Resolution

Can the Taliban win a war against Pakistan? Retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika, US weapons left in Afghanistan 2026
On February 22, separate airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika and Nangarhar provinces killed and injured multiple people. Military sources in Pakistan claimed that seven hideouts of the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) or Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups were targeted across three provinces—Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost. However, after visiting the affected areas, Al Jazeera’s team confirmed civilian casualties. It is worth noting that Al Jazeera is an impartial news organization. Following the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, the Taliban government’s Ministry of Defense warned of retaliation, stating that they would respond “at the appropriate time in an appropriate manner.” But what could such a response look like? In a recent interview, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, “It will become clear then; no crime will go unanswered.” After the attacks in Nangarhar and Paktika, Afghan citizens have been seen in local media demanding that the Taliban government take action in “revenge.” The Taliban Government’s Military Strength and Weapons The Taliban government’s military equipment has largely been acquired from three sources: weapons and equipment from the former Afghan army, arms left behind after the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign forces, and newly obtained weapons from various sources such as the black market. According to experts, videos of past clashes between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani troops show that the Taliban primarily used light weapons against Pakistan, with very little evidence of heavy or long-range weaponry. During the 20-year war, reports from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and the country’s Ministry of Defense indicate that more than 1.6 million light and heavy weapons and pieces of military equipment were supplied to the former government. Approximately 70 percent over one million ultimately fell into Taliban hands. Currently, the Taliban government’s light weapons include Kalashnikovs, American M16s, M4s, and M249 light machine guns. They also possess heavy machine guns such as the M2 and M240, grenade launchers, RPG-7s, AT4 rocket launchers, and anti-tank missiles. According to U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) reports, the Taliban also have heavy armored vehicles, aircraft, and other heavy military equipment previously provided to the former Afghan army. Among these are 122mm howitzers known as D-30s. An estimated 100 to 120 of these guns remain in Afghanistan. Additionally, the Taliban possess approximately 155mm howitzers and various Russian weapons, such as the ZU-23(-2). In 2024, during a military parade at Bagram Air Base, the Taliban government displayed heavy weaponry, including Scud missiles R-17 and Elbrus R-300, with a range of about 300 kilometers. They also showcased Luna missiles (also known as “Frog-7”), Grad rocket launchers, Milan anti-tank missiles, Uragan rocket systems, and other weapons capable of striking targets up to approximately 35 kilometers away. These weapons have not been used in Afghanistan for at least three decades. Some were stored in Ministry of Defense warehouses, while others were kept in mountainous areas. Although the Taliban Ministry of Defense claims to have reactivated some of them, their technical condition and actual combat readiness remain unclear. One advantage Pakistan holds is its modern fighter jets and established air force, whereas the Taliban government does not possess comparable air power. Although the Taliban have repaired some helicopters inherited from the former Ministry of Defense and trained pilots, they cannot match the Pakistani Air Force. According to Pentagon reports, aircraft captured by the Taliban include C-280 planes, MD-530 helicopters, Black Hawks, A-29 aircraft, Mi-17 transport helicopters, Mi-24 attack helicopters, and MD-500 light attack helicopters. With these recent developments, the Taliban’s apparent willingness to engage in war with Pakistan seems beyond conventional calculation. Abdul Hadi Himmat, head of the Taliban government’s northeastern military court, speaking at a gathering in Kunduz on Tuesday (February 24), said, “If the Amir permits, we will spend the next night in Peshawar.” He insisted that if war breaks out, they will emerge victorious. A senior Taliban government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while they may lack long-range missiles or air power, “our war with Pakistan is at hand. We have ground routes where air power is not as necessary.” The official emphasized the guerrilla warfare experience Taliban fighters gained against U.S.-led NATO forces and earlier during the war against the Soviet Union. Echoing this sentiment, Syed Irfan Ashraf, a university professor and researcher in Peshawar, said that while Pakistan has a well-organized military and equipment, “there is significant fear of guerrilla warfare from the Taliban side.” He noted that militant groups are already active in Pakistan. If direct fighting begins, these groups could exploit the situation for their own benefit, making it difficult for the Pakistani military—already engaged on multiple fronts—to control the conflict. According to him, “suicide attacks are another factor that strengthens the Taliban and spreads fear.” His assumption is that Pakistan is aware of all these aspects and is not attempting to organize a large-scale direct war. Instead, such strikes are being used to pressure the Taliban government to implement policies aligned with Pakistan’s preferences and to consider Islamabad’s strategic and geopolitical interests. Islamabad openly accuses the Taliban government of sheltering its enemies, such as the TTP, and providing them with safe havens. Ashraf further stated that a structured war requires a strong economy, and Pakistan does not wish to face such a conflict given its fragile economic condition. The Legal Dimension of the Conflict Two days after the strikes, the Taliban government’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi spoke by phone with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Muttaqi said that Afghan civilians were killed in the recent Pakistani strikes and that “over the past four years, such repeated attacks by Pakistan have only targeted civilians. Moreover, no militants have ever been killed in these attacks, contrary to Pakistan’s claims.” Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations also submitted a “formal complaint” to the Security Council regarding the recent Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika. Nasir Ahmad Faiq, who represented the former Afghan Republic at the UN and currently serves as Afghanistan’s fourth Permanent Representative to the organization, wrote on his Facebook page on February 23 that “women and children” were among the civilians killed in the recent Pakistani airstrikes. “Today, Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission submitted its official complaint to the UN Security Council,” Faiq stated. He added, “We demand the proper cessation of these violations, investigation, accountability, respect for territorial integrity, adherence to the UN Charter, and full compliance with international law. In a statement issued yesterday, Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN condemned Pakistan’s strikes as a “clear violation of the UN Charter” and of “recognized principles of international human rights. Analysts say the Taliban government, which lacks broad international diplomatic recognition and is reportedly recognized only by Russia, is unlikely to gain significant support. So far, only India has clearly condemned Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan; no other countries have issued formal condemnations. Nasrullah Stanekzai, a former Kabul University professor, stated that the complaint by Afghanistan’s former representative at the UN would be recorded as “moral outrage.” He said, “The Taliban may now realize the importance of membership in international organizations and engagement with them.” Regional players with close ties to Pakistan—such as China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia even though some have accepted Taliban diplomats, have remained largely silent. However, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have reportedly attempted mediation efforts.
