Omar Samad

An interesting development if it pans out during these unpredictably fluid times. Another technical reason could be that since 1992, Iran has been represented in the United States by the “Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United States,” which operates inside the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington. A de facto representation of sorts. Conversely, Switzerland became the “protecting power” for American interests in Iran after the 1979 embassy takeover. However, in early March 2026, Switzerland temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran and the U.S. Interests Section there, citing regional tensions and security risks; Washington has agreed that U.S. interests still be handled remotely through Switzerland.

The economic/humanitarian neighborly dimension/cost of an important story seldom documented. Adding: @Refugees UNHCR reports that about 5.4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since October 2023, many under pressure or coercion. Dozens have died or were killed under suspicious conditions. So far in 2026, UNHCR reports over 230,000–270,000 additional returns from Iran and Pakistan combined, however, this figure has increased since the conflict escalated on the Gulf borders and tensions intensified with Pakistan on the Eastern/Southern side.

Another broken ceasefire has once again cost innocent civilians—a female doctor and her baby child— their lives. The use of indiscriminate artillery shelling by PAK forces is clear and undeniable. Whether these attacks occur in Kunar or anywhere else in Afghanistan, we cannot ignore the pattern of provocation and hostility driven by a small group in power relying on false narratives and deceptive tactics across multiple fronts. At the same time, it is incumbent upon the current Afghan authorities to take practical steps to remove the political and social barriers that have left the country isolated and under sanctions. This includes lifting restrictions on fundamental rights—especially education—strengthening counterterrorism cooperation, and moving toward more inclusive governance. Many are now asking whether these developments reflect a broader strategy/playbook that risks confining the country to a state of prolonged isolation. Regardless of intent, safeguarding national interests will require a serious strategic dialogue aimed at rebuilding trust and forging consensus on a path forward. While some see little or no political will, others believe there remains a narrow opportunity to change course. Failing to act may only deepen the crisis.

Initially, as the war enters a more volatile phase, the pacts, alliances, partnerships and agreements signed over the past few years will be put to the test. Then, it’s about the political, financial, operational and logistical aspects of running a coalition of the willing. Two other factors that may or may not play a role are: great power alignments and level of popular support.

NEW: The Gulf countries may retaliate if Iran attacks continue, Turkey says • Riyadh summit was the last Arab warning against Iran, and the risk for wider regional war increased, Fidan says middleeasteye.net/news/gulf-coun…

@ANI @OmarWaraich Great gesture of civility.

#WATCH | Rajasthan: Members of the Hindu community, under the aegis of Hindu-Muslim Ekta Samiti, shower flower petals on members of the Muslim community who offered namaz at Eidgah in Jaipur, on Eid ul-Fitr.

Standing there in the cold 10 years later, I was taken by the fact that a facility that was meant to be a symbol of hope and new beginnings for Afghanistan's three million drug addicts had been transformed into a war crime (by Pakistan) thenewhumanitarian.org/editors-take/2…

A just and honest demand that needs thoughtful action and attention.

Undermining a rules-based international order (not just on paper) & laws governing warfare, civilian protection and human rights (not the lopsided, politicized or selective kind we have experienced in several countries) is detrimental and dangerous. It also comes back to bite when unjustly/wrongly interpreted or implemented. We saw (still see) signs of that in Afghanistan too when “democracy” was undermined by a few during the last years of a kleptocratic “republic”. The result usually is backtracking and loss of gains.

In the past three years no country has contributed more to the erosion of the rules-based international order (both international law and international humanitarian law) than Israel, now they are at the receiving end of Iranian war crimes This is why we all need to uphold the rules-based international order

@AANafgh That history has already been Written for Afghans who care about the truth. Here’s one account from within. For you and others to stay in the middle. facebook.com/share/p/18X9u6…

Sultan Ali Keshtmand (1935–2026), #Afghanistan’s former prime minister during the Soviet era, has died in London. A key figure of the PDPA’s Parcham faction, he later became a vocal advocate for Hazara rights and ethnic inclusion. bit.ly/4uK6OnV

Not intending to sound alarmist or a conspiracy theorist, while this extreme claim is being verified by rational/realist observers and enthusiasts, these Qs pop up: * Are we approaching an existential moment? * Will one or more sides seriously consider using maximalist threats and annihilation tools of warfare? * Does that mean WWIII? * Is the world ready for such an escalation? * What’s really at stake? * What can/should be done to mitigate and prevent escalation?

