SAT Research - South Asia Times

Backgrounders

What is Durand Line?

The Durand Line, a 2,670-kilometer border drawn in 1893 between Afghanistan and British India, remains one of South Asia’s many contentious frontiers. Rejected by every Afghan government but recognized internationally, it symbolizes the region’s colonial legacy and ongoing power struggles. This backgrounder explores its origins in the Great Game, the legal and political controversies surrounding it, and its lasting impact on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and regional security.

SAT Research

The Indian Muslim

The Indian Muslim: Living Between Faith and Fear

In September 2025, a simple expression of faith became a crime. When a devotional social media trend, the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign, went viral, it was deliberately framed as a provocation by authorities. The state’s response was swift and brutal: mass arrests and punitive demolitions that turned a peaceful act of devotion into a national flashpoint, revealing a clear intent to police and punish Muslim identity itself.

SAT Research

Backgrounders

A History of Failed Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations

Since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, numerous US, Arab, and international peace plans have sought to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, yet none have succeeded. A consistent pattern has seen these efforts fail in the face of core disagreements over Palestinian sovereignty, Israeli security, and the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements. This backgrounder explains the historical context of the conflict, the major peace initiatives since 1973, why they failed, and the primary obstacles that remain.

SAT Research

Backgrounders

Terrorism in Pakistan (2001-2025)

Terrorism in Pakistan over the past two and a half decades reflects a turbulent cycle of escalation, decline, and resurgence shaped by regional geopolitics. From the influx of militants after 9/11 to the formation of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the peak of violence in 2009, the post-2014 counter-terrorism offensives, and the renewed insurgency following the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan’s security has remained deeply intertwined with Afghanistan’s instability. The human and economic costs have been immense, leaving lasting impacts on both society and state policy.

SAT Research

The Indian Muslim

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.

SAT Research

Backgrounders

Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

This backgrounder examines the long and complex history of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, spanning more than forty years of conflict-driven displacement. It explores the major waves of refugee influx since the Soviet invasion, shifting legal and policy frameworks, and the fluctuating role of international aid. The backgrounder also highlights the profound social, economic, and political impacts on Pakistan, as well as the recent push for mass deportations that raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns.

SAT Research