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The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

LATEST ⦿

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.

Read More »

Train to Nowhere ; Religious diversity and partition of hearts.

Train to Nowhere: Religious diversity and partition of hearts

In 1947, Punjab’s trains carried not passengers but memories — of unity turned to horror, of a land where coexistence once thrived before borders tore it apart. Train to Nowhere revisits that plural Punjab, where rivers, shrines, and songs united hearts beyond creed, reminding us that remembrance itself is resistance.
Revising the Agnipath Scheme: Preserving the Gorkha Legacy in India-Nepal Relations

Revising the Agnipath Scheme: Preserving the Gorkha Legacy in India-Nepal Relations

The introduction of India’s Agnipath scheme has stalled the historic Gorkha recruitment process, challenging a 200-year-old tradition and Nepal’s economic stability. This paper argues for a Hybrid Gorkha Model, a reformative structure extending service terms to 7–10 years with pension guarantees and skill development. Such a model not only preserves the Gorkha legacy but also strengthens India–Nepal bilateral ties amid evolving regional geopolitics.
The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

LATEST ⦿

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.

Read More »

The Long War: The Historical and Ideological Roots of the Pakistan–Taliban Showdown

A tenuous ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has halted hostilities for now, but the calm conceals deeper fissures rooted in history, ideology, and regional rivalries. As cross-border tensions resurface, the decades-old dispute over the Border, the Taliban’s harboring of TTP militants, and India’s quiet re-entry into Kabul are reshaping South Asia’s most volatile frontier.

From Policy to Action: Analyzing Pakistan’s Climate Change Framework in Light of IPCC Insights

Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) presents a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the country’s growing climate challenges. From managing water resources and protecting biodiversity to empowering women and promoting renewable energy, the NCCP blends adaptation and mitigation for a sustainable future. Yet, implementation gaps: limited funding, institutional weaknesses, and policy incoherence, threaten its potential. Strengthened governance, transparency, and international cooperation remain key to turning this vision into climate resilience for Pakistan.

Kashmir’s Fading Legacy: Mythology, Etymology, and the Erosion of Cultural Identity under Indian Occupation

Jammu and Kashmir, once celebrated as the “paradise on Earth,” carries a 4,500-year legacy of diverse civilizations, faiths, and cultures. From ancient myths of “Kashyap Mar” to the enduring spirit of Kashmiriyat, every era has left an imprint on its identity. Yet, decades of Indian occupation and demographic manipulation under the Hindutva agenda now threaten to erase this timeless heritage. Preserving Kashmir’s culture is not just a regional necessity, it’s a global responsibility.

The Infodemic: Can South Asian Democracies Survive the Age of Disinformation?

From India to Sri Lanka, disinformation has become a weapon of mass manipulation, fueling mob violence, deepening polarization, and corroding democratic institutions. As truth becomes contested, South Asia’s future stability hinges on digital literacy, civic resilience, and responsible governance.

Themes

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint
Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.

Revising the Agnipath Scheme: Preserving the Gorkha Legacy in India-Nepal Relations

Revising the Agnipath Scheme: Preserving the Gorkha Legacy in India-Nepal Relations
The introduction of India’s Agnipath scheme has stalled the historic Gorkha recruitment process, challenging a 200-year-old tradition and Nepal’s economic stability. This paper argues for a Hybrid Gorkha Model, a reformative structure extending service terms to 7–10 years with pension guarantees and skill development. Such a model not only preserves the Gorkha legacy but also strengthens India–Nepal bilateral ties amid evolving regional geopolitics.

The Long War: The Historical and Ideological Roots of the Pakistan–Taliban Showdown

The Long War: The Historical and Ideological Roots of the Pakistan–Taliban Showdown
A tenuous ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has halted hostilities for now, but the calm conceals deeper fissures rooted in history, ideology, and regional rivalries. As cross-border tensions resurface, the decades-old dispute over the Border, the Taliban’s harboring of TTP militants, and India’s quiet re-entry into Kabul are reshaping South Asia’s most volatile frontier.

From Policy to Action: Analyzing Pakistan’s Climate Change Framework in Light of IPCC Insights

From Policy to Action: Analyzing Pakistan’s Climate Change Framework in Light of IPCC Insights
Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) presents a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the country’s growing climate challenges. From managing water resources and protecting biodiversity to empowering women and promoting renewable energy, the NCCP blends adaptation and mitigation for a sustainable future. Yet, implementation gaps: limited funding, institutional weaknesses, and policy incoherence, threaten its potential. Strengthened governance, transparency, and international cooperation remain key to turning this vision into climate resilience for Pakistan.

