China eyeing Bagram air force base, may use Pak against India: Nikki Haley

Washington, September 2

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The US needs to closely watch China as it might try to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover of the war-torn country and use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India, a former senior American diplomat has warned.

Will run out of food stock by month-end: UN

• The United Nations’ food stockpiles in Afghanistan could run out this month and there is a critical need for
• $200 million to provide food to the most vulnerable, a senior UN official has warned.
• Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said at least one-third of the country’s population currently is “not sure that they will have a meal every day or not.”
• “By the end of September, the stocks which the World Food Programme has in the country will be out,” Alakbarov said. PTI

Taliban all set to announce new government

• The Taliban are all set to announce the formation of a new government in Kabul on the lines of the Iranian leadership, with the group’s top religious leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada as Afghanistan’s supreme authority, a senior member of the group has said.
• “Consultations are almost finalised on the new government,” a senior official said.

America’s former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley said President Joe Biden has lost the trust and confidence of American allies after his hasty decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. She said there were many challenges in front of the US.

Reach out to allies

It is time that President Biden’s administration reaches out to its key friends and allies like India, Japan and Australia. —Nikki Haley, US former envoy to UN

“The US needs to make sure that Americans are protected and the country’s cybersecurity is strong because actors like Russia are going to continue to hack us because we show no signs of willingness to fight back,” she said.

“We need to watch China because I think you are going to see China make a move for Bagram air force base. I think they are also making a move in Afghanistan and trying to use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India. So, we have got a lot of issues,” she said. — PTI