Islamabad is Rewriting the Regional Order

Discover how the Islamabad Talks are rewriting the regional order. From the $10B Saudi Aramco refinery in Gwadar to Pakistan’s role as a security provider for the Peninsula, explore how Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif are positioning Pakistan as a central player in the emerging Global South.

Pakistan’s Mediation and the Remaking of U.S. Foreign Policy

The Return of Geography: The Significance of Maps in Contemporary Geopolitics

500 Years of Shared Destiny: The Historic, Cultural, and Legal Case for Pakistan’s Integration into the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS)

Pakistan’s Resource Paradox

Beyond the Deadlock: An Analysis of the 2026 Islamabad Talks

The Double Jeopardy of Pakistan’s Transport Sector

Pakistan’s integration into the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) is rooted in centuries of shared history, Turkic heritage, and strategic cooperation. This feature explores the cultural, legal, and geopolitical case for Pakistan’s inclusion in the Turkic world order.
Explore the strategic proposal for a Pak-Afghan buffer zone to counter border threats. This feature examines international law justifications and the IMCTC's role in regional security
From Soleimani to Khamenei, targeted killings are becoming a central tool of statecraft. This article examines their legality, strategic logic, and implications for international law.
On April 17th, 2026, South Asia Times (SAT) hosted an X Space session titled "Islamabad Talks 2.0: What to Expect from the Next Round." Moderated by Usama Qazafi, the session featured Salman Javed (Director, South Asia Times) and Abdullah Khan (Director, PICS), Dr. Salma Malik (Associate Professor, DSS QAU) and Dr. Khurram Iqbal (Senior Analyst) with contributions from other strategic experts. The discussion analyzed Pakistan’s pivotal role as the sole mediator in the ongoing rapprochement between the United States and Iran, the potential for a final agreement, and the regional "spoilers" threatening the peace process

The Kashmir Equation: Rethinking Strategy Amid Shifting Geopolitics

At a SAT roundtable in Islamabad, key voices from policy, academia, and activism called for inclusive, strategic, and diplomatic approaches to the Kashmir crisis.
xplore how Pakistan’s military has emerged as a key diplomatic actor, mediating Iran-related tensions and reshaping geopolitics between South Asia and the Middle East.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.