A gritty India fought hard for most part but let in two goals in the last seven minutes to eventually lose 0-3 to defending champions Iran in their second group match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament, in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Monday.
'This is not a simple enemy. It has an organisation and money spread all over the world. It has 3,000, 4,000 suicide bombers,' says Afghan Ambassador Masood Khalili.
'We need to be very vigilant as we are passing through some fraught times.'
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Aligning India with long-standing Pakhtoon aspirations may be a potentially potent lever, says Shyam Saran
Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan, who recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan, said the US also expects Pakistan to contribute to a lasting and enduring peace in the region.
The Taliban knows that Washington holds the key, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The main elements of the programme are bilateral meetings with the US leadership, participation in the Quad Leaders' Summit, address at the UN General Assembly and business interactions.
Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan Babar Azam, who is a big fan of Virat Kohli, should learn to play like his "idol" and convert good starts into big knocks by adapting to match situations the way the Indian captain does.
'India should be able to weather the storm, given its enhanced standing among the major powers. However, India's international clout is partly from its rapidly growing emerging economy and a large and expanding commercial market. 'If the Indian economy continues to slow and protectionist barriers advance, then our international clout will also diminish. The international fallout from bringing the Valley to heel may be more difficult to handle,' says Shyam Saran.
New Zealand will enter the World Cup feeling optimistic of finally winning it after four and half decades of trying.
'The civil war in Islam has just got worse and the existential crisis facing it more threatening.'
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