South Asia

Neglected Languages & Overlooked Identities in Sindh

Neglected Languages & Overlooked Identities in Sindh

Sindh is home to at least 16 distinct languages, yet official recognition remains limited to Vicholi Sindhi. This marginalization threatens cultural heritage, deepens social inequalities, and obscures the province’s rich linguistic mosaic. Reforming policies to include all regional tongues is essential for inclusivity and unity.

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Pakistan at the SCO Summit: Strategic Messaging and Diplomatic Wins

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.

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Water, War, and the UN: The Indus Basin Dilemma

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.

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Why Pakistan Still Matters to Its Diaspora

Why Pakistan Still Matters to Its Diaspora

For generations of the Pakistani diaspora, belonging in the West has felt conditional, while Pakistan remains both a sanctuary and a source of frustration. Their lived experiences, shaped by partition memories, racial hostility abroad, and continued engagement with Pakistan, reveal a paradox of love, responsibility, and disillusionment.

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Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Dilemma: Balancing Civilian Protection and Security

Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Dilemma: Balancing Civilian Protection and Security

Unlike its peak years of 2007–2009, the TTP no longer commands territory but operates through small decentralized cells that blend into civilian populations. This shift poses an unprecedented challenge for Pakistan’s security forces, where every strike risks civilian casualties and fuels propaganda. The dilemma is not unique, echoing ISIS in Iraq and Boko Haram in Nigeria, but it demands a collective civil-military response to deny militants both sanctuary and narrative advantage.

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Syed Ali Shah Geelani: The Ideologue Who Defined Kashmir’s Defiance

Syed Ali Shah Gillani: The Ideologue Who Defined Kashmir’s Defiance

Syed Ali Shah Gillani was more than a political leader—he was the unwavering voice of Kashmiri resistance. From electoral politics to decades of confinement, his life embodied an uncompromising devotion to self-determination and a rejection of political compromise. His passing in 2021 marked not an end, but the continuation of a struggle defined by defiance and sacrifice.

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Extremist Rhetoric and Constitutional Reality: The Case of Pakistan’s Islamic Identity

Extremist Rhetoric and Constitutional Reality: The Case of Pakistan’s Islamic Identity

The glorification of militants as martyrs by Mufti Kifayatullah reveals a dangerous narrative that mirrors extremist propaganda. From constitutional consensus to historic fatwas by leading scholars, Pakistan’s religious and political mainstream has repeatedly rejected armed rebellion as un-Islamic. By platforming extremist sympathizers, certain nationalist movements risk legitimizing violence, undermining national sacrifices, and enabling the TTP’s attempt to co-opt Pashtun identity. The path forward lies in constitutionalism, peace, and dialogue—not violence.

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