SAT Commentary, Author at South Asia Times

Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

Afghanistan

Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s recent address sought to reframe Afghanistan’s strained ties with Pakistan through a narrative of victimhood and denial. From dismissing cross-border militancy to overstating economic resilience, his claims contradict on-ground realities and historical patterns. A closer examination reveals strategic deflection rather than accountability, with serious implications for regional peace and security.

SAT Commentary

A Disinformation Partnership: How Indo–Taliban Propaganda Tries to Rewrite Pakistan’s Pain

Commentary

A Disinformation Partnership: How Indo–Taliban Propaganda Tries to Rewrite Pakistan’s Pain

A deeply humanised analysis uncovering how Afghan intelligence and Indian media coordinate disinformation to deflect attention from ISKP and TTP bases inside Afghanistan. The piece contrasts propaganda with Pakistan’s lived experiences, counterterror gains, and the global data that exposes this narrative manipulation.

SAT Commentary

Commentary

The US Report on Pakistan’s May Win

The USCC’s 2025 report delivered a rare moment of clarity in South Asian geopolitics. By openly describing Pakistan’s military success over India, the Commission broke with years of cautious Western language and confirmed a shift many analysts had only hinted at. The report’s wording, and the global reactions that followed, mark a turning point in how the 2025 clash is being understood.

SAT Commentary

India’s Broadcasting Advisory and the Crisis of Media Credibility

Commentary

India’s Broadcasting Advisory and the Crisis of Media Credibility

The Red Fort blast and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s subsequent advisory have reignited debate on India’s declining media standards. Sensationalism, unverified claims, and AI-driven misinformation overshadowed responsible reporting, revealing a deeper structural crisis within Indian journalism and its growing vulnerability to political influence.

SAT Commentary

Commentary

Digital Deception

The viral video alleging to show a Delhi blast suspect has sparked renewed debate on AI-driven disinformation. Forensic inconsistencies, ideological distortions, and the Indian media’s rush to broadcast the clip suggest a manufactured narrative aimed at securitizing Kashmiri identity and reshaping public perception through synthetic reality.

SAT Commentary

Economic Engagement or Ethical Dilemma? Canada-India Relations and the Nijjar Case

Commentary

Economic Engagement or Ethical Dilemma? Canada-India Relations and the Nijjar Case

Canada’s renewed trade outreach to India comes at a moment of deep diplomatic strain. As Minister Maninder Sidhu seeks to revive economic cooperation, the unresolved assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and allegations implicating senior Indian officials, cast a long shadow. The controversy raises critical questions about whether Ottawa can balance economic ambitions with justice, accountability, and the protection of Canadian sovereignty.

SAT Commentary

Playing the Victim: How the Taliban Endorse and Amplify Online Propaganda Against Pakistan

Afghanistan

Playing the Victim: How the Taliban Endorse and Amplify Online Propaganda Against Pakistan

Following the October 2025 border clashes, the Taliban have shifted their battlefield online, using propaganda, selective history, and digital disinformation to paint Pakistan as the aggressor. Through controlled media releases, colonial-era references, and victimhood narratives, Kabul seeks to manipulate regional perception and deflect blame for its own failures.

SAT Commentary

Afghan Taliban and Cross Border Terrorism in Pakistan

Afghanistan

Afghan Taliban and Cross Border Terrorism in Pakistan

Pakistan is witnessing a sharp rise in terrorist attacks linked to the Afghan Taliban’s support for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A new study reveals that Afghan nationals now dominate TTP infiltration groups, exposing Kabul’s complicity in cross-border militancy. As violence escalates, Islamabad must balance border control, diplomacy, and de-radicalisation to counter

SAT Commentary

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Commentary

The New Normal: End of Pakistan’s Strategic Restraint

Any hope surrounding the Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue in Doha is colliding with renewed violence and mutual distrust. Pakistan’s recent precision strikes in Paktika, following a shattered ceasefire and terrorist attacks, signal a shift toward active defense. The talks now hinge on whether Kabul can curb militant sanctuaries and move beyond its victim narrative.

SAT Commentary

An analysis of a false Financial Times report on a Pakistan-US port deal, its journalistic flaws, and its weaponization for political gain.

Commentary

Geopolitics, Journalism, and the Anatomy of a False Narrative

A recent Financial Times story claimed Pakistan was pitching a new Arabian Sea port to the US Built on anonymous sources and logical flaws, the report was quietly corrected. This article dissects how the flimsy reporting was weaponized by domestic and regional actors to push a false narrative, revealing more about their political agendas than Pakistan’s foreign policy.

SAT Commentary