Kashmir’s Fading Legacy: Mythology, Etymology, and the Erosion of Cultural Identity under Indian Occupation

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Jammu and Kashmir, once celebrated as the “paradise on Earth,” carries a 4,500-year legacy of diverse civilizations, faiths, and cultures. From ancient myths of “Kashyap Mar” to the enduring spirit of Kashmiriyat, every era has left an imprint on its identity. Yet, decades of Indian occupation and demographic manipulation under the Hindutva agenda now threaten to erase this timeless heritage. Preserving Kashmir’s culture is not just a regional necessity, it’s a global responsibility.

The Infodemic: Can South Asian Democracies Survive the Age of Disinformation?

The Infodemic: Can South Asian Democracies Survive the Age of Disinformation?
From India to Sri Lanka, disinformation has become a weapon of mass manipulation, fueling mob violence, deepening polarization, and corroding democratic institutions. As truth becomes contested, South Asia’s future stability hinges on digital literacy, civic resilience, and responsible governance.

Diplomacy & geopolitics

Pakistan’s Stability: A Silent Pillar of US Strategic Interests

Pakistan’s Stability: A Silent Pillar of US Strategic Interests

Alisha Zahra October 9, 2025

Long seen through a security lens, Pakistan is now redefining its role in US strategy, as a supplier of critical minerals, a connectivity hub between Central and South Asia, and a stabilizing force in a volatile region. Amid global competition with China and shifting energy dynamics, Washington increasingly views Pakistan’s stability not as a choice but as a strategic necessity anchoring its economic and geopolitical interests across Asia.

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The Nobel Peace Prize or War Prize? A History of Controversial Laureates.

The Nobel Peace Prize or War Prize? A History of Controversial Laureates

SAT Editorial Desk October 8, 2025

Far from being an impartial recognition of pacifism, the Nobel Peace Prize’s legacy is marred by controversial laureates whose actions have been linked to immense violence. The prize is not a universal arbiter of peace but a political instrument reflecting a Western-centric worldview, rewarding figures who align with its geopolitical interests, regardless of the blood on their hands.

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Economy & Trade

Environment & Climate Change

From Policy to Action: Analyzing Pakistan’s Climate Change Framework in Light of IPCC Insights

From Policy to Action: Analyzing Pakistan’s Climate Change Framework in Light of IPCC Insights

Aiza Jaffery October 15, 2025

Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) presents a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the country’s growing climate challenges. From managing water resources and protecting biodiversity to empowering women and promoting renewable energy, the NCCP blends adaptation and mitigation for a sustainable future. Yet, implementation gaps: limited funding, institutional weaknesses, and policy incoherence, threaten its potential. Strengthened governance, transparency, and international cooperation remain key to turning this vision into climate resilience for Pakistan.

Read More »

Governance & Public Policy

Kashmir’s Fading Legacy: Mythology, Etymology, and the Erosion of Cultural Identity under Indian Occupation

Saba Ghulam Nabi October 14, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir, once celebrated as the “paradise on Earth,” carries a 4,500-year legacy of diverse civilizations, faiths, and cultures. From ancient myths of “Kashyap Mar” to the enduring spirit of Kashmiriyat, every era has left an imprint on its identity. Yet, decades of Indian occupation and demographic manipulation under the Hindutva agenda now threaten to erase this timeless heritage. Preserving Kashmir’s culture is not just a regional necessity, it’s a global responsibility.

Read More »

Security & Counter Terrorism

TTP’s resurgence under the Afghan Taliban threatens not just Pakistan but global stability, linking jihadist networks across South and Central Asia.

Terrorism Beyond Borders: Why the TTP Threat Is Not Pakistan’s Alone

Faiqa Khanam October 11, 2025

The resurgence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) under the Taliban’s ideological protection is reactivating global terror networks across South and Central Asia. This op-ed explores how the TTP’s links with al-Qaeda, ISKP, and TIP make it a transnational threat, one that endangers U.S., Chinese, and regional interests alike, not just Pakistan’s stability.

