Military

SOUTH ASIA

BANGLADESH: "Peace Is A Must Between Iran, Afghanistan And Pakistan"

The independent Bangladesh Observer commented (9/18): "Ayatollah Khamenei's...hand is outstretched. It should be grasped with no reservation...by both Pakistan and the Taliban. Khamenei deserves thanks because his perspective is wider and nobler: a war would only make their ill-wishers rejoice.... Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan...constitute the Islamic triangle in the region. Pakistan must never fail to see it, and must join hands with Iran to keep it solidly intact. Besides, Pakistan would be committing a suicidal mistake by not stopping the Taliban from going over the top. If Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have a war to fight, it may not be...between them.... Perhaps, [instead] it may be one with a common adversary."

"Let This Destructive War Preparations Stop"

Anti-West Inqilab held (9/18), "The Iranian move for revenge for the killings of their

diplomats is merely a pretext. The Iranians have been opposing the Talibans from the very outset. They cannot tolerate a Sunni-dominated Afghanistan. Even Russia, Israel, the United States and India cannot tolerate the Talibans. They all oppose the establishment of a strong Islamic state. Now the Iranians cannot tolerate the Talibans. This is the character of the Shiites. Iran's former foes have become its allies in order to stop a Sunni revolution. The Iranians find a link of the Aryan blood with the Indian Brahmins but they do not find any ties with the Kashmiri Muslims. So when Kashmiri youths are killed and women raped, Iran sides with the Indians. If a war breaks out between Iran and Afghanistan, it will destroy the Islamic ummah. It will only benefit Jewish Israel, atheist Russia, Christian America and Hindu India."

"Tense Afghan Border"

The centrist Independent warned (9/17): "The only positive factor is that both sides seem to be aware of the chilling consequences of an armed conflict. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has stated that once a fire has been lit in the region, it will be hard to extinguish. Taliban's call for negotiations with Iran is a welcome development. The crisis should be defused immediately before it is too late. The international community, including the UN and OIC, should act to prevent a conflagration, and initiate diplomatic talks."

INDIA: "Taliban Pinches Iran"

An editorial in Hyderabad-based right-of-center Newstime held (9/22), "The Pakistani government, which has its hands full with other problems, is struggling over ways to deal with the Frankenstein of Taliban which it had itself created even as public support for the militia is increasing and is beginning to match the Iranian anger against it. As if the situation was not complicated enough, many observers are sensing an opportunity for India to gain military and political advantages with a weakened Taliban in terms of lessened terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir..... Over the past two decades Iran has modernized itself dramatically, and though it retains all the trappings of an Islamic state, it is well on the way to regaining respectability in a diplomatic world dominated by America. A significant milestone in that progress was the summit of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) which Tehran hosted last year.... Iran will have to weigh the consequences of an all-out war. There is no evidence that even a 'surgical strike' will seriously weaken the Taliban and the Iranian military will certainly view with trepidation the prospect of a prolonged battle in the difficult Afghan terrain. After all, Russian troops had met their waterloo in Afghanistan. As for India, it may be wishful thinking to imagine that we can capitalize on the situation, though the temptation to see a weakened Taliban must be great for strategists."

"The Taliban Puzzle"

K. Subrahmanyam wrote in the leading financial Economic Times (9/21): "The rapid rise to power of Taliban in Afghanistan and the lack of concern and response by the United States to the emergence of extremism in the region are puzzling leaders of Asian nations, particularly those in Iran. They appear to be coming round to the view that the Taliban is strongly supported by Pakistan with the full blessing of the United States.... In spite of Taliban's extremism, the United States may be attempting to do business with them.... The Taliban-Iran tension is in danger of assuming religious sectarian overtones. Iran has accused Taliban of massacre of Shiahs.... A Taliban-Iran war will become a Sunni-Shiah conflict destabilizing the entire region from India to the Mediterranean."

"The Great Game"

An analysis in the independent Statesman by contributer Sayeed Hasan Khan read (9/18), "When President Najibullah was still ruling Afghanistan, he told a Pakistani politician visiting Kabul that Pakistan was backing fundamentalist groups against his government...if they succeeded in demolishing his regime, the debris was sure to fall on Pakistan. The prediction has come true with a vengeance. The modern version of the colonial Great Game is threatening to consume its major participants....