By Real content8 months ago in Chapters
If God Had A Job
If God had a job, I’d bet most would say it would be a lawyer or a doctor. Those are good; he is known as a defender and healer, but I think there’s something that would better describe him.
By Stephanie Rosas8 months ago in Chapters
US-Iran Crisis: Trump Sets 10-Day Deadline as Geneva Nuclear Talks Resume
Iran has once again made it clear that any type of American attack would be considered “aggression” and would be met with a response. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said in a press conference that “aggression has no limits. Any kind of attack, even if limited, is an example of aggression and will have its own consequences.” Accusing the United States of making “contradictory claims,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that Iran has no interest in prolonging negotiations. He added, “Whether it was the negotiations before June last year or the rounds of talks taking place in the current period, we have repeatedly announced that for meaningful progress we are ready to continue uninterrupted negotiations for days and weeks. Holding talks at intervals of ten or fourteen days is not our preferred method, and we have no interest in dragging out the negotiations.” It is worth recalling that three days ago U.S. President Donald Trump said that if a nuclear deal is not reached, he may consider a “limited” military strike on Iran. In an earlier statement last week, Trump also said that it would become clear within the next ten days what would happen with Iran, and that if no agreement is reached within that timeframe, the possible consequences would be very severe. Two rounds of indirect talks between the United States and Iran have taken place under Omani mediation. On Monday (February 22), Oman’s foreign minister confirmed that the third round of talks between the U.S. and Iran will be held in Geneva on Thursday. Oman, which is acting as a mediator between the two sides, said the talks were arranged as “an additional effort to finalize an agreement with positive progress.” It should be noted that after the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran held in Geneva on February 17, both Washington and Tehran expressed concerns along with some encouraging statements. Following the February 17 meeting, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran had been good “in some respects” and that the parties had agreed to hold another meeting. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “an understanding on fundamental principles” had been reached with the United States. Vice President Vance also said that Iran is still not ready to accept “certain red lines” set by President Trump. He indicated that the U.S. would continue on the diplomatic path, but that President Trump would decide “when to abandon diplomacy.” He further said that Washington does not expect matters to reach that point, but if they do, the decision would be President Trump’s. On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the second round of talks as more positive than the first and said that “both sides will prepare two draft documents of a possible agreement and exchange them. But this does not mean we will soon reach an agreement; however, we have certainly set out on the path toward one.” Prepared to defend the country On Tuesday, Iran’s Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Major General Amir Hatami, said that amid current tensions with the United States, “millions of soldiers are ready to sacrifice their lives in defense of the country.” According to the Tasnim News Agency, Major General Hatami said at a graduation ceremony for military officers that although the “enemy” believes it has superiority over the Islamic Republic of Iran, “great Iran cannot be swallowed.” He stressed that “resistance” is the most effective weapon against opponents. He also praised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s February 17 warning that U.S. aircraft carriers “can be sent to the bottom of the sea.” He added that the Iranian people will remain steadfast and defeat this “dangerous plan,” which he described as American bullying. He argued that the U.S. is not invincible, as demonstrated in decades-long wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. What is Oman’s role in mediating between Washington and Tehran? Following regional diplomatic efforts, Oman is trying to help both sides reach an agreement. Oman’s Foreign Ministry has emphasized the importance of returning to the negotiating table and resolving differences peacefully to help establish peace and security in the region and the world. It is worth recalling that under Omani mediation, Tehran and Washington began indirect talks in Muscat on February 6. Last year, talks between the two sides were halted when Israel launched a war against Iran in June. After that major impasse, this dialogue marks the first progress. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Hamad Al Busaidi has stressed in several official meetings the need to expand opportunities for compromise and coordination so that an agreement can be reached in line with the expectations of all parties. Military preparations and exercises Alongside negotiations, both Washington and Tehran appear to be taking steps to increase pressure on each other. U.S. officials have said that the American military is preparing for the possibility of operations against Iran that could last several weeks if President Donald Trump orders strikes following a failure of negotiations. Meanwhile, Iran said that on Tuesday its Revolutionary Guards had conducted military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days and temporarily closed parts of the strait for several hours as part of those drills. The Strait of Hormuz is a key international waterway and the main route for oil exports from Gulf Arab countries. On Monday, Iran began military exercises in the strait, which continued into Tuesday. In light of the situation, Gulf countries have called for a diplomatic solution to end the dispute. It should be noted that in January the United States deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln along with other warships to the Gulf, and afterward the Gerald R. Ford was also deployed to the Middle East. On Monday, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards Navy, said that all foreign warships in the region are “under full intelligence surveillance and within range of our defensive capabilities.” According to him, Akbarzadeh stressed that “the armed forces are fully prepared and monitoring enemy movements. No kind of threat will be ignored.” Do you like this personality?
