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Political Scientist Navin Bapat to Speak April 4 at Ohio Wesleyan on the Impact of Operation Enduring Freedom

By Sarah Jonassen 22

DELAWARE, Ohio Political scientist and professor Navin Bapat of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says the history behind the Taliban recapturing Afghanistan is far more complex than it appears.

Bapat, Ph.D., will discuss Operation Enduring Freedom and its lasting effects when he presents Afghanistan and the End of the War on Terror at 6:30 p.m. April 4 at Ohio Wesleyan University. He will speak in the Benes Rooms of OWUs Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware.

Twenty years ago, the United States initiated the global war on terror in response to al Qaedas attacks on 9/11, Bapat said in describing his talk. This $5 trillion war is responsible for the deaths of thousands of American military personnel, as well as tens of thousands of civilians throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Yet, on August 15, 2021, the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan from the American-supported government, he said. What caused the failure in Afghanistan, and what is the future of the war on terror?

In a recent Political Violence at a Glance article, Bapat said of the operation: While it may be tempting to place the blame at the feet of the Afghans, it is worth examining the situation more closely. This was an American war and an American failure. Fear of terrorism led the U.S. to engage in a military adventure in South Asia without thoroughly analyzing the consequences of its policy and the perverse incentives it created.

Bapat is the Dowd Professor in Political Science and the Chair of the Curriculum of Peace, War, and Defense at UNC-Chapel Hill. He specializes in the study of American foreign policy, transnational terrorism, and the rise of extremism within insurgencies. He obtained his doctorate in political science from Rice University.

His first book, Monsters to Destroy: Understanding the War on Terror, argues the war on terror can be explained as an effort to cement the U.S. dollar as the worlds foremost reserve currency by expanding American control over global energy markets.

Bapat also has published in theAmerican Journal of Political Science, theJournal of Politics,International Organization,International Studies Quarterly,the British Journal of Political Science,Public Choice,the Journal of Peace Research,International Interactions, andConflict Management and Peace Science.

His Ohio Wesleyan presentation represents the universitys 32nd annual John Kennard Eddy Memorial Lecture on World Politics. The lecture honors the life of student Jeff Eddy, killed in an automobile accident in 1988. The event is sponsored by the OWU International Studies Program and the Department of Politics and Government. Learn more at owu.edu/internationalstudies and owu.edu/politics.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nations premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature program, The OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review Best Colleges lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.

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'Afghanistan and the End of the War on Terror' - Ohio Wesleyan University

NewsDesk@bactiman63

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 2,548 new cases (14.7% increase from the previous week) and 18 new deaths (5.9 % increase from the previous week) in Afghanistan during the week ending Mar. 5.

The current outbreak started since 17 October 2021 and the number of cases reached to the highest number this week.

A total of 46,237 clinical measles cases have been reported since the beginning of the year, including nearly 4,000 lab confirmed cases.

The most affected provinces include Helmand (17.9%), Kandahar (6.0%), Balkh (4.9%), Paktika (3.6%), Ghor (3.6%) and Ghazni (3.0 %).

Out of the total 46,237 suspected cases of measles around 80.1% (37,040) were under 5 years of age.

232 deaths have been reported.

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A measles campaign was conducted in Dec 2021 in Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Kandahar, Paktika and Balkh provinces and a total of 1.4 million children aged 9-59 months were vaccinated.

A vaccination campaign is planned on 2 phases targeting the high risk districts, phase 1 is planned in March 2022 covering 49 districts (24 provinces) and targeting 1.2 million children aged 6-59 months. Phase 2 is planned in the second quarter of 2022, targeting 3.5 million children in the same age groupin 111 district (27 provinces).

Excerpt from:
Afghanistan: Trend of new measles cases reported in all provinces have continued to increase sharply in 2022 - Outbreak News Today - Outbreak News...

Boris Johnson directly approved the evacuation of cats and dogs with Pen Farthings animal charity from Afghanistan, according to a second government whistleblower.

Josie Stewart a senior official at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was widespread knowledge that the decision to help the Nowzad charity came from the prime minister.

Mr Johnson has denied direct involvement in the evacuation of animals. But Ms Stewart backed up claims made by whistleblower Raphael Marshall saying emails in her inbox referenced the PMs decision on Nowzad.

Ms Stewart also accused Sir Philip Barton, the Foreign Offices permanent undersecretary, and Nigel Casey, the PMs special representative forAfghanistan, of having intentionally lied to MPs on the foreign affairs select committee.

The whistleblower said she cannot fathom why they would do so but that they must have done so, adding: I have tried to imagine but cannot conceive of any way this could have been an honest mistake.

The Foreign Office immediately rejected the whistleblowers claims. At all times officials have responded to the committees questions in good faith, on the basis of the evidence available to us at the time, said a FCDO spokesperson.

The spokesperson also said the prime minister has made clear he had no role in authorising individual evacuations fromAfghanistanduring Operation Pitting, including Nowzad staff and animals.

But Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said the revelations were further confirmation that the prime minister put the lives of animals ahead of humans on a personal whim and then lied about doing so.

The Labour frontbencher called the PM a serial liar and added: He is unfit to be prime minister.

Ms Stewart, who said she previously leaked information such was her concern about the handling of the Afghan crisis, said she accepted that speaking out would likely mean losing her job.

She said: I feel a strong sense of moral injury for having been part of something so badly managed and so focused on managing reputational risk and political fallout rather than the actual crisis and associated human tragedy.

Ms Stewart said the messages about the animal evacuation decision were coming from the PM on Microsoft Teams, and heard it discussed in the crisis centre including by senior civil servants.

She also said she was copied on numerous emails which clearly suggested this which no-one, including Mr Casey, challenged.

