In 58 posts with close to 100k words, we shared a lot in 2024! Explore 2024’s biggest geopolitical shifts, cultural battles, and bold insights with Drishtikone’s year in review. See you in 2025! Happy New Year! Be safe!
When you see Russia get into existential war over Ukraine, or Israel bomb Syria or India battle with Pakistan or Bangladesh, it is not because of some whim. It has a historical and geographical context. That is critical to understand for analyzing geopolitics.
The Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan suggested in his interactions with Pakistani media recently that an interim government should be installed in Afghanistan to help smooth the talks process. This did not go well with Afghanistan. And their foreign ministry summoned the deputy ambassador of Pakistan to protest over those remarks. Additionally, Afghanistan recalled their ambassador to Pakistan back!
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its grave objection on Pakistani PM’s recent reckless statements about the peace process and establishment of an interim government, deemed such statements an obvious example of Pakistan’s interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan,” it said, also recalling Afghanistan’s ambassador from Islamabad for further discussions on the matter. (source)
Now, this diplomatic mess that Imran Khan initiated has spiraled to a whole new level! The US Ambassador to Afghanistan tweeted a sharp rebuke of Imran Khan, where he tried to both, support Afghanistan and reprimand Khan for his rather ill-thought out comments. And, Ambassador Bass used a cricket analogy as well as Pakistan’s known habit of ball-tampering in cricket to hit the point home!
This outraged Pakistan’s “Human Rights” Minister (wonder what such a minister does in Pakistan anyways with forced conversions and Jehadis ruling the roost?!) and she called the US Ambassador – a “Little Pygmy”. Although her grasp of English language left some “void” in her “little hit” against the US Ambassador.
Then Asad Omar tweeted with his outrage.
With a battle of sorts erupting amongst the twitterati, the Pakistanis went all apologist and started flashing the victim card, as the “Human Rights” Minister doubled down on the push back to her rather undiplomatic name-calling and now has called him a moron!
Well, if you thought Modi was isolating Pakistan from the world stage, you may now adjust your analysis. Even Imran Khan and his cabinet is isolating Pakistan from the world now!
Throughout my life, I have never ever seen such language against a diplomat by any government functionary. Even one with an imaginary ministry!
America's Justice Department and SEC have targeted India's Adani Group with a bribery case. Using Nationalistic sentiment doesn't help. Yes, law has been weaponized and India's sovereignty compromised but not how they think. A definitive guide to understanding the case.
There was a clear warning from Putin on provision of long range missiles that could hit deep into Russia to Ukraine. It would be consider as a direct attack by NATO on Russia. Biden has done just that!
The premise and the mindset apparent in the new Trump team points to an interesting world out there. Things will not be rosy, but they will be very different. Very, very different.
The US, and indeed the world has seen a watershed event of Donald Trump's victory. It will change the US direction and may have pushed a World War by at least 3-4 years.
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