By Real content8 months ago in Chapters
The Words I Never Got to Say
The Words I Never Got to Say ‎BY: Ubaid I always believed there would be more time. More time to sit across from him at the small wooden table in our kitchen. More time to argue about politics and laugh about old family stories. More time to say the things that sat quietly in my chest, waiting for the “right moment.” But life rarely waits for the right moment. The last time I saw my father, it was an ordinary Thursday. The kind that slips through your fingers unnoticed. I was in a hurry, as usual—late for work, phone buzzing, mind racing through deadlines. He was standing near the doorway, holding his cup of tea, watching me tie my shoes. “You’re always rushing,” he said with a soft smile. “And you’re always observing,” I replied, half-laughing. There were things I wanted to say right then. I wanted to thank him for the way he never gave up on me during my rebellious years. I wanted to apologize for the sharp words I had thrown at him when I was younger, words fueled by pride and immaturity. I wanted to tell him that I understood now—the sacrifices, the silent worries, the late nights he spent working just to give us a comfortable life. Instead, I checked the time. “I’ll be late,” I muttered. “We’ll talk tonight.” He nodded. “Of course. Tonight.” But tonight never came. The call arrived in the afternoon. An accident. Sudden. Unexpected. The kind of news that makes the world go silent for a few seconds before everything crashes in at once. I remember staring at my phone, reading the message again and again as if the words might rearrange themselves into something less painful. They didn’t. At the hospital, the white walls felt too bright, too clean, too cruel. I stood beside his bed, looking at a face that seemed peaceful, almost asleep. I kept waiting for his chest to rise, for his fingers to twitch, for some sign that this was a misunderstanding. But there was only stillness. And suddenly, the words I had saved for “later” began to scream inside me. “I’m proud to be your son.” “I’m sorry for not listening more.” “Thank you for believing in me.” “I love you.” Four simple sentences. Words that could have been spoken in less than a minute. Words that now weighed heavier than mountains. At the funeral, people spoke about his kindness, his honesty, his patience. They described a man I recognized but had never fully acknowledged. I realized how often we assume our loved ones know how we feel, as if affection can be silently understood without ever being expressed. But silence is a fragile messenger. In the weeks that followed, guilt became my constant companion. It whispered to me at night. It followed me into quiet rooms. It reminded me of every conversation I had postponed, every hug I had shortened, every “I’ll tell him tomorrow” I had carelessly spoken. I began replaying that last morning over and over. “You’re always rushing.” Maybe he wasn’t just talking about my schedule. Maybe he was reminding me of something deeper—that life itself is not meant to be rushed past. One evening, I sat alone in his old chair. The house felt emptier without his steady presence. I picked up his cup from the shelf, running my fingers along the rim. For the first time, I spoke out loud. “I’m proud to be your son.” My voice trembled, but I kept going. “I’m sorry for the times I hurt you. I didn’t understand then, but I do now. And I love you. I love you more than I ever said.” The room, of course, did not respond. There was no miracle, no echo of his voice. But something inside me shifted. The words were late—but they were no longer trapped. That was the moment I realized something important: the tragedy was not just losing him. The tragedy was waiting. We wait to apologize because we think there will be a better mood. We wait to express love because we assume it’s already obvious. We wait to show gratitude because we believe tomorrow is guaranteed. It isn’t. Since that day, I have tried to live differently. I call my mother more often. I tell my friends I appreciate them. I say “I’m proud of you” when I mean it. I don’t leave important feelings for later. Because later is a fragile promise. I still miss him. Some days, the grief arrives unexpectedly—triggered by a familiar song or the smell of tea in the morning. But alongside the sadness, there is also a lesson. A quiet but powerful one. Speak now. Say the difficult words. Say the soft words. Say the vulnerable words. Don’t assume people can read your heart. If I could go back to that Thursday morning, I would have paused at the door. I would have looked at him properly—not just as a father who would always be there, but as a man whose time, like mine, was limited. I would have said, “I love you. Thank you for everything.” And maybe he would have smiled and said, “I know.” But even if he already knew, he deserved to hear it. We all do. So if there is someone in your life you’ve been meaning to call, someone you owe gratitude to, someone you love but haven’t told—don’t wait for the perfect moment. Say the words. Before they become the words you never got to say.
