Pakistan at the SCO Summit: Strategic Messaging and Diplomatic Wins
Pakistan’s active engagement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit reflected a strategic balancing act between security concerns, economic connectivity, and regional diplomacy. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif not only internationalized India’s Indus Waters Treaty move but also secured explicit SCO condemnation of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. Coupled with key bilateral meetings with China, Russia, Turkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan, Islamabad emerged from the summit with both narrative and diplomatic gains, reinforcing its role as a pivotal regional actor.
Water, War, and the UN: The Indus Basin Dilemma
The Indus Waters Treaty, once hailed as a model of cooperation, faces its gravest challenge after India’s unilateral suspension in 2025. For Pakistan, water security is a matter of survival, with millions dependent on the Indus Basin for food and livelihoods. As tensions mount, the fear of “water terrorism” looms large, raising the stakes for regional stability. The UN must move beyond silence, leveraging law and diplomacy to ensure the Indus remains a source of life rather than a trigger for war.
The Indian Muslim:The Unmaking of Secular India
The last few weeks exposed the depth of state-enabled tyranny against India’s Muslims. From the lynching of Suleman Pathan and the desecration of historic Muslim sites to bulldozer demolitions, deportations, and criminalization of dissent, violence has become systemic. With political rhetoric normalizing hate and laws codifying discrimination, India risks eroding its secular fabric and legitimizing religious persecution as governance.