Security is often driven by insecurities. In today’s world, threats arise from the collective social psyche and have become an unavoidable part of the social conscience. These threats have become so subjective, in certain cases inter-subjective, just like the concept of state, that it is difficult to differentiate between security and threats. The line between war and peace has become […]

In recent years, Pakistan has strategically shifted its foreign policy focus from geo-politics to geo-economics, prioritizing economic cooperation, trade, and energy partnerships, particularly with the Central Asian Republics (CARs). This pivot aligns with Pakistan’s broader vision to emerge as a regional trade and energy hub, taking advantage of its strategic location besides affording the landlocked Central Asian nation’s access to […]

An army with a state In her seminal piece titled “Pakistan-from hybrid-democracy to hybrid-martial law” published in the 2019 Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Ayesha Siddiqa, a Pakistan born and UK based leading expert on the Pakistan armed forces made some very pertinent and precise observations of how the all-powerful Pakistan army was continuing its subtle subversion […]

In the latest issue of its Urdu-language magazine “Taliban,” Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) eulogizes slain fighters, argues that it is ahead of the Pakistani military in building narratives in the eyes of Pakistani audiences, frames Pakistani military leaders as those who monopolize resources and obstruct the establishment of Islam, and says that the TTP should not be viewed as a terrorist […]

Iran’s decision to construct a 300 km concrete wall with barbed wire along its border with Afghanistan is a significant geopolitical development. The $3 billion project, intended to curb cross-border terrorism, smuggling, and illegal immigration, particularly in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, highlights the escalating security challenges in the region. Iran’s border fortification is part of a […]

In a devastating and violent incident, a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy of foreign diplomats travelling through Pakistan’s scenic Swat Valley. Resultantly, what should have been a symbol of Pakistan’s expanding diplomatic connections, transpired into a tragic reminder of the menace of terrorism. This terror attack was a premeditated move by forces averse to Pakistan’s prosperity and improved diplomatic […]

On September 19, 2024, two Pakistani soldiers were killed while another soldier sustained injuries at the Ghulam Khan Border terminal in the North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), when Afghan border guards opened fire at them. Two Afghan border guards were also critically injured in the firing. According to Pakistani officials, the incident occurred at a time when the […]

The Pakistan government announced a ban on cross-border travel with Afghanistan from November 2023. Residents of Chaman district in Pakistan protested against the government’s decree immediately after it was announced, which made it compulsory for people passing the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing to produce visas and passports.1 So far, the Afghans and Pakistanis could cross the border at Spin Boldak showing […]

An article and editorial published recently in leading Pakistani dailies expressed concern over an alarming rise in attacks across Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. In these two provinces in recent years, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and other groups have been waging a sustained and continuous campaign of attacks against Pakistani security forces. Dr. Gul.i.Ayesha […]

On August 26, 2024, Balochistan experienced one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in years, shaking the province to its core. Dozens of civilians and security personnel were killed in coordinated assaults that bore the hallmarks of meticulous planning and brutal execution. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist organization, quickly claimed responsibility for the attacks, signaling a dangerous escalation […]