By Ubaid 8 months ago in Chapters
I Lost Everything, Then Found Myself
I Lost Everything, Then Found Myself BY: Khan I used to believe that success was something you could hold in your hands. For me, it was the office keycard that opened glass doors every morning. It was the apartment on the twelfth floor overlooking the restless city. It was the expensive watch I bought after my first promotion, the one I wore like proof that I had made it. I measured my worth in achievements, in applause, in the quiet envy of people who thought I had it all figured out. And then, in the span of a few months, it all disappeared. The company I had devoted five years to collapsed almost overnight. What started as rumors of “financial restructuring” turned into termination emails and security escorts. I remember staring at my phone, rereading the message as if the words might rearrange themselves into something less final. They didn’t. Losing the job was only the beginning. Without a steady income, the apartment became a luxury I could no longer afford. I packed my life into cardboard boxes, each one heavier than the last. The watch went first—sold online to cover two months of rent I was already late on. I told myself it was temporary, that I would bounce back quickly. I had always bounced back. But this time was different. Friends who once filled my weekends with laughter were suddenly “busy.” Calls went unanswered. Invitations stopped coming. I realized how much of my social life had revolved around status and convenience. Without the shiny job title, I became less interesting. It’s a strange thing—how quickly people disappear when your shine fades. Eventually, I moved back into my childhood home. The same room with faded paint and old trophies from school competitions I barely remembered. At night, I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above me, feeling like a failure. I was in my late twenties, unemployed, single, and back where I had started. I had lost everything that once defined me. For weeks, I avoided mirrors. Not because I disliked my reflection, but because I didn’t recognize the person staring back. Who was I without the job? Without the apartment? Without the validation? The silence was unbearable at first. There were no morning meetings, no urgent emails, no deadlines. Just long, empty hours stretching endlessly. I tried distracting myself with social media, but watching everyone else’s highlight reels only deepened the ache inside me. One evening, after another rejection email from a company I had pinned my hopes on, something inside me broke. I stopped pretending I was okay. I let myself feel the disappointment fully—the anger, the embarrassment, the fear. I cried harder than I had in years. And strangely, that was the moment everything began to change. For the first time, I wasn’t performing strength. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I was simply being honest—with myself. The next morning, I went for a walk before sunrise. The streets were quiet, the sky painted in soft shades of pink and gold. I hadn’t noticed a sunrise in years. I had been too busy chasing the next goal, the next milestone. As I walked, I realized something uncomfortable but freeing: I had built a life that looked impressive from the outside but felt hollow on the inside. I had ignored my health, postponed hobbies, and silenced dreams that didn’t seem “practical.” I had mistaken busyness for purpose. Losing everything stripped away the noise. With nothing left to protect, I started asking myself difficult questions. What did I actually enjoy? What kind of work felt meaningful? Who was I when no one was watching? I began small. I started journaling each morning, pouring out thoughts I had suppressed for years. I picked up an old guitar that had been collecting dust in the corner of my room. My fingers were clumsy at first, but the music felt honest. I began freelancing online, not in the field I had studied, but in writing—something I had secretly loved since school. The money was inconsistent. The progress was slow. But for the first time in a long while, I felt alive. I also began repairing my relationship with my family. During the years I had been “too busy,” I had missed dinners, conversations, and simple moments. Now, I sat with them in the evenings, listening to stories I had never taken the time to hear. I realized success had made me distant; loss made me present. Months passed. I didn’t wake up one day magically transformed. There were setbacks. Doubts crept in often. Some nights, fear whispered that I had ruined my life beyond repair. But each time, I reminded myself of the truth I had discovered in the quiet: my worth was not tied to a job title or a paycheck. It was tied to who I was becoming. Gradually, opportunities began to appear—different from the ones I had once chased. I collaborated with small brands, wrote articles that resonated with strangers across the world, and built a modest but steady income doing work that mattered to me. But the biggest change wasn’t financial. It was internal. I no longer needed applause to feel valuable. I no longer compared my timeline to others. I understood that losing everything had forced me to confront parts of myself I had ignored for years—my insecurities, my fears, my need for external validation. When I look back now, I don’t see the period of loss as a tragedy. I see it as an awakening. Sometimes life takes away the things you think you can’t live without—not to punish you, but to teach you that you are more than the roles you play. I had to lose the job to discover my passion. I had to lose the apartment to rediscover my family. I had to lose the applause to finally hear my own voice. I thought I lost everything. But in the emptiness, I found clarity. In the silence, I found truth. And in losing the life I had carefully constructed, I finally found myself.
By Khan 8 months ago in Chapters
Power of Dates: Natural Energy & Health Boost
In the golden deserts of the Middle East, where the sun paints the sand in shades of amber, grows a fruit that has nourished
By Niaz Muhammad8 months ago in Chapters
Pakistan Bombs Afghanistan: Nangarhar and Paktika Airstrikes Kill Civilians, Taliban Condemns Attack
Provincial officials in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province told the BBC that a house belonging to a man named Shahabuddin was targeted in the Gardai Kach area of Behsud district, killing and injuring around 20 people, including women and children. A member of the family said, “Everything is finished. My children are gone, my brother and my husband are gone, and my unmarried daughters have died.” Eyewitnesses said the house was targeted in a late evening airstrike. In addition to Behsud, strikes were also reported in the Khogyani and Ghani Khel districts of Nangarhar province. What happened in Paktika?
By Real content8 months ago in Chapters
Iran-US War Scenario: Can Tehran Rely on China and Russia for Military Support?
