Seemingly disparate Middle East conflicts show collective erosion of self-restraint

A Palestinian woman cries out in Gaza, where ‘the looming famine became a sideshow’ to other regional conflicts. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

On Thursday morning the Iranian news website Entekhab ran, without irony, the headline: “Taliban call on Pakistan and Iran to show restraint and urge both sides to settle differences through diplomatic means”.

If proof were needed that a new, more dangerous world order may be upon us, the Taliban cast in the role of advocates for restraint seems conclusive.