Taliban Say Haqqani Founder Is Dead. His Group Is More Vital Than Ever. - The New York Times

"KABUL, Afghanistan — For the first time, the Taliban have confirmed the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani, an American ally from the Cold War who later turned his weapons against the United States as the founder of the feared Haqqani militant network, behind some of the deadliest attacks of the 17-year Afghan war. In their announcement on Tuesday, the Taliban gave no details on the timing of Mr. Haqqani’s death. Throughout his 70s, he remained ill even as his followers continued in his name to stage huge bombings and suicide commando attacks in Afghan cities."

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Indian Response to Asymmetric Threats: The Case of Af-Pak

Author:  TWI

'India has unfortunately become the "sponge" that protects us all. India's very proximity to Pakistan, which has developed into the epicenter of global terrorism during the last thirty years, has resulted in New Delhi absorbing most of the blows unleashed by those terrorist groups that treat it as a common enemy along with Israel, the United States, and the West more generally...'[1]

- Ashley J Tellis

The above statement is an oft-quoted observation that captures the inability of India to respond effectively to the challenge of terrorism afflicting it with sickening regularity. To the layman, the nation, in the face of grave losses in life, material and reputation inexplicably refuses to acknowledge the strategic impact of the ever-growing irregular and hybrid threat that is engulfing regions of the world. India’s counter to the threats it faces can be labelled reactive at best, despite the aggressiveness associated in social media with the National Security Adviser[2] and the Prime Minister. The much touted cross-border raid against NSCN militants[3] is too little, too late; but a heart-warming event nevertheless. However, can India call Pakistan’s bluff on the West?