day address late Sunday, saying security forces would observe the truce beginning this week — […]
COAS to meet Afghan President today
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday departed for Kabul on an official visit to meet President Ashraf Ghani. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the invitation was extended by the Afghan President. DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet “Pakistan wishes to see (the) National […]
Pakistan’s behaviour remains unchanged: NATO commander
LAHORE: NATO Commander in Afghanistan John Nicholson said that Pakistan did not increase its efforts and cooperation against terrorist safe havens. Addressing the media following a meeting of NATO defense ministers, he said, “You’ve heard the public statements from President Trump, from Defence Secretary James Mattis, from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen Joseph Dunford from […]