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Russian reassertion?: Afghan President Karzai, left, greets

Pakistan President Zardari as Russian President Medvedev

looks on, at a meeting in Sochi, Russia, Aug. 18. As America

pulls out, Russia seeks to increase its influence in Afghanistan.

 

 

The Nation, Pakistan

Sochi Summit: 'One Small Step Out of America's Grip'

 

"The summit was a signal that a new power game will emerge in Afghanistan and beyond - and that the United States and NATO will be increasingly challenged, not only by their own failures in Afghanistan, but by the resurgent ambitions of Russia."

 

EDITORIAL

 

August 20, 2010

 

Pakistan - The Nation - Original Article (English)

THE summit between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and Tajikistan held in Sochi, Russia, was an important reassertion of Russia’s role in this region - one of many efforts by Russia to regain its lost sphere of influence in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Reminiscent of the Soviet era, the multi-party summit is one more effort by Russia to move toward cooperation in the Central Asian-Afghanistan region. Pakistan’s participation was a small step toward moving out of America's grip in terms of Afghan policy. The participants committed themselves to helping Afghanistan rebuild its infrastructure, with an urgent focus on the Salang Tunnel linking north and south Afghanistan. Other joint projects also encompass the energy sector, including the CASE-1000 project for transporting power from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. These three countries welcomed Russia’s participation. The summit also called on the international community to come forward and help Pakistan cope with its catastrophic flood.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

President Karzai also welcomed Russian support to fight terrorism, with the two leaders meeting privately to discuss the matter. Russia - which at one time was a major player in Afghanistan, is actively seeking to regain its position, and may compete with NATO in that regard. With the general expectation that the U.S. will leave Afghanistan sooner rather than later - and without a military victory - Russia must surely be looking to fill some of the vacuum, especially given its old links to Afghanistan and its reassertion as a neighbor with legitimate interests. For Pakistan, this summit and the interaction with the Russian leadership may be significant if our leaders follow-up in a substantive manner rather than just paying diplomatic lip service. After all, this would allow Pakistan a foot in the door of cooperation with Russia, with whom India has historically had close strategic ties. Pakistan must be cognizant of the threat of a possible Indo-Russian-Afghan nexus after the U.S. withdraws.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Novosti, Russia: Sochi Meeting Pushes the Boundaries of Global Politics

Izvestia, Russia: WikiLeaks Shreds 'Myth' of Western Moral Superiority

Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia: Gorbachev to NATO: 'Learn from Our Mistakes'

Kommersant, Russia: Russia Shouldn't Be Happy About America's Afghan Misfortune

Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia: NATO Still 'Clueless' About What to Do Next

Le Quotidien Oran, Algeria: WikiLeaks: 'Civilized' War Criminals Await Passage of Time

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Pakistan's 'Ruling Clan of Bleating Sheep' Soil the Nation

Cuarto Poder, Spain: WikiLeaks Makes Clear Obama's Bush-Era Scorched Earth Policy

Estadao, Brazil: Obama 'War of Necessity' Seems Worse than Bush 'War of Choice'

Outlook Afghanistan: WikiLeaks Memos Say Ex-ISI Chief Plotted Karzai Murder
The Nation, Pakistan: WikiLeaks: U.S. Scapegoats ISI to 'Hide its Own Shame'

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Facing Defeat in Afghanistan, U.S. 'Lies' About ISI

The Nation, Pakistan: Indo-U.S. Alliance Behind Entry of Militants Into Pakistan
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany: WikiLeaks' Enlightened Betrayal

Der Speigel, Germany: Explosive Leaks Provide Image of War from Those Fighting It
Der Speigel, Germany: Task Force 373: The Secret Hunters
Guardian Video, U.K.: WikiLeaks Founder Tells Why Public Must See Documents

Guardian, U.K.: Complete Investigation of the Secret Afghanistan War Logs
Guardian, U.K.: U.S. Commanders Point the Finger at Pakistan

Times of India: WikiLeaks Release Shows Undeclared War by Pakistan on India

Hindustan Times, India: ‘Pakistan Intelligence Paid Taliban to Kill Indians in Kabul’

 

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Presidents Zardari and Karzai also had a one-on-one meeting. But unfortunately for Pakistan, an anti-narcotic agreement wasn't signed - which is being seen as a victory for Karzai, who opposes such a deal. Nevertheless, the summit was a signal that a new power game will emerge in Afghanistan and beyond - and that the United States and NATO will be increasingly challenged, not only by their own failures in Afghanistan, but by the resurgent ambitions of Russia. This is why it is imperative for Pakistan to remove its Washington-focused blinkers before it is marginalized in its own region.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US, August 22, 5:29pm]

 







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