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"Resistance 2.0." - Battle for Panjshir begins - Taliban claims victory

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So, let's stay away from this as much as possible hence Pakistan has increased completing the construction of the border fence.

There can't be two Afghan govts in Afghanistan; one recognized by China/Russia/Pakistan/Iran/Turkey/Qatar and the other by 'the West'. That would mean continued foreign military involvements, wars, issues with development or aid funds... Look at what the tiny island Taiwan did to the legitimacy of the very large continental country of PRC for decades?? And that still lingers!

You give an inch and they take a yard! This needs to be settled asap and the best way, as @FuturePAF said what happened in Iran in 1979: One party controlling it all to make it a fait accompli.
One happens to be your neighbor

The neighbor 'Charlie' media remind me of a certain 'Chaplain' somehow. Hahahah!
 
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There can't be two Afghan govts in Afghanistan; one recognized by China/Russia/Pakistan/Iran/Turkey/Qatar and the other by 'the West'. That would mean continued foreign military involvements, wars, issues with development or aid funds... Look at what the tiny island Taiwan did to the legitimacy of the very large continental country of PRC for decades?? And that still lingers!

You give an inch and they take a yard! This needs to be settled asap and the best way, as @FuturePAF said what happened in Iran in 1979: One party controlling it all to make it a fait accompli.


The neighbor 'Charlie' media remind me of a certain 'Chaplain' somehow. Hahahah!
No party other than the Taliban is forming a Government in Afghanistan as we speak.
 
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Charlie's gone. Now Charlie's Angels are ruling and influencing. One happens to be your neighbor .....
Really who?

BTW, Pakistan should look to what worked, outside of the Cold War context, diplomatically in the US-Pak relationship from 1947-1965.
Lol there is already happening alot of deserting in Panjshir.. All these guys have realized the music and know where it is heading they left with their lives while they can


They were both there in Panjshir but mysteriously disappeared when the pressure mounted on the valley

They didn’t retreat or flee, the went back for consultations. Probably to see how much the Panjshiris and their Afghan comrades have to resist the new setup in Kabul
 
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There can't be two Afghan govts in Afghanistan; one recognized by China/Russia/Pakistan/Iran/Turkey/Qatar and the other by 'the West'. That would mean continued foreign military involvements, wars, issues with development or aid funds... Look at what the tiny island Taiwan did to the legitimacy of the very large continental country of PRC for decades?? And that still lingers!

You give an inch and they take a yard! This needs to be settled asap and the best way, as @FuturePAF said what happened in Iran in 1979: One party controlling it all to make it a fait accompli.


The neighbor 'Charlie' media remind me of a certain 'Chaplain' somehow. Hahahah!

If they are politically savvy, this is the best time for the Talibs to get the westerners to take (in effect having the Talibs expell) troublesome characters, they know will just undermine whatever setup comes about in Kabul (except the highest ranking ones, those need to be reconciled with to prevent uncertainty in the minds of ordinary Afghans). Right know there is word that Abdullah Abdullah and Karzai are gonna be on the final ruling council in Kabul along with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. This is a master stroke, because all those that voted for (or foreigners that supported) Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah will in some way at least respect them enough to give them a chance, and hold out hope that they will moderate the Talibs.

IMHO, The Risk of the malcontents being spoilers in the short term out-ways the risk of them leading a risk of them leading an opposition movement to take back the country in the long term. They will become like the Iranian Royalists holding up the imperial Iranian Flag in their Tehrangeles meetup events.

Also, with more stability, if they can get their economy up and running, they can work out the other political issues.
 
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There can't be two Afghan govts in Afghanistan; one recognized by China/Russia/Pakistan/Iran/Turkey/Qatar and the other by 'the West'. That would mean continued foreign military involvements, wars, issues with development or aid funds... Look at what the tiny island Taiwan did to the legitimacy of the very large continental country of PRC for decades?? And that still lingers!

You give an inch and they take a yard! This needs to be settled asap and the best way, as @FuturePAF said what happened in Iran in 1979: One party controlling it all to make it a fait accompli.


The neighbor 'Charlie' media remind me of a certain 'Chaplain' somehow. Hahahah!

