PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, October 14: Afghanistan and Pakistan are "lurching toward a full-blown conflict". Also, French newspapers blame President Emmanuel Macron and his "insistence on retaining control" for the ongoing political crisis. Finally, Bolivia is working to destigmatise the coca leaf, traditionally associated with the production of cocaine.

Fears of a possible war between Afghanistan and Pakistan are rising. Radio Free Europe reports that the two countries, once allies, are now “lurching toward a full-blown conflict". The article notes that a conflict seemed unthinkable when the Taliban, an ally of Islamabad, seized power in 2021. However, over the weekend, deadly clashes erupted at the border, marking the most intense fighting in recent history. Pakistan’s defense minister warned that hostilities could resume “at any time”. Pakistani newspaper Dawn explains that the conflict began after Pakistan carried out drone strikes in central Kabul, targeting a Pakistani extremist group believed to be sheltering there. An editorial in the paper urges Pakistan to “prevent the matter from spiraling further,” adding that India and the Taliban are warming up to each other despite being former enemies. Afghan media outlet Pajhwok reports that Afghanistan rejected visa requests from a high-level Pakistani delegation, including Pakistan’s defense minister. Meanwhile, an editorial in The Indian Express stresses that ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan are a “major factor in regional stability” and that India must monitor the situation closely.

In France, a vote of no confidence looms over the new government, increasing pressure on President Macron. The Guardian reports that Macron has accused rival political parties of “fueling instability”, brushing aside calls for his resignation. French centre-left paper Le Monde argues that Macron’s “insistence on retaining control” has led to the failure of two prime ministers in less than a year, warning that it could turn the political crisis into a lasting institutional deadlock. French investigative paper Mediapart is equally critical, calling Macron “the irresponsible one” and accusing him of being “incapable of the slightest self-reflection”.

Finally, the Bolivian government is lobbying the UN to ease international restrictions on coca leaves, the raw material used to produce cocaine. But Bolivians argue that coca is much more than just a precursor to cocaine. The New York Times reports that coca is deeply woven into Bolivian culture; growing, selling, and consuming the leaf is legal there. In its natural form, coca is a mild stimulant, quite different from cocaine. The Bolivian government is urging the United Nations to “remove the leaf from the world’s list of most dangerous drugs”. Proponents argue that equating coca with cocaine "criminalises" an important part of indigenous heritage. A draft report by the World Health Organization concluded that the leaf poses no major health risks and is not highly addictive.

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