Af/Pak & Other News (7/18/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Afghan gov't and Taliban to meet again after inconclusive talks

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210718-afghan-government-taliban-meet-again-talks-conflict-settlement



Taliban say they want Afghan deal, even as they battle on

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-2d3fb9cba927b17022fc437f2a02c220



Retired U.S. general: Afghanistan is disintegrating

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/18/petraeus-afghanistan-taliban-withdrawal-499986



Afghanistan: What happens if the Taliban takes over Kabul

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/afghanistan-what-happens-if-the-taliban-takes-over-kabul/articleshow/84492821.cms



Afghanistan Withdrawal: China Accuses Biden of “Shirking Responsibility”

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/afghanistan-withdrawal-china-accuses-biden-%E2%80%9Cshirking-responsibility%E2%80%9D-189844



Afghanistan Recalls Diplomats From Pakistan Over Kidnapping of Envoy's Daughter

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/afghanistan-recalls-diplomats-pakistan-over-kidnapping-envoys-daughter



Russia offered U.S. use of Central Asia bases for Afghan intel - paper

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-offered-us-use-central-asia-bases-afghan-intel-paper-2021-07-17/









India’s worries over Taliban in Afghanistan fuels talk of revived ‘Northern Alliance’ with Iran, Russia

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3141461/indians-worries-over-taliban-afghanistan-fuels-talk-revived



India: OFB Dies For Our Sins

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20210718.aspx



Why induction of American MH-60 Romeo choppers is good news for Indian Navy

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/07/why-induction-of-american-mh-60-romeo-choppers-is-good-news-for-indian-navy/



Defence ministry extends emergency powers to armed forces as India-China stand-off continues

https://theprint.in/defence/defence-ministry-extends-emergency-powers-to-armed-forces-as-india-china-stand-off-continues/698129/









Biden administration rips Iran over delay in prisoner exchange talks

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/563604-biden-administration-rips-iran-over-delay-in-prisoner-exchange-talks









Power struggle in Kurdish region of Iraq raises questions - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/power-struggle-in-kurdish-region-of-iraq-raises-questions-analysis-674152









Militia officials: US drone destroys militia truck in Syria

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-syria-dc4fbb044089bf1d2b20d627ec742785



China takes firm stand against regime change in Syria

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3141576/china-takes-firm-stand-against-regime-change-syria









Revealed: leak uncovers global abuse of cyber-surveillance weapon

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/revealed-leak-uncovers-global-abuse-of-cyber-surveillance-weapon-nso-group-pegasus









Russia’s Disturbing Actions on Innocent Passage in the Black Sea

https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/russias-disturbing-actions-on-innocent-passage-in-the-black-sea/



Russia's New Fighter Design Seen Uncovered For The First Time

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41596/russias-new-fighter-design-seen-uncovered-for-the-first-time



U.S. intelligence calls new Russian fighter jet a “Screamer”

https://defence-blog.com/us-intelligence-calls-new-russian-fighter-jet-a-screamer/



Spy Submarine: Russia's AS-31 Losharik

http://www.hisutton.com/Spy%20Sub%20-%20Project%2010831%20Losharik.html



Russian military aircraft help fight wildfires in Siberia

https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-fires-environment-and-nature-wildfires-0a09395eea259a2caa5a516d9fdd041e



Russia's mysterious campaign against Jehovah's Witnesses

https://abcnews.go.com/International/russias-mysterious-campaign-jehovahs-witnesses/story?id=78629389





What the Afghanistan Withdrawal Means for Georgia’s NATO Dreams

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/07/what-afghanistan-withdrawal-means-georgias-nato-dreams/183832/




In Orban’s Hungary, spyware was used to monitor journalists and others who might challenge the government

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/18/hungary-orban-spyware/




U.S. wants to build a new DARC site in U.K.

http://alert5.com/2021/07/18/u-s-wants-to-build-a-new-darc-site-in-u-k/









After unrest and arrests, Cuban government holds flag-waving rally as show of strength

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/17/after-unrest-arrests-cuban-government-holds-flag-waving-rally-show-strength/




'The government is losing ground' residents say as gangs take territory in Venezuela's capital

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/the-government-is-losing-ground-residents-say-gangs-take-territory-venezuelas-2021-07-18/









China builds new Great Wall as global sea conflict escalates

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/china-builds-new-great-wall-as-global-sea-conflict-escalates/news-story/e9ae8464c2e4712a79003b87b71eb647





For North Korean workers, Russia’s Far East remains a windfall for them and for Kim’s regime

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/north-korean-workers-russia-sanctions/2021/07/18/5d1f5d82-e3eb-11eb-88c5-4fd6382c47cb_story.html





South Korea to bring home sailors aboard virus-hit destroyer

https://apnews.com/article/africa-health-coronavirus-pandemic-south-korea-41ca9b46331d5088e1a06a517e09db54





Australia: US Army Launches Patriot Missiles During Talisman Saber 21

https://www.army.mil/article/248526/us_army_launches_patriot_missiles_during_talisman_saber_21










Ex-Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen: 'Incredibly disturbing' that military leadership reportedly feared Trump coup

https://news.yahoo.com/mike-mullen-joint-chiefs-mark-milley-coup-trump-173956238.html



Navy helicopter crashes in California while searching for hiker, crew rescued after 20 hours in rugged terrain

https://www.foxnews.com/us/navy-helicopter-crashes-crew-california-mountain



MDA, SDA satellite efforts look to mature RF, optical broadband capabilities

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/mda-sda-satellite-efforts-look-to-mature-rf-optical-broadband-capabilities



The rifle setup Force Recon Marines carry into the fight

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-rifle-setup-force-recon-marines-carry-into-the-fight/



The Marine Corps Just Beat the Air Force and Navy in the Latest Jet Capability Race

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/07/16/marine-corps-just-beat-air-force-and-navy-latest-jet-capability-race.html



Why the U.S. Navy Is in Dire Straits

https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-navy-dire-straits-reform-readiness-11626460473