With every new wave of tension between Tehran and Washington, the same question resurfaces: if the conflict escalates into war, what would China and Russia do? Can Iran truly rely on the support of these two powers, or are the relationships largely temporary and strategic rather than a firm alliance? The core issue lies in the nature of Iran’s relationships. Media narratives often use terms like “axis” or “bloc,” but in reality, Iran has no formal military alliance with either Russia or China. In international relations, an alliance means that if one country is attacked, the other is obligated to come to its defense. No such commitment exists between Iran and these two countries. However, “strategic partnerships” in certain areas have led some observers to speak of a new level of relations among Iran, China, and Russia. In the most recent example, the Iran–Russia strategic partnership agreement signed in January 2024 emphasized defense and security cooperation, yet it did not include any commitment to direct military intervention if one party were attacked. The agreement contains clauses preventing the use of either country’s territory against the other, but this differs significantly from a comprehensive defense pact. Yes, there is a “strategic partnership” in certain sectors, including defense and security cooperation, but it does not guarantee direct military assistance. International relations expert Hamidreza Azizi noted in an interview that alliances represent the highest level of relations between states, and in Iran’s case, no such alliance exists with China or Russia. He believes that even if war breaks out, the likelihood of direct military intervention by Russia or China is low, and their activities would mainly remain at the diplomatic level. Although some Western security reports and analyses portray Iran as part of an anti-Western alliance with Russia and China—or as an equal threat alongside them—many international relations analysts argue that Tehran’s alignment with Moscow and Beijing is more about “alignment of interests in the face of U.S. pressure” than a full security partnership. In other words, their shared opposition to Washington’s policies does not guarantee that Russia and China would be ready to directly confront the United States in defense of Iran. Why Direct Intervention Would Be Costly Another important dimension of this scenario is geopolitics. Both China and Russia have diverse and complex relationships in the Middle East. Beijing is a major economic partner of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and even Israel. Moscow, while aligned with Tehran, also maintains ties with Tel Aviv and several Arab countries. Entering a direct war alongside Iran could jeopardize these relationships. Russia is already entangled in the war in Ukraine, and its military and political resources are limited. China, strategically, is focused on its competition with Washington, particularly in East Asia and over Taiwan. Opening a new and risky front in the Middle East even indirectly does not align with their priorities. However, Professor Yulia Roknifard of Taylor’s University in Malaysia offers another perspective. She closely follows Iran–Russia relations. According to her, Russia and China may see recent developments as an opportunity to demonstrate support for a key partner. Iran is not only a member of BRICS but also of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Moscow and Beijing cannot afford to let the credibility of these cooperative frameworks be undermined or called into question through what they view as illegitimate processes. Nevertheless, most Russian observers emphasize that Moscow seeks to maintain the balance of power in the region, not to jump into a war that would create further instability. From China’s perspective as well, avoiding direct intervention and pursuing a political solution remains the priority. A similar approach was observed in the Ukraine war, where China provided Russia with behind-the-scenes political and economic support without directly entering the conflict or openly bearing the costs of overt backing. The Experience of the 12-Day War To better understand China and Russia’s role, one can look at the example of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. During this brief conflict, neither Moscow nor Beijing offered Iran assistance beyond cautious rhetoric and political support. There was no military cooperation and no open political backing. Iran also made clear that it had not requested assistance from either country. After the war, in November 2025, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that “we have no defense treaty with these two countries, and there was no need to request help.” According to Hamidreza Azizi, although there has been no fundamental shift in China and Russia’s broader strategy toward Iran, certain aspects have been reassessed. He argues that concerns about a potential U.S. attack disrupting the regional balance of power have compelled China and Russia to reconsider some of their policies. These reassessments have occasionally led to new developments, such as China supplying missile fuel to Iran or Russia and China providing Tehran with direct intelligence regarding U.S. military movements. Azizi believes that if tensions escalate, the more likely pattern will be continued limited informational, diplomatic, or technical support without direct involvement in the war. Professor Roknifard, however, suggests that Russia and China do not necessarily need to make their support public, much as Iran maintained ambiguity about the assistance it provided to Russia during the early stages of the Ukraine war. Fear of Regime Change Some analysts also argue that a regime-change scenario in Iran could alter Moscow and Beijing’s calculations. Iran is a member of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and serves as a crucial geopolitical link between Central Asia and the Middle East. From this perspective, a complete collapse or overthrow of Tehran’s political system could be seen by Moscow and Beijing as a blow to the credibility of the multilateral mechanisms they aim to strengthen. Meanwhile, concerns about a government in Iran more aligned with Western governance models represent another factor that could influence Chinese and Russian policy calculations. Roknifard noted that the prospect of Iran’s fragmentation or the rise of a new government could be perceived by Moscow and Beijing as a threat to their interests, given the possibility that such a scenario could transform Iran into a platform for pressure against Russia. However, many observers believe that even in this scenario, their response would not necessarily be military. Economic, intelligence, and arms cooperation might increase, but direct entry into war would still appear to be a costly option. The Economy what Iran Needs Most An essential part of the equation is economic. Relative economic stability could help the government in Tehran endure. China plays a significant role in this sphere, though recent experience suggests Beijing has been highly cautious in practice. Recent reports indicate that Beijing has significantly reduced its purchases of Iranian oil in recent months. According to tanker-tracking company data, China’s oil imports from Iran—which at times reached 1.4 million barrels per day last year—have recently fallen to around 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day, a decline of roughly 30 to 40 percent. Some estimates suggest that at certain points last month, the figure dropped below 750,000 barrels per day. This decline followed increased pressure from U.S. sanctions and tighter insurance and shipping conditions for tankers. If tensions rise further, Iran’s ability to maintain foreign currency earnings could be directly affected. Since the autumn of 2025, the volume of Iranian crude accumulating in tankers and floating storage has reached record highs, signaling unusual pressure at the final stage of Iran’s oil export chain. Recent remarks by President Masoud Pezeshkian that certain Chinese financial projects have not been implemented serve as a reminder that even at the peak of pressure on Tehran, Beijing is unwilling to risk U.S. secondary sanctions. This has led some in Iran to speak of China’s “unfulfilled promises.” Russia, too, has demonstrated in recent years that its cooperation with Iran is largely driven by mutual and temporary interests. From the Bushehr power plant case to delays in supplying defense systems, political considerations have often played a role. Political and Diplomatic Backing—but Not Military Intervention