"American politics in the Middle East had alienated the Muslim intelligentsia, and the U.S. conflict with Iran was influencing the war in Afghanistan. At the same time, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. no longer needed the political support of fundamentalist forces and had ceased to fund its old allies.... The Mujahideen, who were trained by the CIA with Saudi and Pakistani support, have become a source of trouble to their own governments. Along with other Islamic groups, they are the biggest anti-American force in the Muslim world. Bin Laden was an ally of the Americans in the eighties. Today he is their biggest enemy. The irony is that these fundamentalists were trained and financed by those who are now determined to destroy them. Debris from Afghanistan is not only falling on Pakistan but on American interests as well."

PAKISTAN: "Nawaz-Khatami Meeting--A Good Beginning"

An op-ed column by Irshad Haqqani in leading, mass-circulation, Urdu-language Jang held (9/23): "This meeting could be a beginning for resolving the problems, provided all four parties adopt a realistic approach. The four parties are Taliban, their domestic rivals, Pakistan and Iran. Iran and Pakistan's concern for their own economic interests in Central Asia is understandable, but the race for securing their interest should not snowball into confrontation. Similarly, Taliban should shun the idea of ruling Afghanistan in peace without sharing the power with their Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara opponents."

"Masters At Mess-Up"

Comment by Brigadier (Ret.) S.A.I. Tirmazi in Islamabad's, anti-U.S. Muslim emphasized (9/23): "Taliban of Afghanistan and the armed forces of Iran are staring at each other across the border. Both the parties are in an angry mood. We are bound to get into the cross fire.... It must also be kept in mind that Afghan warlords Ahmed Shah Masood, Rabbani and Hikmat Yar may be down at the moment, but they are certainly not out. They could and surely would spring back to claim their share. The Afghan feud is far from over. Even the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Karl Inderfurth, has called for a broad-based government in Afghanistan. Let's keep our options open and not put our total weight behind the Taliban.... The government would be well advised to avoid making mess of things under the heavy mandate burden."

"Tangled In The American Web"

An op-ed column by Abid Ullah Jan in the Peshawar-based independent Frontier Post remarked (9/22): "Pakistan helped the U.S. create the Taliban, who are enemies of the U.S. enemy--Iran; consequently we, the friends of the Taliban and the U.S., became the enemy of Iran. After perfectly fulfilling the U.S. objectives, the Foreign Office and other government officials are trying to assure Iran of Pakistan's neutrality. It is an open secret throughout the world that the U.S., Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been supporting the Taliban in their war for control of Afghanistan for some time. The point most of us find difficult to understand is why the U.S. would support such a group, or why Pakistan would put friendship with Iran at stake for no reason at all. The answer to this part of the question has nothing to do with religion or ethnicity - only with the economics of oil and antipathy towards Iran on the one hand and a zeal to serve Washington on the other."

"Warnings From Iran"

The center-right Nation observed (9/18): "An Iranian television broadcast...reported 'Iran warned Pakistan Thursday that diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis in Afghanistan had failed.' The story claims that Iran's Foreign Minster Kamal Kharazi told his Pakistani counterpart that 'there is an immense popular pressure on the Iranian administration to use the military option against the Taliban crimes.'"

EUROPE

KAZAKHSTAN: "We'll Struggle To The End"

Independent weekly Delovaya Nedelya commented (9/18): "It is necessary to clear up the role of Iran in this game. First of all, [Iran wants] to demonstrate to the whole world, but mainly to the Islamic world and to the West, that it is [willing to sacrifice] to achieve its aims and to uphold its interests. Also [it doesn't want] to lose this moment to present itself as the suffering party and to show the Taliban as a movement alien to Islam."

RUSSIA: "U.S. Errs By Ignoring Iran"

Yury Glukhov wrote in neo-communist daily Pravda (9/18): "Acting through Pakistan and the Talibs it controls, the Americans hoped to bring order into Afghanistan, prompted by concern for their own interests, rather than for the people of that war-torn country. They want peace in Afghanistan to carry out mammoth oil and gas pipeline projects. But pursuing their commercial and strategic aims, the Americans ignore Iran. That is too careless--you can't disregard a country with a half million-strong army and a population of nearly 70 million."

