The investment and security deal currently being negotiated between Beijing and Tehran has provoked fears in the Indian media that China is trying to drive India out of Iran. But, in this essay for The National Interest, I argue that India’s Iranian investments are failing due to US sanctions, not Chinese expansionism.
Afghanistan
What do US-Iran Talks Mean for Afghanistran?
The US and Iran have been holding quiet talks. That is good news for Afghanistan, I explain here.
Taliban Bounties in Afghanistan
My latest piece, available here, looks at allegations that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to target US and coalition forces.
COVID-19 in Afghanistan
My new essay for the Royal Society of Asian Affairs considers the impact of coronavirus on Afghanistan.
Will Iran Sabotage Afghan Peace Talks? Don’t Bet On It
It has been suggested that Iran might sabotage the Afghan peace process in retaliation for the Soleimani killing. But this is unlikely, I argue here.
Interview with Sherry Rehman on Kashmir, Terrorism, and US-Pakistan Relations
I recently had the opportunity to interview Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, on the sidelines of a recent conference on Kashmir in Ankara. Read the article here.
Afghanistan’s Risky Elections
Afghanistan’s recent presidential election could do more harm than good by producing a disputed result at a time of growing instability in the country, I argue here.
The Taliban Go Global
I have another piece out today, on the transformation of the Afghan Taliban from an isolated, parochial group into an increasingly global movement.
The Risk of a Saudi-Iran Proxy War in Afghanistan
My latest assesses the risk of a Saudi-Iran proxy war in Afghanistan.
China and the Afghan Taliban
My latest looks at the surprisingly close relationship between China and the Afghan Taliban.