By Real content8 months ago in Chapters
The Night I Finally Faced the Truth
The Night I Finally Faced the Truth BY: Khan I used to believe that avoiding the truth made life easier. If something hurt, I ignored it. If something felt wrong, I convinced myself it was temporary. If someone changed, I blamed stress, timing, or my imagination. Denial felt safer than confrontation. It was quieter. Cleaner. Less painful. At least, that’s what I told myself. The night I finally faced the truth wasn’t dramatic. There was no thunderstorm, no screaming argument, no slammed doors. It was painfully ordinary. And maybe that’s why it changed everything. It was almost midnight. My room was dim, lit only by the soft blue glow of my phone screen. The house was silent, the kind of silence that makes your thoughts louder. I had just returned from meeting someone I once couldn’t imagine living without. But that night felt different. Across the café table earlier, I had watched them speak—laughing, scrolling through their phone, barely meeting my eyes. Their words were there, but their presence wasn’t. It was like sitting across from a memory instead of a person. And deep down, I knew. On the ride home, I kept replaying the evening in my head. The forced smiles. The distracted nods. The way conversations died faster than they began. The distance wasn’t new. It had been growing for months. I just refused to see it. Back in my room, I opened our old messages. Scrolling up felt like traveling back in time. There were paragraphs of affection, long late-night conversations, dreams about the future. We used to talk for hours about nothing and everything. Now, our conversations were reduced to short replies and delayed responses. When did it change? The truth was, it hadn’t changed suddenly. It faded slowly. Like a photograph left in sunlight too long. And I watched it fade. But instead of admitting it, I worked harder. I texted more. I tried to be more understanding, more patient, less “needy.” I convinced myself that love required endurance. That if I just held on long enough, things would return to the way they were. That night, sitting alone in the dark, I finally asked myself a question I had been avoiding for months: Am I fighting for something that’s already gone? The question hit harder than any argument ever could. Because the answer was yes. Tears didn’t fall immediately. Instead, there was a strange calm. A quiet realization spreading through me like cold air. I wasn’t angry at them. I wasn’t even heartbroken in that moment. I was exhausted. Exhausted from pretending not to notice the distance. Exhausted from explaining away silence. Exhausted from shrinking my feelings to avoid being “too much.” And then came the second truth—the one that hurt even more. I wasn’t just losing them. I was losing myself. Somewhere along the way, I had started measuring my worth by their attention. A delayed reply could ruin my mood. A canceled plan could spiral into self-doubt. I told myself I was just in love. But love isn’t supposed to feel like begging. I stood up and walked to the mirror across my room. My reflection looked tired—eyes heavy, expression uncertain. I stared at myself longer than I had in months. “When did you start accepting less than you deserve?” I whispered. The silence answered me. The truth wasn’t just that they had changed. The truth was that I was afraid to be alone. I had held onto something fading because it felt safer than starting over. I stayed because memories are comforting, even when the present isn’t. I chose familiarity over honesty. And that night, I realized something powerful: Facing the truth hurts once. Avoiding it hurts every day. For months, I had chosen daily pain over one honest moment. I picked up my phone again. My fingers hovered over the screen. I didn’t type a dramatic goodbye. I didn’t accuse or blame. I simply wrote what I had been too afraid to say: “I think we both know this isn’t the same anymore. And maybe it’s okay to admit that.” I stared at the message for a long time before sending it. My heart pounded, but not from fear—from clarity. When I finally pressed send, something unexpected happened. I felt lighter. Not because it didn’t hurt. It did. Letting go always does. But because I had finally stopped lying to myself. The reply came a few minutes later. It was short. Gentle. Honest. They agreed. And strangely, that confirmation didn’t break me. It freed me. I lay back on my bed and stared at the ceiling. The room was still dark. The night was still quiet. Nothing around me had changed. But inside, everything had. For the first time in months, I wasn’t trying to fix something that didn’t want to be fixed. I wasn’t forcing hope where there was none. I wasn’t ignoring the voice inside me that had been whispering the truth all along. I had finally listened. That night didn’t end with dramatic tears or loud music or sleepless regret. It ended with acceptance. And acceptance is powerful. Because sometimes the truth isn’t that someone stopped loving you. Sometimes the truth is that you deserve a love that doesn’t make you question your value. Sometimes the truth is that endings aren’t failures. They are redirections. The night I finally faced the truth, I didn’t lose someone. I found myself.
By Khan 8 months ago in Chapters
I Thought I Was Strong—Until That Day
I Thought I Was Strong—Until That Day BY: Ubaid I used to believe I was strong. Not the kind of strength that shows up in gym mirrors or loud declarations, but the quiet kind. The kind that survives heartbreak without crying in public. The kind that carries responsibilities without asking for help. The kind that swallows pain and smiles anyway. For years, I wore that strength like armor. When my father lost his job, I told him everything would be okay—even though I had no idea how. When my closest friend betrayed my trust, I brushed it off like it didn’t matter. When my own dreams started slipping through my fingers, I convinced myself that maybe they weren’t meant for me anyway. “I’m fine,” became my most practiced lie. And I believed it. Until that day. It started like any other morning. The sun rose lazily, casting golden light through my bedroom window. I remember tying my shoes, looking at my reflection, and thinking, You’ve handled worse. You’ll handle today too. But life has a way of humbling you when you least expect it. The call came in the afternoon. I saw my mother’s name flashing on my phone. Her voice trembled in a way I had never heard before. There had been an accident. My younger brother. Hospital. In that moment, time didn’t slow down like it does in movies. It shattered. My thoughts collided. My hands began to shake. The world felt too loud and too silent at the same time. I rushed to the hospital, rehearsing strength in my head. You have to be strong. For Mom. For everyone. Hospitals have a particular smell—antiseptic and fear. I found my mother sitting outside the emergency room, her eyes red, her hands restless. She looked at me the way a child looks at a parent for reassurance. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t have any. The doctor came out. Words like “serious,” “critical,” and “uncertain” floated in the air. I tried to hold onto them, to understand them, but they felt like stones sinking inside me. That was the moment. The moment I realized I wasn’t as strong as I thought. My knees felt weak. My chest tightened. I wanted to scream, to punch a wall, to demand answers from the universe. Instead, I stood there, silent, pretending to process it all. But inside, something was breaking. For years, I had mistaken suppression for strength. I thought not crying made me powerful. I thought handling everything alone made me resilient. I thought vulnerability was a crack in the armor. That day, the armor shattered. I sat beside my mother and felt tears gather in my eyes. I tried to stop them. I really did. But they fell anyway. And once they started, they wouldn’t stop. I cried in a hospital hallway, under fluorescent lights, in front of strangers. And nothing about that felt strong. Hours passed like lifetimes. Every beep from the machines inside the emergency room felt like a countdown. Every nurse walking past made my heart race. I kept thinking about all the times I told myself I could handle anything. But I couldn’t handle this. I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t fix it. And that helplessness was unbearable. As night fell, exhaustion settled in. My mother leaned her head on my shoulder. She was still trembling. And that’s when I understood something I hadn’t before. Strength wasn’t about not breaking. It was about staying. Staying in the waiting room even when fear swallowed you whole. Staying beside your family when you had no comforting words. Staying present when your heart wanted to run away. I wasn’t strong because I didn’t cry. I was strong because I did—and still didn’t leave. Around midnight, the doctor finally returned with better news than we expected. My brother would need time to recover, but he was stable. The word “stable” had never sounded so beautiful. Relief hit me like a wave. I felt my body go light, like I had been carrying a mountain and someone had quietly lifted it. On the drive home, I stared out the window, thinking about the version of myself from that morning—the one who believed strength meant being unshakable. I smiled, but this time it was different. Because I had been shaken. And I had survived. That day changed my understanding of who I was. I am not invincible. I am not made of steel. I am not immune to fear or pain. But I am human. And maybe that’s where real strength lives. Not in pretending everything is okay. Not in carrying the world alone. Not in hiding tears behind a brave face. But in allowing yourself to feel fully—and choosing to keep going anyway. Now, when life tests me, I don’t rush to prove how strong I am. I don’t silence my emotions or wear armor that suffocates me. I breathe. I feel. I stay. Because I know what it’s like to think you’re strong—until the day life shows you what strength truly means. And that day, as painful as it was, didn’t break me. It rebuilt me.
By Ubaid 8 months ago in Chapters
India vs Vietnam: Will 2026 Free Trade Agreements Transform India’s Export Economy?
From a commercial perspective, the year 2026 is likely to be considered historic for India. March has not even begun yet, and New Delhi has already concluded what is being called the “mother of all trade deals” with the European Union. At the same time, it has signed an agreement with the United States that is now being described as the “father of all trade deals.” Although many experts argue that the United States will benefit more from this agreement, there are serious concerns about the imbalanced nature of this interim deal. Even so, this is India’s tenth free trade agreement (FTA) since 2014. In the past, India’s cautious approach meant that negotiations with several countries remained stalled for decades. Immediately after these new agreements, India also agreed to begin negotiations with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which accounts for 15 percent of India’s total global trade. Experts say that while this progress is positive, it does not offer a magic solution for rapidly increasing exports, nor can it replace deep structural trade reforms. Sumedha Dasgupta of the Economist Intelligence Unit said that the success of any FTA depends on how effectively it is utilized. Historically, India has shown a utilization rate of only 25 percent, compared to 70 to 80 percent in developed economies. This is because many Indian exporters, particularly small companies, fail to take advantage of tariff reductions due to the burden of paperwork, audit risks, and a lack of understanding of FTA provisions. History shows that this situation has long persisted. According to consultancy firm EY, between 2017 and 2022, India’s exports to countries with which it signed FTAs increased by 31 percent, while imports from those countries rose by 82 percent. EY described this large gap between exports and imports as a “concerning failure” to benefit from preferential market access. However, the government reviewed the situation, and after 2023, agreements signed with countries such as Australia and the United Arab Emirates showed an increase in exports. EY attributed this to steps such as improving the trade framework and establishing mechanisms for quicker dispute resolution. Experts say much still needs to be done. Kiran Kotla, CEO of export documentation assistance company Dista, said: “A free trade agreement creates opportunities on paper, but difficulties arise when it comes to implementation.” According to Kotla, major issues include proving that goods were produced domestically, high documentation costs, non-tariff barriers such as testing and labeling requirements, and frequent changes in customs authorities’ interpretation of rules. He added: “Many exporters are technically eligible to pay lower duties but still pay full duties because the process of proving eligibility for reduced tariffs is slow, risky, or expensive. Rules of origin are particularly controversial. Under these rules, exporters must prove that goods were genuinely manufactured or produced in India and not merely assembled there. Previously, these verification certificates were issued by the Indian government. However, according to New Delhi’s think tank Global Trade and Research Initiative (GTRI), under the new agreement with the European Union, exporters will now have to self-certify. According to Ajay Srivastava of GTRI, this means exporters will now bear the legal and financial risks themselves in case of mistakes. Since incorrect claims can result in penalties, the India-European Union FTA will only deliver benefits if rules of origin are properly understood and implemented. Beyond these complex reforms, there are also fundamental concerns that must be addressed if India is to compete with Asian rivals such as Vietnam in US and European markets. Kotla said: “Competition is not won through agreements, but through execution. Vietnam’s advantage comes not from tariff concessions but from speed, predictability of systems, and supply chain integration.” This means goods must move quickly, clear customs efficiently, infrastructure must be reliable, and transaction costs must remain low. “Without these, tariff parity alone will not increase market share. Priyanka Kishore, founder of the Singapore-based think tank Asia Decoded, said that Vietnam, and even Bangladesh, built export-led manufacturing models focused on designing export-promotion policies and attracting large-scale foreign investment. In contrast, “India’s industrial strategy is fragmented. It lacks urgency and hesitates to expose domestic companies to foreign competition. That needs to change quickly.” The success of Vietnam’s strategy is evident. According to World Bank data, Vietnam’s exports in 2010 were roughly one-third the size of India’s exports, and have now reached nearly the same level as India’s—despite Vietnam’s GDP being only about one-tenth the size of India’s. Asia Decoded notes that over the past decade, nearly all major Asian exporters—including Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—have outperformed India in export growth rates. Although India has worked hard to carve out a space in high-tech manufacturing—for example, producing iPhones for Apple—it still lags in more labor-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, furniture, and other low value-added products. Priyanka Kishore said: “Even if Nike were to face higher tariffs in Vietnam, it would not automatically see India as the best alternative. India’s high logistics costs, import duties, and complex customs regulations remain burdensome.” Experts say that now that free trade agreements have been concluded, New Delhi must focus on removing these barriers. These are the steps that will help India attract more investment, create jobs, and achieve its annual export target of one trillion dollars.
