Category: South East Asia

India court freezes assets of billionaire who fled UAE

An Indian court has ordered to freeze the assets of billionaire, B.R. Shetty, who earlier fled the UAE with his wife, considering those funds as personal guarantees of debt to the Bank of Baroda, India’s international bank.

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Afghan Leaders End Political Impasse

On 17 May, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his chief political rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement intended to resolve a dispute over last September’s election. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Andrew Watkins examines the deal and its portent for stalled peace talks.

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India-China: Tensions rose after India and China accused each other of violating an informal and disputed border known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC),

India-China: Tensions rose after India and China accused each other of violating an informal and disputed border known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where a physical alteration between border guards from both sides in early May left dozens injured. Crisis Group expert Pierre Prakash says although alleged incursions are not uncommon in the Himalayan region during the summer […]

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The Taliban have announced a ceasefire with the Afghan government that will take effect when the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr begins on Sunday.

It follows a rise in attacks by the hardline Islamist group against government troops in recent weeks.

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How the Taliban Outlasted a Superpower: Tenacity and Carnage

The Taliban stand on the brink of realizing their most fervent desire: U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan. They have given up little of their extremist ideology to do it.

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Afghan president pledges to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners

Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman describes move as a ‘goodwill gesture’ after the Taliban proposed ceasefire during Eid holiday.

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Taliban ‘reluctant to publicly break with al Qaeda,’ Inspector General reports

On May 19, the Lead Inspector General (IG) for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel released its quarterly report. The assessment covers recent events in the Afghan War, including the Feb. 29 withdrawal agreement between the U.S. and Taliban. Several parts of the report are summarized below.

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US envoy working to resuscitate flagging Afghan peace deal as US warplanes pound ISIS-K

The first visit to Kabul by Washington’s peace envoy since Afghanistan’s squabbling political leadership reached a power-sharing agreement comes amid increased violence blamed mostly on an Islamic State affiliate that has been targeted in stepped-up U.S. bombing.

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Taliban emir demands ‘Islamic government’ for Afghanistan

Mullah Haibatullah, the leader of the Afghan Taliban and its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, again called for the establishment of an “Islamic government” and the imposition of the group’s harsh versions of sharia.

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Taliban ‘reluctant to publicly break with al Qaeda,’ Inspector General reports

On May 19, the Lead Inspector General (IG) for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel released its quarterly report. The assessment covers recent events in the Afghan War, including the Feb. 29 withdrawal agreement between the U.S. and Taliban. Several parts of the report are summarized below.

Read more ›