"The Iranian Card Is Becoming The Trump One"

Yuri Glukhov noted in neocommunist Pravda (9/19): "The commercial and strategic plans of the United States in Afghanistan...have been drawn up with disregard for Iran. In Tehran, for instance, they believe...that of all the possible routes for transporting oil and gas from Turkmenistan or the Caspian Sea basin, the Iranian route is the cheapest, shortest and safest. But Washington stubbornly ignores this because of its policy of keeping Iran in international political and economic isolation. Now Iran is demonstrating how rashly the Americans have behaved.... Even if the Taliban ensure complete order on the territory of Afghanistan, the safety of a pipeline passing along the Iranian-Afghan border can be guaranteed only on condition of good relations with Iran..... The Iranian regional card, that Washington has so stubbornly ignored, is...becoming a trump card."

BRITAIN: "Clerics At War"

According to an editorial in the conservative Times (9/17): "Iran's anger is fully justified. But to the hardliners in the feuding Iranian government, the incident is a godsend. Ali Khamenei, the supreme spiritual leader, is fighting a rear-guard action to quash the stirrings of liberalism in the press, the business community and the body politic.... President Khatami is in danger of being outmaneuvered. Now he must appear as patriotic as the fundamentalists. The West, too, is in a dilemma. Taliban's main backers are Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, both American allies. Some may hope that, as in the long Iran-Iraq conflict, a debilitating conflict could destroy both regimes. But it did not happen a decade ago; nor would warfare help moderation now."

"Iran's Foot In The Afghan Wars"

The independent weekly Economist commented (9/18): "Ideally, Iran, as Afghanistan's powerful Shia neighbor, and the United States, as a one-time direct patron of the Taliban, should be working together to prevail on the Taliban and their backers in Pakistan, to show restraint. Instead, Iran accuses America of sponsoring the recent genocide while making itself ready for a unilateral military strike against the Taliban. America, for its part, has not yet fought free of an antipathy to Iran that makes any foe of the Islamic Republic America's friend. But if Iran felt less threatened by America, the danger of an expanded war would be lessened.... The next stage needs America to make clear that it understands Iran's concerns, and is prepared to use its influence accordingly."

GERMANY: "Continuing Disaster In Afghanistan"

Thomas Avenarius noted in a commentary in centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung of Munich (9/17): "In this mixture of political, religious and ethnic troubles, the ominous role of the United States in the region is surfacing. At the beginning of the conflict in Afghanistan, the United States backed Pakistan's sponsorship of the Taliban.... But the United States did not take into consideration that the Taliban were stone age warriors...who would offer all Muslim terrorists a hideout.... As of today, the future role of the United States in the region is...unclear. Does Washington still support the Taliban, and does it still back Pakistan? Or does the United States prefer closer cooperation with the reformers in Iran?... In the best scenario, Iran could follow the U.S. example and drop a few bombs on a Taliban base, while in a worst-case scenario, the Iranians will march in. But an invasion will put Pakistan's nuclear capability into play. Faced with such a situation, the U.S. superpower has no policy at all."

"Islamic Powder Keg"

Evangelos Antonaros had this to say in right-of-center Die Welt of Berlin (9/17): "The conflict between Iran and Afghanistan's Taliban militia group is a powder keg that must be prevented from exploding, since the implications could be devastating not only for the two opponents...but also for the whole Islamic-Arab world. This is why crisis prevention is urgently needed. The international community has recognized the danger of the conflict too late...for the Mullah regime is only ostensibly dealing with the radical Islamic Taliban. The real enemy is Pakistan. This conflict is several decades old and stems from the time when the Shah governed in Tehran. Since then, the two emerging powers have been trying to get control over the poor house known as Afghanistan.... The rivalries between the Sunnis and the Shiites have often been woefully ignored by the rest of the world. This is why a bilateral conflict could soon turn into an all-encompassing intra-Islamic religious war."

FRANCE: "Kabul And Tehran, A Step Away From War"

Right-of-center Les Echos noted (9/23): "By stating that 'the search for a diplomatic solution' to the crisis between Tehran and Kabul was a priority, Iran has implicitly acknowledged that the two countries are a step away from war.... The international community has every reason to fear a clash that would set off a chain reaction in the Arab world.... While it has decided to send an international emissary, Kabul and Tehran continue to brandish their political weapons."

