While the third anniversary of the World Trade Centre bombing that took more than three thousand lives was remembered, the number of American occupation forces killed in Iraq has reached four digits. Last three years have proved that war on terrorism unleashed by the US President George W. Bush had brought no peace to Afghanistan or Iraq. In spite of the losses in Iraq, the occupation forces continue their bombardment on Iraqi cities.
In Kabul last week a bomb blast killed three Americans, number of other foreign employees and Afghans of a company that provides security to President Hamid Karzai. This attack on an unusually well-guarded building manned by security experts, was a shock to NATO-led forces in Kabul.
According to reports, there could be more such attacks before October 9 Presidential Elections in that country. These assaults were apparently part of a new Taliban plan to target the occupation forces. Taliban has intensified its operations against Americans and their Afghan collaborators. It also faces the attacks of Pakistani forces that are out to eliminate its cadres.
Pakistan, while engaging in operations against Taliban and al-Queda, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri held three day-talks with his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh. Both of them have reiterated their commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and their determination to implement the Simla Agreement in letter and spirit. They reiterated the confidence that the Composite Dialogue will lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both countries.
But the meetings of Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik with Pakistan Foreign Minister Kasuri at the side-lines of Indo-Pak talks are considered promoting better Hurriyat-New Delhi relations, as these meetings have been pre-arranged with the knowledge of Indian government.
However, Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh queried why Kasuri failed to meet the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is visiting India to seek the support in quelling the uprising of Maoists who want to overthrow the Monarch and establish democracy. According to analysts, India would give a responsible thought to the Nepali's request.
While Nepal's monarch is facing crucial time, Russian President Vladimir Putin's handling of hostage crisis in Beslan came under sharp criticism. Putin's unwillingness to recognise the implications of defying nationalism could spark more violence in Chechniya. He was making the same mistake that President George W. Bush and the US government made after September 11 attack. Observers view that in the political circumstances of today, nationalism and radical religion have to compete and overlap in Chechniya, as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Russian right-wingers also face a challenge from former East Germany. Party of Democratic Socialists, former East German Communists, pose a challenge to Chancellor Gerhard Schrder's Social Democrats at State elections. Leader of the Democratic Socialists Lother Bisky said his party had a place not only in German but also in the European Union politics. For the first time ever Socialists won seven seats in the European Parliament. The defeat of Social Democrats at the hands of Socialists would have its repercussions in Russia and other former East European countries.
Like Chancellor Schrder's, the popularity of British Prime Minister has started to decline. He had been compelled to reshuffle his cabinet this week as his Works and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith resigned. This has prompted a rift between Blair and his Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. Smith was considered as an ally of Brown, Blair's rival for power and authority within the governing Labour Party.
According to reports, Labour Party could suffer if Blair and Brown continue to lock in a power struggle, and Blair is expected to call a General Election in the first half of next year. The results of which could be a test for Blair's domestic and foreign policies.
(http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/09/12/fea04.html)