In January MPs on the foreign affairs select committee published an email from a senior official referring to the PMs decision on Nowzad, copied to Mr Casey.

Sir Philip apologised for inadvertently inaccurate answers, stating that Mr Casey had been busy that day and did not remember the email.

The BBC later published further emails showing that Mr Casey wrote an email about asking Number 10 for input on the case.

Ms Stewart told MPs: Nigel Casey explicitly testified that he had searched his emails and found nothing of relevance, yet when I searched my emailsfor PMandNowzad Ifound more than oneemail referencing the PMs decision on Nowzad and with Nigel Casey in copy.

The whistleblower added: I cannot fathom why either Philip Barton or Nigel Casey would have intentionally lied to the Committee, but I believe that they must have done so both in the letter dated 17 January and intheoral testimony given on 25 January.

Ms Stewart said she did not believe there was any deliberate decision to prioritise animals over people but that the decision to approve Nowzads Afghan staff under LOTR (leave outside the rules) was not in line with policy.

The whistleblower said there was no reason to believe these people should be prioritised under the agreed criteria.

She said although letters from Sir Philip and Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad were factually accurate when they said Nowzad staff were included by officials in the potential cohorts to be considered for evacuation if space became available under LOTR, she said this was misleading.

Afghan interpreter's family 'likely to be killed' as a result of Pen Farthing animal evacuation, Tory MP says

She told the committee: From what I heard and saw, Nowzad staff were included as a late addition only in response to this PM decision. This occurred against the previous judgment of officials.

Ms Stewart added: I do not find it credible that Philip Barton, or those who drafted his letter dated January 17 2022, would not have been aware of this.

In her written evidence, released on Monday, Ms Stewart also dismissed government claims that civil servants often portrayed decisions as coming from the PM if they did not.

Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith had claimed in the Lords that: Its not uncommon in Whitehall (...) for decisions to be interpreted or portrayed as coming directly from one department or another or even the prime minister, even when that isnt the case.

She said: I have never in my career seen any such thing. Governance would fall apart entirely if this were the case.

Continued here:
Boris Johnson gave order to evacuate Pen Farthing animals from Afghanistan, says new whistleblower - The Independent

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan said urged for lifting international sanctions to avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan adding a stable government to be the only way for stopping terrorism in the country.

Speaking at OICs 48th session in Islamabad on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Imran Khan insisted that stability in Afghanistan was extremely important after four decades of conflict in the war-ravaged country.

A word of caution, please do not push the proud and independent-minded people of Afghanistan. Let us help them and involve in the international community. The Pakistani premier said.

Further, Imran Khan touched upon the issues of Palestine and Kashmir saying the International Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) failed to make an impact on Palestinians and Kashmiris in spite of the fact that the organization is the massive voice of 1.5 billion people across the world.

He added the International Community had pledged with people in Kashmir to let them decide their fate adding altering the demography of people by turning majority Kashmiri Muslims into minorities was a war crime under Geneva Convention.

On Ukraine, the PM said he would hold a discussion with the Chinese Foreign Minister and OIC on how to step in to mediate towards a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The session that is attended by 57 members of OIC will also continue tomorrow, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Originally posted here:
Imran Khan: Stable government only way to stop terrorism in Afghanistan - The Khaama Press News Agency

By PTI

MUMBAI: Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan says he is never bothered about conditions, never puts on himself the pressure of performance and just focuses on his own preparations and skill-set while competing.

Khan, one of the most successful cricketers that Afghanistan has produced, will ply his trade for new-entrants Gujarat Titans in this IPL beginning on Saturday, having played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous editions.

The upcoming edition will be played largely in Mumbai, where the conditions would suit spinners, but Khan said he does not think on those lines. "Actually, I have played a lot in Dubai. As spinners, Mumbai will offer you turn and bounce and you need that. I never think about conditions a lot, but the important thing is your preparation and I always focus on that," Khan said in a virtual interaction with media on Tuesday.

"My mindset is never that everything depends on me and I have to win matches for my team. When you start thinking about all these, your game gets affected. I like to keep it simple and I just want to give my 100 per cent effort in every match. The results are not in my control but I can always control the effort and process. I have never taken extra pressure," the leg-spinner added.

A lot changed in his home country after Taliban took over to rule the strife-torn Asian nation and Khan said it posed a different challenge for Afghan people and the cricketers.

"Well, yeah, definitely, different challenges at different stages. It all makes you eventually stronger and it gives you so many things to learn. It is kind of a motivation for me to do good for my country. Lot of things have changed, but I should not change my mind and game," he said.

"The IPL is a big stage so you have to be mentally strong. I will try to share my experiences with players in the team and I will try my best to impart the knowledge I have gained after playing in this tournament for four-five years," he added.

Khan smartly avoided the question when asked which IPL team is his favourite but did admit that playing under legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni is something he dreamt of. "I am currently playing for Gujarat Titans so this is my dream team. I will strive to do my best, it is a huge honour for me to play with Gujarat Titans and playing under Hardik Pandya, will be a different experience. Every player has their dream of playing of under MS Dhoni, but right now I am playing for Gujarat Titans, so it is a huge honour for me," he said.

Khan said it will be not be possible for him to talk about the spinners in his side since he has not started doing practice with them since he was still in quarantine. He also asserted that change of team does not affect his own game.

"Cricket is same, just the team has changed. I don't think about it much. I just try to adjust. I have played with Vijay Shankar, Saha in this team. I will play with same mindset and confidence. I focus on my skills. We (He and captain Hardik Pandya) are good friends. I am looking forward to play with him. It will be interesting. I will start practicing with him to read his mind. I am so excited," he said.

Read more from the original source:
Conditions never bother me, I focus on my skill-set: Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan - The New Indian Express