"Iran And Afghanistan--Religious And Moral Rivals"

Jean-Claude Arbona in regional La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest observed (9/17): "Because the Muslim world almost unanimously rejects the 'Western Satan,' it gives the wrong impression of a united world. The tension between Iran and Afghanistan proves how wrong this is. In Iran today, after the extremes of the first years of the revolution, the system is becoming less orthodox. In Afghanistan on the contrary, the Taliban soldier-priests have just begun to impose their regime.... Today's moderate Iran does not easily accept the presence on its doorstep of a social, religious and moral rival."

ITALY: "To Forget Khomeini"

Paolo Garimberti in left-leaning, influential La Repubblica referenced Iranian President Khatami's announcement that the Salman Rushdie case should be considered "closed" (9/23): "The UNGA offered an extraordinary audience to continue the timid dialogue (between the United States and Iran).... Even though there has not been--at least so far--the expected meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi and Secretary Albright...Khatami's announcement had the effect of a diplomatic bomb. Among other things, the announcement came at a time when Iran is facing a crisis with Afghanistan which can turn into an armed conflict any minute. Never before has Iran needed to rebuild its own international image like today, and the United States does not mind it at all.... And the Europeans are even happier, given the fact that they see Iran as a huge source of business."

BELGIUM: "Iran-Afghanistan: Welcome Diplomacy"

Gerald Papy noted in conservative Catholic La Libre Belgique (9/18): "Except if there is a withdrawal, the two concerned parties will open negotiations, under the auspices of the UN, with the support of the United States and Russia, and in the presence of representatives of Afghanistan's neighboring countries, China, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting on Monday will also see Americans and Russians defend interests, at first sight, divergent.... Finally...it is urgent...to prevent a blow-up whose repercussions regionally would affect the fragile balance of a zone that goes from Saudi Arabia...to Pakistan, even India."

CANADA: "One More War?"

French-language centrist daily La Presse wrote (9/21): "The escalation has started when eight Iranian diplomats and one journalist were killed during the takeover of Mazar-i-Sharif by the Talibans. Iran has felt threatened by this movement supported by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and by the tacit support of the United States.... A war between the two countries could only make things worse.... This war would have all the cruelty of religious wars and would tend to bring Iran back to the level of Afghanistan, instead of introducing a semblance of civil society to Afghanistan.... If we ignore such conflicts when they are still somehow inoffensive, we should not be surprised if, one day, we are forced to intervene because there is a war which is producing hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees. The UN was created precisely to intervene when the threat of war is taking place, and not to deplore massacres when they have already taken place."

TURKEY: "Critical Days In Central Asia"

Izzet Sedes wrote in sensationalist Aksam (9/17): "The Iranian army has been put on alert at the Afghan border, and Iran is likely to launch a military strike at any time. This means a war in Central Asia.... It seems the old arrangements and balances are no longer valid in Central Asia. The United States, which used to support Taliban, has withdrawn its support because of the Osama bin Laden-organized bombings against American embassies. A natural gas pipeline route from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and Afghanistan was one of the considerations behind U.S. support for Taliban. Since that support is no longer in question, this may be a sign of the restoration of U.S.-Iran relations."

MIDDLE EAST

QATAR: "Pakistan Must Prove Its Neutrality"

Semi-independent Al-Watan urged (9/20): "Islamabad must prove its neutrality...by exerting serious pressure on the Taliban to hand over the murderers to the Iranian authorities.... Pakistan has the necessary tools to do so, as the Taliban movement grew under the wing of the Pakistani military-intelligence service. The movement still depends on Pakistani supplies for its existence and, in fact, Pakistani forces actively take part in Taliban's military escapades."

TUNISIA: "A Forthcoming War"

An editorial by Abdellatif Fourati in independent As-Sabah held (9/17): "Iran's anger over the fate of the ten Iranian officials who were killed by the Taliban may result in a war with Afghanistan.... Today, Tehran seems to be the victim of the Afghan extremists of Taliban.... Despite the Security Council and all the international laws, the world is still not governed by international rules that prevent what is happening in Iran."

