Graeme Smith
@graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group
Reposted by Graeme Smith
1/4 Blog @lawfaremedia.org with @alcis.org funded by @XCEPT It focuses on the transformative effects of solar power: how it has supported Afghan farmers cope with climate change but ultimately how its expansion now threatens the livelihoods of 3.65 million people www.lawfaremedia.org/article/unde...
June 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
1/4 Blog @lawfaremedia.org with @alcis.org funded by @XCEPT It focuses on the transformative effects of solar power: how it has supported Afghan farmers cope with climate change but ultimately how its expansion now threatens the livelihoods of 3.65 million people www.lawfaremedia.org/article/unde...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
The strategic logic of this operation is lacking.
One of the striking things about a potential military strike on Iran and its nuclear program is just how modest USG assessments about likely impact are, even when factoring in U.S. military involvement. A U.S. official suggested that Israel could only set back the program by about a year.
June 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The strategic logic of this operation is lacking.
Reposted by Graeme Smith
“The Taliban are saying, ‘bring it on.’ They don’t want Pakistan to have leverage over them,” says @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
But the returnees were “walking into a real humanitarian disaster and an economy that cannot grow fast enough”
on.ft.com/3FJBEZ7
But the returnees were “walking into a real humanitarian disaster and an economy that cannot grow fast enough”
on.ft.com/3FJBEZ7
Pakistan threatens to deport Afghan refugees after Donald Trump’s funding cuts
Suspension of foreign aid and resettlement programmes endanger 870,000 people, analysts warn
on.ft.com
March 30, 2025 at 3:34 AM
“The Taliban are saying, ‘bring it on.’ They don’t want Pakistan to have leverage over them,” says @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
But the returnees were “walking into a real humanitarian disaster and an economy that cannot grow fast enough”
on.ft.com/3FJBEZ7
But the returnees were “walking into a real humanitarian disaster and an economy that cannot grow fast enough”
on.ft.com/3FJBEZ7
Economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors holds promise, but tensions along the disputed border with Pakistan could impede growth -- as I told PRI's @theworld.org theworld.org/segments/202...
Afghanistan-Pakistan border witnesses escalation in violence - The World from PRX
The border between neighbors Afghanistan and Pakistan is seeing a rising amount of violence the past few months. Bombings, cross-border shooting and killings have become common as Pakistan’s governmen...
theworld.org
February 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors holds promise, but tensions along the disputed border with Pakistan could impede growth -- as I told PRI's @theworld.org theworld.org/segments/202...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
Hard to overstate the impact of USAID freeze in #Colombia.
Last year, US provided 70.6% of incoming humanitarian funds.
A 90 day freeze amid acute humanitarian crisis means Colombia has <1/3 of resources it would have last year to respond. Beyond 90 days would be devastating.
Last year, US provided 70.6% of incoming humanitarian funds.
A 90 day freeze amid acute humanitarian crisis means Colombia has <1/3 of resources it would have last year to respond. Beyond 90 days would be devastating.
January 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Hard to overstate the impact of USAID freeze in #Colombia.
Last year, US provided 70.6% of incoming humanitarian funds.
A 90 day freeze amid acute humanitarian crisis means Colombia has <1/3 of resources it would have last year to respond. Beyond 90 days would be devastating.
Last year, US provided 70.6% of incoming humanitarian funds.
A 90 day freeze amid acute humanitarian crisis means Colombia has <1/3 of resources it would have last year to respond. Beyond 90 days would be devastating.
Lots of questions right now about the impact of Trump's aid cuts on Afghanistan. Short answer: we don't know. But it's worth noting that the US and other donors were already cutting back. Emergency funds offset the halt to development aid after 2021, but only temporarily.
January 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Lots of questions right now about the impact of Trump's aid cuts on Afghanistan. Short answer: we don't know. But it's worth noting that the US and other donors were already cutting back. Emergency funds offset the halt to development aid after 2021, but only temporarily.
Reposted by Graeme Smith
I discussed my book on Syrian (former) jihadis, including HTS, including why they took over the leadership of the opposition, transformed politically, and their current role in Syria. Free to listen, and free to download as a book too fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/...
January 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I discussed my book on Syrian (former) jihadis, including HTS, including why they took over the leadership of the opposition, transformed politically, and their current role in Syria. Free to listen, and free to download as a book too fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
Good free-to-read @foreignaffairs.com piece piece on how the USA and Europe appear set to wreck Syria’s transition by simply defaulting to economic warfare for lack of clear ideas.
@delaneysimon.bsky.social
@jeromed.bsky.social
@graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
@delaneysimon.bsky.social
@jeromed.bsky.social
@graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan
Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Good free-to-read @foreignaffairs.com piece piece on how the USA and Europe appear set to wreck Syria’s transition by simply defaulting to economic warfare for lack of clear ideas.
@delaneysimon.bsky.social
@jeromed.bsky.social
@graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
@delaneysimon.bsky.social
@jeromed.bsky.social
@graemesmithauthor.bsky.social
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
In @foreignaffairs.com, @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social, @jeromed.bsky.social and I urge Western policymakers to make better choices in #Syria than they did in #Afghanistan, or risk sabotaging Syria's transition 🧵1/
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan
Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
In @foreignaffairs.com, @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social, @jeromed.bsky.social and I urge Western policymakers to make better choices in #Syria than they did in #Afghanistan, or risk sabotaging Syria's transition 🧵1/
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
"When Syria rebuilds, it's going to have to move beyond the illicit economy. It will have to reinvigorate industry and the banking sector. This will be really difficult with sanctions in place." My interview with @mattgalloway.bsky.social on
@cbcradiocanada.bsky.social
cbc.ca/listen/live-...
@cbcradiocanada.bsky.social
cbc.ca/listen/live-...
December 18, 2024 at 12:12 PM
"When Syria rebuilds, it's going to have to move beyond the illicit economy. It will have to reinvigorate industry and the banking sector. This will be really difficult with sanctions in place." My interview with @mattgalloway.bsky.social on
@cbcradiocanada.bsky.social
cbc.ca/listen/live-...
@cbcradiocanada.bsky.social
cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
the person to read about these humanitarian carve-outs is @mayaungar.bsky.social : www.crisisgroup.org/global/polit...
December 18, 2024 at 1:37 AM
the person to read about these humanitarian carve-outs is @mayaungar.bsky.social : www.crisisgroup.org/global/polit...
Reposted by Graeme Smith
This morning I talked to BBC's Lyse Doucet about the steps Western governments can take right now to help Syria get on its feet. Failing to take action on #sanctions relief is like pulling the rug out from under Syria just as it's trying to stand.
December 13, 2024 at 10:48 AM
This morning I talked to BBC's Lyse Doucet about the steps Western governments can take right now to help Syria get on its feet. Failing to take action on #sanctions relief is like pulling the rug out from under Syria just as it's trying to stand.
A brutal regime falls. But there’s a problem: the UN and several countries say the victorious rebels are terrorists. What to do? There’s no playbook for Islamist insurgents faced with the challenges of running a country. But there is a precedent, in Afghanistan. 1/
December 9, 2024 at 12:02 PM
A brutal regime falls. But there’s a problem: the UN and several countries say the victorious rebels are terrorists. What to do? There’s no playbook for Islamist insurgents faced with the challenges of running a country. But there is a precedent, in Afghanistan. 1/