Pakistan - South Asia Times

Pakistan at the SCO Summit: Strategic Messaging and Diplomatic Wins

SAT Commentary September 4, 2025

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.

Why Pakistan Still Matters to Its Diaspora

Azam Ahmed September 3, 2025

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.

UNGA 80: Pakistan’s Case Against Terrorism, Proxies, and Global Neglect

SAT Commentary September 2, 2025

As the UN General Assembly meets under the theme of peace and cooperation, Pakistan highlights its struggle against cross-border terrorism, proxy wars, and external agendas undermining its stability.

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

SAT Commentary September 2, 2025

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.

From 1965 Battlefields to Hybrid Frontlines: Pakistan’s Enduring Test

Faiqa Khanam September 1, 2025

Explore how Pakistan’s 1965 war legacy connects to today’s hybrid warfare—disinformation, proxies, and economic pressure reshaping national defense.

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

SAT Editorial Desk August 31, 2025

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.

Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Why Comparisons to the US War on Terror Are Misleading

Usama Khan August 29, 2025

Obaidullah Baheer’s critique misrepresents Pakistan’s counter-terrorism fight by equating it with America’s wars abroad. Unlike the US, Pakistan faces an existential threat from groups like the TTP and BLA, requiring a nuanced mix of military, legal, and development responses.

From Disaster to Resilience: Why Pakistan Needs Dams and Flood Canals

SAT Editorial Desk August 27, 2025

Pakistan’s devastating floods have exposed a systemic failure of outdated water infrastructure. Without urgent investment in modern dams, flood canals, and climate adaptation, the country will remain locked in a cycle of annual destruction. Learning from international models and pursuing cooperative management of shared rivers with India is vital to building a secure and resilient future.

Climate Change and Mental Health in AJK: Assessing Impacts amid an Awareness Deficit

Saad Khursheed August 26, 2025

Climate change is reshaping life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, from melting glaciers and cloudbursts to devastating floods. Beyond economic losses, these disasters are leaving deep psychological scars, with rising cases of PTSD, depression, and chronic stress. Yet, awareness of the mental health toll remains scarce, underscoring the urgent need for community resilience and mental health support in AJK.

UNSC Briefing: Pakistan Warns of Afghan Safe Havens, State Terrorism, and Digital Radicalization

SAT Editorial Desk August 22, 2025

At the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s envoy delivered a powerful critique of the global counterterrorism framework. Citing its sacrifices, he warned of new threats from Afghanistan, state-sponsored violence, and digital radicalization. His call: a principled, unified, and consistent global response.