There can't be any form of war in Afghanistan anymore because this will interfere in Pakistan's stragetic interests and national security plus potential economical growth. Every country knows this that Pakistan will intervene if a potential protracted war occurs and the only way a protracted war could happen is if a foreign misadventure occurs which won't be allowed by Pakistan because it will interfere with it's interests and hammer it's economy plus stragetic interests.. No other nation wants to collide with Pakistan in Afghanistan. The Indians would have send troops for long time ago but Pakistan has blocked that and it could have lead to a massive regional war and it doesn't mean someone else like Russia or China can insert themselves either. Afghanistan is not that much worth for any nation to engage in a potential nuclear war for them hence it is completely left for Pakistan to create law and order there as they see fit. If Pakistan even refuses NATO to return they won't unlike 20 years ago but will only chose to collide with Pakistan if it was the absolute last resort.

Pakistan has alot on stake here in Afghanistan much more important than any city in Pakistan. This is just not some random country but it directly impacts Pakistan's socio-economy, local sentiments, and could even lead to an insurgency like waht happened in 07 because Afghanistan was in chaos it had a domino effect in Pakistan. A peaceful IEA Afghanistan is in Pakistan interest and nobody will be able to undo it
 
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Right know there is word that Abdullah Abdullah and Karzai are gonna be on the final ruling council in Kabul along with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. This is a master stroke, because all those that voted for (or foreigners that supported) Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah will in some way at least respect them enough to give them a chance, and hold out hope that they will moderate the Talibs.

Yes, it is a masterstroke. And it wasn't an easy pill for the Taliban to swallow.

At this point, Taliban should realize that perhaps the West, for optics reasons, is still looking for a graceful exit. Had it been a Trump in power, he would have shrugged off all the 'extremism' or 'women/girls rights' issues and just pulled out. And he would have smacked down the stingy, cowardly NATO countries to follow his dictat. But Biden has to appear to be championing 'humans rights' globally.

Already the front page of NY Times--a bastion of Biden support and a very influential news agency in the world-- is saying that not supporting the Panjshir resistance against 'extremism' is a big difficult decision for Biden.
 
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The lesson learned is that pushing back your pakol on your forehead like in an iconic picture of your daddy, doesn’t make you your daddy. In any case his daddy was more focused on his public image otherwise he would not have been killed by Alqaeda dressed up as journalist. We have no idea how effective Ahmed Shah Masood was as a fighter.
 
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The lesson learned is that pushing back your pakol on your forehead like in an iconic picture of your daddy, doesn’t make you your daddy. In any case his daddy was more focused on his public image otherwise he would not have been killed by Alqaeda dressed up as journalist.

Yes.
Masood Sr. was over-rated against the Taliban. Yes, he fought off the Russians but even then there was American support and Stinger Missiles and he had the huge advantages of the location. Besides, Russians wouldn't take casualties like Taliban are willing to take. Even in the 90s, Masood Sr. kept losing to the rag-tag Taliban when so many external powers were supporting Masood Sr. BUT... like any other nation... Afghanistan needed 'heroes' from wars and Masood was made one. Otherwise, Masood was almost certainly involved in the slaughtering civil war after the Soviets left Afghanistan!!

What is stopping Taliban to use the surrendered ANA soldiers for being the cannon-fodders in invading the Panjshir Valley?? It would be cruel but this is a war and ANA soldiers' lives were spared not to roast corn on the cob.
 
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Panjshir is not that small, its defiantly a narrow valley, but it’s possible, don’t underestimate the risk, account for it.

Mountain warfare is probably the only realistic way to take it by force. Over the peaks on all sides, and with large numbers. But leaves mountain troops vulnerable if there is an air attack, hence the needs for the Talibs to have an Air Force and air superiority over the battlefield before a major assault. An Air Force and unrestricted air control would only come once foreigners leave.

Taliban have Bagram airbase. They can fly their airforce from there to attack Panjshir. Have they given all their airspace to the Americans. They can fly from Bagram to Panjshir without crossing Kabul airport.
 
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Taliban should get released Afia Siddiqui and Guantanamo Bay Prisoners, Yousuf Ramzi and those held in secret detentions.
 
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