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Islamophobia and Global Politics After 9/11

Islamophobia and Global Politics After 9/11

Muhammad Aqib September 11, 2025

The 9/11 attacks reshaped global politics and ignited the US-led “War on Terror.” Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslims worldwide faced rising Islamophobia, systemic discrimination, and cultural vilification. This era marked the transformation of prejudice into an entrenched political and social structure across the West.

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Social issues

TTP’s resurgence under the Afghan Taliban threatens not just Pakistan but global stability, linking jihadist networks across South and Central Asia.

Terrorism Beyond Borders: Why the TTP Threat Is Not Pakistan’s Alone

Faiqa Khanam October 11, 2025

The resurgence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) under the Taliban’s ideological protection is reactivating global terror networks across South and Central Asia. This op-ed explores how the TTP’s links with al-Qaeda, ISKP, and TIP make it a transnational threat, one that endangers U.S., Chinese, and regional interests alike, not just Pakistan’s stability.

Read More »
Islamophobia and Global Politics After 9/11

Islamophobia and Global Politics After 9/11

Muhammad Aqib September 11, 2025

The 9/11 attacks reshaped global politics and ignited the US-led “War on Terror.” Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslims worldwide faced rising Islamophobia, systemic discrimination, and cultural vilification. This era marked the transformation of prejudice into an entrenched political and social structure across the West.

Read More »

South Asia

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.
Train to Nowhere ; Religious diversity and partition of hearts.

Train to Nowhere: Religious diversity and partition of hearts

In 1947, Punjab’s trains carried not passengers but memories — of unity turned to horror, of a land where coexistence once thrived before borders tore it apart. Train to Nowhere revisits that plural Punjab, where rivers, shrines, and songs united hearts beyond creed, reminding us that remembrance itself is resistance.

Afghanistan

Beyond Words: Why Afghanistan's Actions on Terrorism Will Define Regional Trust

Beyond Words: Why Afghanistan’s Actions on Terrorism Will Define Regional Trust

Kabul’s calls for dialogue sound promising, but the continued presence of TTP sanctuaries on Afghan soil fuels deadly instability in Pakistan. Until the Taliban translates words into decisive action against terrorism, any talk of regional trust will remain hollow.
Bagram: The Empire’s Airfield

Bagram: The Empire’s Airfield

Bagram Airbase was the nerve center of America’s two-decade war in Afghanistan and a unique strategic vantage point at the crossroads of South, Central, and West Asia. Its loss created a void in US power projection that over-the-horizon operations cannot fill.

India

India’s Deepening Socioeconomic Crisis: Inequality, Unemployment, and the Erosion of Livelihoods

India’s Deepening Socioeconomic Crisis: Inequality, Unemployment, and the Erosion of Livelihoods

India’s rapid economic growth hides a deepening crisis of inequality, unemployment, and poverty. As corporate wealth expands, millions struggle for basic survival—exposing the fragility of the country’s neoliberal growth model.
After Sheikh Hasina’s Exit, Can India Rebuild Its Strategic Ties with Bangladesh by Pushing Dhaka Towards the Quad?

After Sheikh Hasina’s Exit, Can India Rebuild Its Strategic Ties with Bangladesh by Pushing Dhaka Towards the Quad?

Sheikh Hasina’s resignation ended India’s golden era of ties with Bangladesh, leaving New Delhi scrambling to counter China’s growing influence. Can Quad engagement offer India a path to rebuild trust and secure the Bay of Bengal?

Pakistan

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.
The Long War: The Historical and Ideological Roots of the Pakistan–Taliban Showdown

The Long War: The Historical and Ideological Roots of the Pakistan–Taliban Showdown

A tenuous ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has halted hostilities for now, but the calm conceals deeper fissures rooted in history, ideology, and regional rivalries. As cross-border tensions resurface, the decades-old dispute over the Border, the Taliban’s harboring of TTP militants, and India’s quiet re-entry into Kabul are reshaping South Asia’s most volatile frontier.

Events

From The Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure

The South Asia Times (SAT) hosted a national webinar titled “From the Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure,” spotlighting how Pakistan’s border regions, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad
South Asia Times X Space explored AJK protests, JAAC’s role, subsidies, governance challenges, and India’s narrative spin.

