Manufacturing Consensus: Understanding Propaganda in the Age of Automation and Anonymity by Samuel Wolley
Azhar Zeeshan
March 4, 2026
![Ukrainian and Russian flags with soldier silhouettes representing ongoing conflict. [Image via Atlantic Council].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2022-02-09T000000Z_1319661209_MT1NURPHO000HXCNME_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CONFLICT-STOCK-PICTURES-scaled-e1661353077377.jpg "2022-02-09T000000Z_1319661209_MT1NURPHO000HXCNME_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CONFLICT-STOCK-PICTURES-scaled-e1661353077377")
Explore the global fallout of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following Operation Epic Fury. Analyse the surge in oil prices, US struggle for energy hegemony, and the risk of a global recession
The escalating tensions between US-Israel and Iran threaten Pakistan’s economy, security, oil imports, remittances, and regional stability amid border conflicts.
Pakistan cuts illegal migration to EU by 47% via 1,700+ arrests. Europe hails it as frontline partner, eyes legal labor paths amid crime-terror links.
CPEC is driving Pakistan’s structural economic transition. By shifting focus from infrastructure to industrialization, value-added manufacturing, and maritime development, Pakistan is integrating into global supply chains and repositioning itself as a regional production hub.
The EU–India FTA risks being unequal, as India cuts tariffs while Europe retains key advantages. It may deepen dependence instead of strengthening India’s industrial growth.
The EU–Pakistan Business Forum 2026 marks a strategic pivot toward diversified, ESG-driven investment, de-risked finance, and regulatory alignment beyond GSP+ trade ties.
The Indus Waters Treaty is facing its gravest test as India’s unilateral actions on the Chenab transform water from a shared resource into a tool of coercion. In a climate-stressed region, disrupted river flows and suspended data sharing threaten Pakistan’s agrarian economy, food security, and regional stability.
Despite being one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, South Asia remains deeply fragmented. From failed COP coordination to weak regional institutions, political rivalries and elite interests undermine collective climate action, leaving millions exposed to escalating environmental risks
At COP30, nuclear energy emerged as a key solution for global clean-energy transitions. For Pakistan, expanding nuclear power, especially through Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), offers a path to cleaner, reliable electricity, despite challenges like high costs and restricted technology access.
The 2025–2026 Nipah virus cases in India illustrate that high-risk pathogens are not confined by national borders. Through selective disclosure, delayed reporting, and episodic containment, outbreaks compel neighbouring states to implement proactive biosecurity measures, highlighting the strategic significance of regional health governance.
Women’s empowerment in Pakistan is a catalyst for progress, fueling economic growth, innovation, and stronger governance. Empowered women are shaping the nation’s future and driving measurable development gains.
Tirah Valley, long exploited by Kharij networks and their facilitators, has been subjected to sustained intelligence-based operations (IBOs) rather than any conventional military offensive. Grounded in intelligence, community engagement, and the Bagh Joint Action Plan (BJAP), Pakistan’s approach prioritizes civilian protection, targeted neutralization of terrorists, and the restoration of long-term stability, countering persistent propaganda with verifiable facts.
![Truck traveling along the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, with rugged cliffs and the Arabian Sea coastline in the background [Image via Getty Images].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Balochistan-2.webp)
For decades, Balochistan’s underdevelopment has been framed as a story of federal neglect. But does the data support that claim?
UN and Russian assessments highlight persistent militant networks in Afghanistan, raising regional security concerns despite Taliban control.
![Afghan men search for victims after a Pakistani air strike hit a residential area in the Girdi Kas village, Nangarhar province on February 22, 2026. [Aimal Zahir/AFP/Getty Images]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/gettyimages-2262391441.webp)
An analysis of Pakistan’s cross-border action, security rationale, and regional implications amid rising militant threats.
For decades, Balochistan’s underdevelopment has been framed as a story of federal neglect. But does the data support that claim?
UN and Russian assessments highlight persistent militant networks in Afghanistan, raising regional security concerns despite Taliban control.
An analysis of Pakistan’s cross-border action, security rationale, and regional implications amid rising militant threats.
What changed in the Feb 26 Pak-Afghan clashes? From restraint to calibrated force, Pakistan signaled a tougher, proactive border doctrine.
![Truck traveling along the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, with rugged cliffs and the Arabian Sea coastline in the background [Image via Getty Images].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Balochistan-2-300x300.webp)
For decades, Balochistan’s underdevelopment has been framed as a story of federal neglect. But does the data support that claim?
UN and Russian assessments highlight persistent militant networks in Afghanistan, raising regional security concerns despite Taliban control.
Al Jazeera’s portrayal of TTP militants as “fighters” raises concerns over journalistic bias and counterterrorism framing.
What changed in the Feb 26 Pak-Afghan clashes? From restraint to calibrated force, Pakistan signaled a tougher, proactive border doctrine.
UN and Russian assessments highlight persistent militant networks in Afghanistan, raising regional security concerns despite Taliban control.
UN report warns of rising TTP attacks from Afghanistan and growing regional terror threats, rejecting Taliban claims of eliminating militants.
UN Security Council renews Taliban sanctions monitoring as Afghanistan remains a hub for international terrorist networks.
![Prime Minister Narendra Modi with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at an official event. [Photo Courtesy: Praveen Jain via The Print].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20-scaled-e1755601883425-1024x576-1-300x300.webp)
India’s strategic autonomy faces pressure as US trade leverage, energy dependence, and defence ties test New Delhi’s balancing doctrine.
Washington’s new security lens is transactional. Partnerships must pay. For India, sentiment won’t suffice, deliverables will.
Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty to plotting murder of US Sikh separatist leader; highlights transnational repression risks.
The EU–India FTA risks being unequal, as India cuts tariffs while Europe retains key advantages. It may deepen dependence instead of strengthening India’s industrial growth.
What changed in the Feb 26 Pak-Afghan clashes? From restraint to calibrated force, Pakistan signaled a tougher, proactive border doctrine.
For decades, Balochistan’s underdevelopment has been framed as a story of federal neglect. But does the data support that claim?
Al Jazeera’s portrayal of TTP militants as “fighters” raises concerns over journalistic bias and counterterrorism framing.
Analysis of Balochistan’s security landscape, where militancy exploits socio-economic grievances even as CPEC-driven investments seek stability through infrastructure, education, and connectivity.
South Asia Times (SAT) and CISS AJK signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 February 2026 to collaborate on research, policy briefs and strategic dialogues.
South Asia Times (SAT) and CISS AJK signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 February 2026 to collaborate on research, policy briefs and strategic dialogues.
What changed in the Feb 26 Pak-Afghan clashes? From restraint to calibrated force, Pakistan signaled a tougher, proactive border doctrine.
For decades, Balochistan’s underdevelopment has been framed as a story of federal neglect. But does the data support that claim?
Al Jazeera’s portrayal of TTP militants as “fighters” raises concerns over journalistic bias and counterterrorism framing.
Pakistan at the Crossroads: Security, Economic and Strategic Fallout of the US-Israel-Iran Conflict