The Rundown -- July 18

# Afghanistan Begins Audit of Presidential Election, NYT
# Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of letting Haqqani militants escape crackdown, Guardian
# Outgoing Afghan war commander raises questions about counterterrorism plan, WP
# Kabul asked to release Pakistani journalist, dawn.com
# Pakistan to Obama: Don't Pull Out the Troops From Afghanistan Just Yet, Foreign Policy
# Pakistan budget-making process: Does it match with our ideas of doing reforms?, pakobserver.net

# Pakistan and China: A Precarious Friendship?, The Diplomat

# Zindagi Gulzar Hai: Pakistani drama serials win hearts in India, dawn.com

# Iran’s internet politics:Everyone’s doing it, Economist

# Covert war against Iran's nuclear scientists: a widow remembers, CS Monitor

# Keep Negotiating on Iran’s Nukes, NYT
# Let’s Make a Deal with Iran. But let’s make it a big one, Politico
# In search of an Iran policy, WP

# Is Rouhani about to square Iran’s circle? globeandmail.com

# Why There Won't Be a Nuclear Grand Bargain with Iran, National Interest
# What's it like to motorcycle solo through Iran as a woman?, CNN

# Iraq Is Not Our War Anymore. Let It Be Iran’s Problem, thedailybeast.com

# Top Marine Corps general slams Obama’s handling of Iraq, Washington Times
# The Iraq That Washington Built, The Nation
# A Nation on the Brink, huffingtonpost.com

# UK deal reached on sensitive Iraq war files, FT

# Revisiting Kurdistan: 'If there is a success story in Iraq, it's here', Guardian

# US power on the wane in Central Asia, Al-Jazeera
# Summer holiday in Kazakhstan? Astana eases visa restrictions to attract tourists, Guardian
# In The Cold: the Tajik migrants scratching a living in Russia, Guardian

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

# Belarus, Pakistan Seek Closer Defense Industry Cooperation, defensenews.com

# Why are the Belarusians poaching Lithuania’s dukes?, lithuaniatribune.com

# Belarus: Army goes to press to find lost drone, BBC

# Russia Starts to Feel the Heat, WSJ

# U.S. Officials: Russia Increasing Support for Ukraine Rebels, U.S. Department of Defense

# Russia warns of grave consequences from new U.S. sanctions, WP

# Q&A: The latest western sanctions on Russia explained, FT

# U.S. Sanctions Won't Stop Putin's War in Ukraine, Moscow Times

# Ukraine conflict: Russia accused of shooting down jet, BBC

# Malaysia jet crashes in east Ukraine conflict zone, BBC
# Ukraine Ramps Up Pressure Over 'Kidnapped' Female Pilot in Russia, Moscow Times

# Combating Desertification in the Post-2015 Agenda, huffingtonpost.com