Pakistan’s Mediation and the Remaking of U.S. Foreign Policy
Dr. Minhas Majeed
April 25, 2026
For decades, Washington designed its South Asia policy around India. April 2026 changed the calculus. The question now is whether the United States has the strategic intelligence to recognise what changed, and why.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.
As internal Afghan factions shift toward territorial realism, the recognition of the Durand Line as a legal finality exposes the high cost of the Taliban’s extremist negligence and marks a watershed moment for regional stability.
Pakistan’s transport sector faces a dual crisis as soaring fuel prices and subsidized public transport squeeze private operators. This op-ed explores the economic fallout.
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.
Pakistan faces a growing water crisis despite vast natural resources. Exploring the Indus Basin, energy potential, and urgent reforms for sustainable growth.
pakistan’s solar boom and the US-Pakistan Green Alliance are reshaping the country’s energy future through renewables, grid modernization, and strategic cooperation.
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.
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.
A detailed exposé on Al-Mirsad, a sophisticated propaganda arm of the Afghan Taliban’s intelligence apparatus weaponized to destabilize Pakistan through digital warfare.
Hydro-Diplomacy Under Siege: The Legal Fragility of India’s Treaty Abeyance The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has long been cited as one of the world’s most
The TTP’s attempted drone incursion into Islamabad signals a dangerous shift in Pakistan’s security environment, reflecting the global rise of unmanned warfare and evolving militant tactics.
A detailed exposé on Al-Mirsad, a sophisticated propaganda arm of the Afghan Taliban’s intelligence apparatus weaponized to destabilize Pakistan through digital warfare.
Hydro-Diplomacy Under Siege: The Legal Fragility of India’s Treaty Abeyance The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has long been cited as one of the world’s most
The TTP’s attempted drone incursion into Islamabad signals a dangerous shift in Pakistan’s security environment, reflecting the global rise of unmanned warfare and evolving militant tactics.
For decades, Washington designed its South Asia policy around India. April 2026 changed the calculus. The question now is whether the United States has the strategic intelligence to recognise what changed, and why.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.
A detailed exposé on Al-Mirsad, a sophisticated propaganda arm of the Afghan Taliban’s intelligence apparatus weaponized to destabilize Pakistan through digital warfare.
As internal Afghan factions shift toward territorial realism, the recognition of the Durand Line as a legal finality exposes the high cost of the Taliban’s extremist negligence and marks a watershed moment for regional stability.
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
Explore the legal rationale behind Pakistan’s cross-border precision airstrikes in Afghanistan. An academic analysis of Article 51, state sovereignty, and the TTP threat
A critical analysis of India’s 2025 defence reforms, examining military modernisation, rising defence spending, indigenous production challenges, and structural limitations in achieving operational effectiveness in South Asia.
![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.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.
Geography is reclaiming its role in global politics. From CPEC to the Strait of Hormuz, strategic location now defines power, security, and economic influence.
An in-depth analysis of the US naval blockade on Iran, examining its legal basis, strategic intent, and potential impact on the Strait of Hormuz, global energy markets, and regional stability.
Dive into an analytical perspective of the 2026 Islamabad Talks between the US and Iran. Despite a deadlock, discover why Pakistan’s historic mediation is a major geopolitical victory that averted a global crisis.
Explore how Pakistan is reclaiming its historical role as a global peace broker by facilitating a pivotal ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.
Geography is reclaiming its role in global politics. From CPEC to the Strait of Hormuz, strategic location now defines power, security, and economic influence.
Allama Iqbal’s vision was never of a static territory but of a dynamic, evolving spirit. Often described as the Musawwir-e-Pakistan (The Painter of Pakistan), Iqbal
For decades, Washington designed its South Asia policy around India. April 2026 changed the calculus. The question now is whether the United States has the strategic intelligence to recognise what changed, and why.
Is the Pashtun majority in Afghanistan real or a political myth? Explore how the absence of a census shapes power, governance, and ethnic tensions.
A detailed exposé on Al-Mirsad, a sophisticated propaganda arm of the Afghan Taliban’s intelligence apparatus weaponized to destabilize Pakistan through digital warfare.
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.
Unmasking Al-Mirsad: The Taliban’s Digital War on Pakistan