Expect the immediate danger to be regional — in South and Central Asia — as geography and capability limit the initial damage. In April, a car bomb exploded at a luxury hotel hosting Beijing’s ambassador in Quetta, not far from Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan. There’s the possibility that the major powers — the U.S., Russia and China — might step in and convince their allies and friends to end hostilities. The threat posed by terror groups operating in and around Syria, as well as the use and proliferation of chemical weapons, remains a real concern. For Afghanistan, the next worry would be that foreign fighters again start pouring in from around the world.

Source: Mint August 14, 2021 08:12 UTC