The Pakistan strike on Kabul on March 16 resulted in a significant number of deaths and injuries to civilians, at least in the hundreds. The total death toll has yet to be independently assessed. It is well-documented that a large part of Camp Phoenix, a former NATO camp, had been operating as a drug rehabilitation facility since 2016. Pakistan’s military should have known this and therefore taken all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects before launching this strike. Any reasonable assessment and information gathering would have concluded that the camp had a high civilian presence. Even if an ammunition depot was present inside the wider camp, the decision to attack should have been weighed against any excessive harm that it was likely to cause to civilians. The scale of death and destruction raises serious concerns about whether the Pakistani military conducted an adequate proportionality assessment and took all necessary steps to gather information about the intended target and minimize civilian harm. The Pakistani authorities must now explain what information they acted upon, and steps taken for verification. They must also carry out an independent, impartial and timely investigation into the circumstances of this strike and the resulting civilian casualties, with the results made public with a view to ensuring accountability. Amnesty International calls on all parties to the conflict to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and to take urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and other healthcare facilities. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

For those who can’t access, your op-ed basically highlights (adding a few of my own remarks): -> “how escalating conflict between Afghanistan's Taliban regime and Pakistan carries risks far beyond their borders. It points to Pakistan's illegal airstrikes on Afghan targets, including a deadly bombing of a Kabul drug rehabilitation hospital that killed hundreds, prompting Taliban retaliation via drones and cross-border raids. -> Key Triggers: Tensions stem from mutual accusations: Pakistan blames the Taliban for sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tribal militants behind a surge in attacks against PAK state targets, while Afghanistan, implicitly and historically, avoids the Durand Line border mute dispute and resents forced refugee expulsions. -> Broader Impacts: The war risks empowering groups like ISIS-Khorasan (and what remains of a rival elderly al-Qaeda), disrupting trade & transit between Central and South Asia, and straining regional stability amid U.S.-Iran tensions. Note: Western observers claim that despite Pakistani promises of pursuing a transactional agenda with the U.S. administration, Washington doesn’t mind the tensions as it is eyeing having a foothold at the Bagram AB again (an old idea from the 2020 Doha process that is facing resistance from several quarters). Also, some in Pakistan fear that given the country’s socio-political fragility, the crisis bolsters (not guaranteed) Pakistan's military grip domestically and complicates de-escalation, despite an Eid ceasefire (urged by Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) pausing immediate fighting. Several factors will matter post Eid: fallout from the Gulf/Mideast war, China/Russia concerns and India posturing. More importantly, how both regimes in Afghanistan and Pakistan face uncertainty, fragility, economic pressures and rights/governance challenges.

This FT piece basically highlights: -> “how escalating conflict between Afghanistan's Taliban regime and Pakistan carries risks far beyond their borders. It points to Pakistan's illegal airstrikes on Afghan targets, including a deadly bombing of a Kabul drug rehabilitation hospital that killed hundreds, prompting Taliban retaliation via drones and cross-border raids. -> Key Triggers: Tensions stem from mutual accusations: Pakistan blames the Taliban for sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tribal militants behind a surge in attacks against PAK state targets, while Afghanistan, implicitly and historically, avoids the Durand Line border mute dispute and resents forced refugee expulsions. -> Broader Impacts: The war risks empowering groups like ISIS-Khorasan (and what remains of a rival elderly al-Qaeda), disrupting trade & transit between Central and South Asia, and straining regional stability amid U.S.-Iran tensions. Note: Western observers claim that despite Pakistani promises of pursuing a transactional agenda with the U.S. administration, Washington doesn’t mind the tensions as it is eyeing having a foothold at the Bagram AB again (an old idea from the 2020 Doha process that is facing resistance from several quarters). Also, some in Pakistan fear that given the country’s socio-political fragility, the crisis bolsters (not guaranteed) Pakistan's military grip domestically and complicates de-escalation, despite an Eid ceasefire (urged by Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) pausing immediate fighting. Several factors will matter post Eid: fallout from the Gulf/Mideast war, China/Russia concerns and India posturing. More importantly, how both regimes in Afghanistan and Pakistan face uncertainty, fragility, economic pressures and rights/governance challenges.