By Real content8 months ago in Chapters
The One Call I Wish I Had Never Answered
The One Call I Wish I Had Never Answered BY Ubaid It was a quiet Tuesday evening when my phone started ringing. I remember the exact moment because nothing about that day had been special. I had just returned from work, thrown my bag on the chair, and was sitting by the window watching the sky turn orange. My phone vibrated against the wooden table, breaking the silence. Unknown number. Normally, I ignore unknown calls. But that evening, something made me hesitate. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was boredom. Or maybe it was fate quietly rearranging my life. I answered. “Hello?” I said cautiously. There was a brief pause, then a familiar voice I hadn’t heard in years. “Is this… you?” My heart skipped. It was Sara. Sara and I had once been inseparable. We met during our first year of university and quickly became everything to each other—best friends, partners in late-night study sessions, and eventually something more. But life has a strange way of pulling people apart. After graduation, misunderstandings, ego, and distance slowly built walls between us. One argument turned into silence. Silence turned into years. And now, she was calling. “I got your number from an old friend,” she said softly. “I know it’s been a long time.” My mind was racing. I had spent years convincing myself I had moved on. I had buried the memories, trained myself not to think about her laugh, her stubbornness, the way she used to look at me like I was her entire world. And now, with one simple call, everything I had suppressed came rushing back. We talked for an hour that night. At first, it was awkward. Then familiar. We laughed about old professors, remembered silly incidents, and carefully avoided the topic of our breakup. It felt like reopening a book I once loved but had forced myself to close. When the call ended, I stared at my phone long after the screen went dark. That should have been it. A nostalgic conversation. A closed chapter revisited for a moment. But it wasn’t. The calls became frequent. Every evening around the same time, my phone would ring, and I would answer without hesitation. She told me about her new job, her struggles, her loneliness. I told her about mine. Slowly, the emotional connection we once had began rebuilding itself. There was just one problem. She was engaged. I found out a week later. She mentioned it casually, almost like an afterthought. “It’s not what I wanted,” she confessed. “It just… happened. My family insisted. He’s a good man, but I don’t feel anything.” Her words should have been my warning sign. Instead, they became my weakness. I told myself we were just talking. Just catching up. Just friends. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t innocent. The more we spoke, the more attached I became. Old feelings don’t die easily; they wait. They hide. And when given the smallest chance, they return stronger than before. One night, she called me crying. “I don’t think I can go through with this marriage,” she said between sobs. “I keep thinking about us. About what we had.” That was the moment I should have ended the call. I should have told her to make her decision independently. I should have protected both of us from the chaos that was about to unfold. Instead, I let my emotions speak. “I never stopped caring about you,” I admitted. Silence followed. A heavy, dangerous silence. Within days, her engagement became uncertain. She started arguing with her fiancé. Her family grew suspicious. She leaned on me for support, calling me at all hours. I became her escape from a reality she didn’t want to face. But reality has a way of demanding attention. Her fiancé found out about our conversations. Not the details, but enough to know something was wrong. Accusations were made. Families were involved. Voices were raised. In the middle of it all, Sara was overwhelmed. And then, one evening, my phone rang again. It was her number. I answered immediately, my chest tight with anxiety. Her voice was different this time. Tired. Broken. “This is all a mess,” she whispered. “I thought talking to you would give me clarity. But it’s only made everything harder. I hurt him. I hurt my family. And maybe I hurt you too.” I didn’t know what to say. She continued, “Maybe we were meant to stay in the past. Maybe some chapters should never be reopened.” That was the last real conversation we had. After that night, she stopped calling. Her number eventually became unreachable. Through mutual friends, I heard she went ahead with the marriage. I don’t know if she is happy. I don’t know if she ever thinks about me. But I know this: answering that first call changed everything. Before that evening, she was a memory. A bittersweet part of my past. After that call, she became a fresh wound. I learned something painful from it all. Not every opportunity to reconnect is a blessing. Sometimes, it’s a test. Sometimes, it’s life asking if you have truly grown or if you will repeat the same mistakes. If I hadn’t answered that call, she would have remained a closed chapter. I would have kept my peace. She would have faced her decisions without my influence. Instead, we blurred the lines between past and present, between nostalgia and reality. And in doing so, we created confusion where there could have been clarity. Now, whenever my phone rings from an unknown number, I pause a little longer. Because I know how powerful a single “Hello” can be. Some calls bring opportunity. Some bring closure. And some… are the ones you wish you had never answered.
By Ubaid 8 months ago in Chapters