Governance, Protests, and Identity: Decoding the Crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

South Asia Times’ X Space session on AJK protests featured insights from Farzana Yaqoob and Sardar Sohail Hassan, examining JAAC’s demands, Pakistan’s subsidies, governance challenges, youth mobilisation, and India’s shifting

SAT X Space

Governance, Protests, and Identity: Decoding the Crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

South Asia Times X Space explored AJK protests, JAAC’s role, subsidies, governance challenges, and India’s narrative spin.
South Asia Times’ X Space session on AJK protests featured insights from Farzana Yaqoob and Sardar Sohail Hassan, examining JAAC’s demands, Pakistan’s subsidies, governance challenges, youth mobilisation, and India’s shifting narratives. The dialogue unpacked how local grievances are exploited by vested and external interests.

Roundtables

The Kashmir Equation: Rethinking Strategy Amid Shifting Geopolitics

SAT POSTER WEBINAR
At a SAT roundtable in Islamabad, key voices from policy, academia, and activism called for inclusive, strategic, and diplomatic approaches to the Kashmir crisis.

Webinars

From The Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure

South Asia Times (SAT) webinar “From the Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure” explored the socio-political marginalization of Pakistan’s peripheries, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, and KP, highlighting governance gaps, economic exclusion, and the need for inclusion, trust, and communication-based policy reform.
The South Asia Times (SAT) hosted a national webinar titled “From the Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure,” spotlighting how Pakistan’s border regions, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, face deep-rooted governance challenges, economic neglect, and communication voids. Experts called for shifting from a security-centric to an inclusion-driven policy model to rebuild trust, empower youth, and turn Pakistan’s peripheries into engines of national resilience.

Features

India’s Deepening Socioeconomic Crisis: Inequality, Unemployment, and the Erosion of Livelihoods

India’s Deepening Socioeconomic Crisis: Inequality, Unemployment, and the Erosion of Livelihoods
India’s rapid economic growth hides a deepening crisis of inequality, unemployment, and poverty. As corporate wealth expands, millions struggle for basic survival—exposing the fragility of the country’s neoliberal growth model.

Colonial Legacies of Bombay and Calcutta

Colonial Legacies of Bombay and Calcutta
Bombay and Calcutta were more than colonial capitals, they embodied imperial urban planning, economic integration, and cultural hybridity. From segregated ‘white’ and ‘black’ towns to thriving ports, industries, and nationalist thought, these cities reveal how British rule reshaped India’s urban life while leaving enduring legacies still visible today.

Zionism, Gaza, and the Crisis of Civilisation: Pakistan, Gaza, and the Architecture of Muslim Strategy

Pakistan’s Gaza dilemma: capability without viability. Can it disrupt Israel’s siege without collapsing internally?
Pakistan has the military capacity to challenge Israel’s siege on Gaza, but not the strategic insulation of Iran. Its real role is not war posturing but disrupting the default — building structures, alliances, and deterrence frameworks that restore coherence to a fragmented Muslim world.

Editorial Picks

Afghanistan conundrum

Afghanistan conundrum

When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Pakistan saw hope. Four years later, TTP and BLA attacks have surged, Kabul’s ties with India are deepening, and Islamabad faces a
Missiles, Myths and Motives

Missiles, Myths and Motives

India's unchecked missile development raises concerns, while baseless allegations against Pakistan persist.
India’s nuclear buildup and U.S. support reflect ambitions beyond deterrence, raising risks of instability in South Asia and beyond.

India’s Expanding Military Posture

The development of hypersonic missiles, BMD systems, advanced surveillance assets, and nuclear submarines reveals India’s shift away from a purely defensive doctrine.
Iran and Pakistan deepen security ties to counter rising Indo-Israeli support for Baloch separatism on their shared border.

Israel’s covert war in Balochistan binds Iran and Pakistan in rare alliance

As Israel and India expand support for militancy in Balochistan. Iran and Pakistan are moving closer in security cooperation to counter foreign-backed separatism.
Pakistan–U.S. ties in 2025 shift toward strategic cooperation, counterterrorism, and regional stability.

Resetting the Arc: The Strategic Reawakening of US–Pakistan Relations in 2025

In 2025, Pakistan and the U.S. reset strained ties through counterterrorism, diplomacy, and strategic cooperation, marking a new phase in South Asian geopolitics.
India’s nuclear expansion, rooted in deception, threatens South Asian stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

India’s Deceit of Nuclear Programme

India’s nuclear program, built on deception and civilian technology diversion, has expanded into one of the world’s fastest-growing arsenals, fueling regional instability.