@zeeshan_shah_dc @MasudaSultan @DrOmarZakhilwal Eid Fitr and Nowroz Mubarak.

@OmSamad @MasudaSultan @DrOmarZakhilwal Wishing you all very Happy Eid Mubarak and Nowruz Mubarak! Praying for peace and brotherhood in the world and especially in our region.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemns the recent airstrike on a drug treatment center in Kabul and extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said at a press briefing that, according to international humanitarian law, patients, medical personnel, and medical facilities, including hospitals, must be respected and protected at all times. The Secretary-General has called for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident. He reiterated his call for de-escalation and the immediate cessation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and urged that differences be resolved through peaceful means and dialogue in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. #TOLOnews_English

This is serious. Probably one of the most disruptive tit-for-tat actions in recent times. Anyone with any shred of common sense should know better unless someone’s playbook calls for total chaos and collapse of the regional arrangement / global economic order as we’ve known it. Then what? There’s no durable gain or victory for anyone. Beyond the ominous commentary below, here’s what another sharp observer says: (1) “Blowing up all the oil infrastructure in the Middle East is an insane idea, and may well result in a global economic crash and humanitarian crisis unrivaled in the lives of those now living. We're talking about the price of everything everywhere rising, from food to gas, at a moment when inflation was already high. All of that will be laid at the feet of the authors of this war. (2) The antebellum status quo of Feb 27, 2026 was just not that bad, but we're unlikely to return to it. Expect indefinite, long-term, ongoing disruptions to everything out of the Middle East. (3) Also assume tech financing crashes for the indefinite future. The genius plan to get the Gulf states caught in the crossfire has incinerated much of the funding for LPs, for datacenters, and for IPOs. Anyone in tech who supported this war may soon learn the meaning of "force majeure" as funding gets yanked. (4) Many capital allocators will instead be allocating much further down Maslow's hierarchy of needs, towards useful basic things like food and energy.” Are we not endangering the equilibrium? Are we learning or unlearning from our an actions—past and present? Accountability and responsibility are needed. @balajis @antonioguterres

Whether you agree, disagree or are confused / uncertain, this is MUST reading for current and former “diplomats” and foreign policy experts around the world. Part of the learning / unlearning curve.

Families and friends searched for loved ones at a rehab center in Afghanistan's Kabul, two days after it was bombed by Pakistan in the deadliest incident in the months-long conflict reut.rs/471Z072

Kabul, after the attacks and losses. For some, it’s “collateral damage.” For others, it’s a number—something to spin, shape, and file into a narrative. And for a few, whether it’s 4, 40, or 400, the dead are simply expendable. But to the children, parents, loved ones, friends, neighbors, empathetic citizens, anyone who cares—this isn’t math. These are people. Names. Voices. Lives that mattered, now gone, leaving a silence no statistic can capture or explain. I’ll leave it there because as we have witnessed in other cases—recent or in history—lines around religion, culture, morality and rule of law… they’re already drawn and codified.

Norway strongly regrets casualties at a drug-rehabilitation center in Kabul. Parties must respect proportionality and precaution. Medical facilities and patients should never be bombed. We urge restraint and dialogue to end hostilities and address cross-border security concerns