Diamer - Bhasha Dam From a dream to a reality Dam

Progress made on Diamer-Bhasha Dam

On July 16, 2020 PM Imran Khan while addressing the public in Chilas said, construction is underway for the \”biggest dam in Pakistan\’s history\”. After kicking off mega construction work at the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. According to the premier the project will produce environment-friendly inexpensive hydel power in the nation.

It will also benefit the people of Gilgit Baltistan. Diamer Bhasha Dam will be the third biggest dam in Pakistan. It was proposed 40 years prior, yet the project officially begins today. Prime Minister Khan further stated, “We will neither import fuel for this project nor it will be harmful as far as climate is concerned”.

Benefits to Gilgit Baltistan

The prime minister stated that the project would provide job opportunities to people of Chilas. Moreover, because of the mega-project, the tourism sector of the district will also flourish.

Gilgit Baltistan relies upon tourism to boost their economy. Hence, Khan promised timely preparation of SOPs with the chief minister for restoring the tourism business. Which has been seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic? Imran Khan said the decisions made in the 1990s, to produce electricity through imported fuel caused record shortage. Adding to this he said, the pressure on foreign exchange knocks down the economic growth of the nation and causes inflation.

To a better future

Moreover, his government took over and inherited an immense US dollar 20 billion deficit. He briefed, only nations that invest in human resources progress by concentrating on education, justice, and health.

PM Khan, also said that countries\’ possible progress sooner if the allocation of resources optimal. Uplifting those sectors of society that have been abandoned. Finally, the Prime Minister gave concluding remarks by congratulating the locals of Gilgit Baltistan. He said time will demonstrate that this dam will change the fortune of the locals of GB, particularly those living in Chilas.

AQAP’s Threat to China: Pathways Through Al-Qaeda’s Global Network

SAT Editorial Desk December 25, 2025

AQAP’s threat against China marks a shift from rhetoric to execution, rooted in Al-Qaeda’s decentralized global architecture. By using Afghanistan as a coordination hub and relying on AQIS, TTP, and Uyghur militants of the Turkistan Islamic Party as local enablers, the threat is designed to be carried out far beyond Yemen. From CPEC projects in Pakistan to Chinese interests in Central Asia and Africa, the networked nature of Al-Qaeda allows a geographically dispersed yet strategically aligned campaign against Beijing.

The Enduring Consequences of America’s Exit from Afghanistan

SAT Commentary December 25, 2025

The 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan was more than the end of a long war, it was a poorly executed exit that triggered the rapid collapse of the Afghan state. The fall of Kabul, the Abbey Gate attack, and the return of militant groups exposed serious gaps in planning and coordination.

The Afghan Crucible

SAT Commentary December 24, 2025

Recent reporting underscores Afghanistan’s transformation into a strategic hub for transnational jihadist networks. Far from being a localized security problem, the Afghan landscape now functions as an ideological, logistical, and digital anchor linking extremist affiliates across Africa, Southeast Asia, and beyond, signaling the collapse of regional containment and the rise of a globalized threat architecture.

Economic Statecraft and the New Geography of Power in Regional Politics

Mian Masood Tariq December 24, 2025

Strategic competition has moved beyond decisive wars toward a subtler synthesis of economic leverage, proxy networks, and calibrated force. Infrastructure, finance, and trade routes now function as instruments of power, quietly reshaping regional orders while preserving the façade of restraint. In this environment, security is no longer confined to the battlefield but embedded in supply chains, data networks, and development choices, forcing states to rethink deterrence, sovereignty, and resilience.

The Manufacturing of a False Equivalence

SAT Editorial Desk December 24, 2025

As scrutiny mounts over the Taliban’s tolerance of TTP sanctuaries, Kabul has attempted to deflect blame by alleging that ISIS-K operates from Pakistan. This false equivalence ignores the historical origins of ISIS-K in eastern Afghanistan, its sustained campaign of violence against Pakistan, and verified intelligence showing that the group’s operational depth remains rooted inside Afghan territory.

South Asia Times

Diamer – Bhasha Dam From a dream to a reality