Latest News
Ex-Nato head says Putin wanted to join alliance early on in his rule
Vladimir Putin wanted Russia to join NATO but did not want his country to have to go through the usual application process and stand in line “with a lot of countries that don’t matter”, the former NATO chief, George Robertson said this week.
Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary who led Nato between 1999 and 2004, said Putin made it clear at their first meeting that he wanted Russia to be part of western Europe, the UK’s Guardian reported.
“They wanted to be part of that secure, stable, prosperous west that Russia was out of at the time,” he said.
Robertson recalled an early meeting with Putin, who became Russian president in 2000. “Putin said: ‘When are you going to invite us to join NATO?’ And [Robertson] said: ‘Well, we don’t invite people to join NATO, they apply to join NATO.’ And he said: ‘Well, we’re not standing in line with a lot of countries that don’t matter’.”
Robertson’s comments underscore how Putin’s worldview has evolved during his 21 years of unbroken rule of Russia, the Guardian reported.
Robertson also recalled how he became the first and only NATO secretary general to invoke NATO’s collective defence clause, known as article five, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
After the 9/11 attacks, many NATO allies joined the US in invading Afghanistan, with NATO taking over the mission command in 2003.
Robertson was however critical of the US’s chaotic withdrawal two months ago, but contended that the 20-year long mission of western military forces made a difference, despite the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Seven Afghan migrants have been killed after a vehicle carrying Afghan migrants collided with a fuel-carrying vehicle in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province.
According to the human rights organization HalVash, the accident occurred on Friday in the Sarbaz area of Sistan and Baluchestan.
Siyavash Mohbi, the head of Iran’s traffic police in Sistan and Baluchestan, said the Afghan nationals had entered Iran illegally.
He added that nine other people were injured in the incident.
Mohbi attributed the accident to the negligence of the driver of the vehicle carrying the migrants.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has announced that its Contact Group on Afghanistan will meet on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
OIC Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed is leading a high-level delegation from the organization’s General Secretariat to participate in the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week and hold bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from member states as well as senior UN and international officials.
The OIC will also convene its Annual Coordination Meeting of Member States’ Foreign Ministers at UN Headquarters.
According to the organization, several ministerial contact groups and specialized committees will meet on the sidelines of the General Assembly. These include groups focusing on Palestine, Muslim communities and minorities, regional issues in Europe, Jammu and Kashmir, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
The OIC did not provide a specific date for the Afghanistan Contact Group meeting.
Ahmad Jan Bilal, General Director of State-Owned Corporations, met with Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad during a visit to Iran to discuss expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
Bilal, accompanied by Mohammad Nasir Rahimi, chief executive of the Afghan state-owned Oil and Gas Corporation, held talks with the Iranian minister on supplying Afghanistan with its oil and gas needs, technical and vocational training, and joint cooperation in oil and gas exploration.
Bilal and his delegation also visited the Iranian Oil Ministry’s research center and oil refineries in Tehran, where they reviewed the facilities’ technical and professional activities and capabilities.
The Iranian side expressed readiness for comprehensive cooperation, necessary coordination and implementation of joint projects in the areas discussed.
At the end of the meeting, both sides introduced joint technical teams tasked with coordinating and following up on the necessary measures to implement the agreed areas of cooperation.
World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine
Asian Games open in Japan as Afghanistan sends 34 athletes
Seven Afghan migrants killed in traffic accident in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan
OIC to hold Afghanistan Contact Group meeting on sidelines of UN General Assembly
Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport; Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital
Four mediators struggle to secure lasting Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire
Syria and Saudi Arabia condemn Kabul bombing, express solidarity with Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s trade diversification challenges Pakistan
Saudi energy group signs major Afghanistan deals covering gas exploration and pipeline plans
ATN secures exclusive rights to broadcast T20I series in India across Afghanistan
Tahawol: Kabul’s warning over any threat from Pakistan discussed
Debate on Afghanistan and New Investment Opportunities
Tahawol: Reasons behind Qatari, Turkish security officials’ Kabul visit discussed
Saar: Outcome of UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan discussed
Tahawol: Afghanistan’s readiness for US relations discussed
-
Latest News4 days agoUN warns of mounting humanitarian and human rights pressures in Afghanistan
-
Regional4 days agoSaudi Arabia calls alleged Mecca attack a ‘red line’ as Houthis deny involvement
-
Latest News4 days agoFive Years On: IEA touts economic growth despite international isolation
-
Sport4 days agoIndia take 2-0 lead in 3-match series against Afghanistan
-
Sport5 days agoNabi reaches 2,500 T20I runs
-
Latest News3 days agoFive years out of school: Amnesty raises alarm over Afghan girls’ education
-
Latest News3 days agoRussia urges dialogue and economic support for Afghanistan, warns against excessive pressure
-
Sport4 days agoACL: Ariana Khost win, Aino Mina and Khurasan Faryab draw