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Biden’s Afghan fiasco and the Middle East

Bennett was visiting Washington for the first time since becoming prime minister. His coalition government opposes US efforts to return to the Iran nuclear agreement signed in 2015 by the Obama administration and abandoned three years later by Donald Trump. Biden has been seeking a return to the deal, but that has looked increasingly unlikely, as Iran has moved further away from its obligations, and as a hardline president, Ebrahim Raisi, has taken office in Tehran.
In a way, the postponement of the Biden-Bennett meeting symbolized the effect of the Afghan fiasco on the wider issue of the US standing across the Middle East and wider world. Twenty years since the 9/11 attacks, American lives were lost to a jihadi terrorist group. And this tragedy calls into question the Democratic president’s claim that “America is back” following Trump’s disruptive four years.
Every part of the Middle East and North Africa will be affected in some way by the failure of American authority in Afghanistan, which saw the longest war in its history. It is too soon to say how badly the US reputation has been damaged but what has happened has reinforced the long-held perception that the US is in retreat from a “tough neighbourhood.”
And China, the main challenge to America’s global supremacy, is already investing extensively in Afghanistan. The scrambled US exit and the abandonment of its closest allies have given Beijing the perfect opportunity to send a message to pro-US Asian countries that they can no longer depend on Washington.
Russia, with its own Soviet-era experience of Afghanistan as the “graveyard of empires”, has also sent positive signals to the Taliban. The hasty collapse of the Afghan government and military along with the chaotic scenes at Kabul airport give the impression of a disorganized and ill-prepared US military withdrawal which is likely have a negative impact on perceptions of US power and commitment.
Pakistan, which has supported the Taliban covertly and overtly over the years, will see in the American discomfort opportunities for itself to assume a more significant role. Islamabad already has close ties to Beijing and a fractious relationship with Washington. The chairman of the party of Imran Khan, the prime minister, declared that “the Taliban say they're with us and they will come and liberate Kashmir for us.”
Not surprisingly, US allies worry what the implications of the US retreat from Afghanistan, and in particular, the way it was executed, will be for them. Israeli commentators are concerned that Iran will press ahead with its campaign for regional hegemony and that they can no longer take American support for granted. But concerns about Tehran’s ambitions are shared by the Gulf states, about a US withdrawal and the urgent need to develop their defensive capabilities. While Saudi Arabia has shuttered its Kabul mission, Iran has boasted that its embassy remains open for business.
And in Turkey, aware of the risk of being flooded by Afghan refugees (as it was by Syrians) politicians are stressing the need to be involved in managing the crisis, offering to take control of Kabul airport. “We are ready for any kind of cooperation for the tranquillity of the Afghan people and protecting the interests of our country,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. “We welcome the Taliban’s moderate statements.”
Fears of a boost to Islamist extremist organisations are also palpable. Tony Blair, Britain’s prime minister in 2001, regretted the fact that the Taliban victory “will see every jihadist group round the world cheering”. And that was before the airport attack, claimed by ISIS-K, which turned out to have cost 170 lives in total. ”ISIS couldn’t stand all the spotlight being on the Taliban,” tweeted a jihadi expert. “It had to do something big to regain world attention and make headlines.”
Conventional wisdom, at least in western countries, is that the Taliban is no longer the same militant movement as it was on 9/11. American and European analysts predict that they will come under pressure to behave better in the wake of their triumph to prevent a humanitarian and financial crisis. Still, according to a UN estimate, there are between 400 and 600 members of al-Qaeda in the country, many sheltered by the Taliban.
In the big picture, as the New York Times put it, “the notion that you cannot count on the Americans will strike deeper roots because of Afghanistan.” The Middle East, and wider region, is likely to be affected by the unavoidable interpretation that what was Joe Biden’s avoidable Afghan crisis has become a catastrophe. levant

BY: IAN BLACK levant
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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