The Rundown -- July17

# "The Guardian" reprints RFE/RL's story in pictures on Tajik migrants

# Afghanistan might not use all those planes the Pentagon is sending, WP
# How Afghanistan Pulled Back From the Brink, The Diplomat
# ‘Massive increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan’, Dawn.com
# U.S. considering parliamentary model for government in Afghanistan, Nationalpost.com
# Revealed: the hunger strikes of America's most secret foreign prisoners, Guardian
# Pakistan 'captures' militant who wrote to Malala Yousafzai justifying her attack, Telegraph
# Extremists Make Inroads in Pakistan’s Diverse South, NYT
# Pakistani Forces Attack Militant Bases in Remote North, NYT

# Pakistan to Seek Continued U.S. Funds to Combat Terror, Bloomberg

# Iran’s identity crisis stymies nuclear deal, Boston Globe
# Sanctions on Iran cost the U.S. as much as $175 billion, study says, WP
# Why the Iran Nuclear Negotiations Won’t End in Failure for Iran and the West, internationalpolicydigest.org

# Still Looking for Obama’s Rebalance to Asia? Support a Deal with Iran, The Diplomat
# Iran’s queen of pop is a gay icon, Haaretz

# Top Marine Commander: Iraq Chaos Shows Costs of U.S. Withdrawal, Foreign Policy

# Uzbekistan's feuding first family and the mystery of the president's missing daughter, Guardian

# Q&A - The First-Ever Expedition to Turkmenistan's "Door to Hell", National Geographic

# Russia's Retaliation Over EU Deal Awaits Moldova, Moscow Times

# Germany says Russia failing to meet Ukraine pledges, hints at sanctions, BBC
# Obama Widens Sanctions Against Russia, WP

# Ukraine crisis: US prepares to break step with Europe over Russia sanctions, Telegraph
# Russia to reopen spy base in Cuba as relations with US continue to sour, Guardian
# Euro-Zone Trade With Russia Down Sharply, WSJ
# EU poised to cut funding to Russia and widen sanctions over Ukraine conflict, Guardian

# NATO Ramps Up Its War of Words With Russia, WSJ

# Russia’s accusations - setting the record straight, NATO

# Survey Ranks Russia as World's 2nd Most Traditional Country, Moscow Times

# Russia's Meddling Might Backfire With an Empowered, Unified Ukrainian Church, New Republic
# Gun-toting pro-Russia beauty spotted in eastern Ukraine, nypost.com
# Ukrainian female pilot faces murder charges in Russia, USA Today

# Whisked Away for Tea With a Rebel in Ukraine, NYT

# Ukraine conflict: 'White power' warrior from Sweden, BBC