WEST BANK: "Devils Of The American Era"

Fuad Abu Hijleh wrote in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (9/20): "We can smell the scent of an Iran-Afghan war before it takes place. We hope the Arab countries will not get involved in such a stupid war. We also smell the scent of another plot being executed...against Syria. We know that Washington is inducing the pitiful sultans in Ankara to practice political and security harassment against Damascus. If this American scenario were to take place, the whole area would be under the mercy of Israel, especially after ravishing Iraq's might and exhausting Syria and Iran with a devastating war waged by the United States through their agents in Kabul and Ankara."

EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC

CHINA: "Meeting Set To Defuse Iran-Afghan Tension"

Official, English-Language China Daily featured this Xinhua piece (9/22): "If common sense prevails, the eight powers who met in New York should agree on a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and endeavor to pave the way for a new all-party peace dialogue in the war-torn country.... Particularly, one hopes that the leaders of Pakistan and Iran, the two most important players in the Afghan peace process, will reach some understanding on how the Afghan crisis is to be handled."

AUSTRALIA: "War Would Put World's Power Balance At Risk"

The liberal Melbourne Age opined (9/18): "For many people in Western countries, the rapid escalation of tension between Iran and Afghanistan is likely to be as puzzling as it is disturbing.... And involvement by Pakistan...would complicate further the Clinton administration's strained relations with the Islamic world. It is a diplomatic mess.... Although the risk of war is great, the crisis presents both a lesson and an opportunity for the West. The lesson, which too many in the West have not heeded in the past, is that Islam is not a monolith. The opportunity is for forging a new relationship with Iran."

INDONESIA: "First Contact Between U.S. And Iran"

Independent Suara Pembaruan opined (9/20): "In light of U.S. [political] will and several moderate overtures by President Khatami, we see positive signs for increasing regional stability and decreasing tensions.... However, we believe the [widely held] view that the United States backs Khatami factions and supporters remains a complication. This U.S. stance may prompt a challenge from spiritual leader Ali Khamenei's hardline faction.... Domestic political conditions in his own country will impede Khatami's moderate conciliatory position. We also note Iran's posture against the United States regarding Afghanistan due to the Iranian perception that the United States backs the Taliban.... Despite the gulf that still exists between the two countries, we think the upcoming eight-country meeting in New York bodes well for the United States and Iran. This meeting provides a new beginning for two countries that have been enemies for the last two decades."

"Tensions On Border Not Expected To Escalate"

Leading independent Kompas commented (9/17): "Apparently, international cooperation is expected to find a solution to the Iran-Afghanistan crisis.... The U.S. government stated it will help ease tensions through the Two-Plus-Six informal group, consisting of the United States, Russia, and six of Afghanistan's neighbors: Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It is hoped that these eight countries will not exacerbate the Afghan situation by supplying or assisting the conflicting parties in Afghanistan."

LATIN AMERICA

ARGENTINA: "Iran Fears Trap In Afghan Labyrinth"

Juan Cierco, on special assignment in Jerusalem for pro-government La Prensa, commented (9/18), "The (Iranian) people want revenge. So also do the most traditional Iranian newspapers. The Iranian military is ready for war.... Everything seems to indicate that the armed confrontation with the Taliban is around the corner. But, at least for now...the door to negotiations is still open. The threats launched by Iran's authorities are still only threats.... However, those who encouraged...the Iranian people to fight with the Taliban...are aware that a military intervention in Afghanistan is not feasible until all the possibilities for a political and diplomatic solution of the crisis have been extinguished. The Tehran government remembers the suffering of the old Soviet Union when it invaded Afghanistan in 1979.... Iran does not want to repeat such negative experiences and it may not allow itself to get trapped in the poisoned Afghan swarm of wasps. On September 21 Iran's President Mohammed Khatami is scheduled to give a speech in New York during the UN General Assembly. Any war initiative before then would end his goal of opening [Iran] to the world and the welcome of his election overseas.... Any attack after that would destroy his approach to the West, and Iran may not do without it, above all because of economic interests.... Iran's bet on peace negotiations has borne its first fruits. The UN Security Council energetically condemned the murder of Iranian diplomats and Pakistan, accused by Tehran for supporting the Taliban, offered to mediate in order to avoid war."

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9/23/98

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