ASIA PAKISTAN This is a few days old, but the University of Sydney's Hussain Nadim suggests that America's ability to really sway Pakistani behavior vis-a-vis its support for Afghanistan's Haqqani Network is fairly limited: For coercion to work, it has to be credible and the United States needs to have the capacity to deliver sufficient punishment. … Continue reading Asia/Australia/Africa update: July 3 2017

SYRIA The Syrian army on Monday declared a ceasefire in the country's three southernmost provinces--Daraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda--through July 6. The ceasefire is intended to support the next round of peace talks in Kazakhstan, which are scheduled to begin next week but may be light on rebel participation on account of heavy recent government bombardments, … Continue reading Middle East update: July 3 2017

  EUROPE CYPRUS There was positive news from the Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland on Saturday: A "clear understanding" has been reached at talks between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders and their backers on what is needed to reach a comprehensive agreement to reunite the island, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday. Guterres, … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: July 1-2 2017

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Afghan politics look like they're about to get more chaotic: Leaders of Afghanistan’s three major ethnic minority political parties, all of whom hold senior positions in the government, announced from Turkey Saturday that they have formed a coalition to save Afghanistan from chaos, issued a list of demands for reforms by President Ashraf … Continue reading Asia/Australia/Africa update: July 1-2 2017

SYRIA At least eight people, in addition to the bombers, were killed in Damascus on Sunday in a multiple car bombing. Three cars attempted to get into the central part of the city, but two were stopped at checkpoints and deliberately detonated, so the attack certainly could have been worse. As such the Syrian government … Continue reading Middle East update: July 1-2 2017