Security & Counter Terrorism - South Asia Times

Pakistan’s Doctrine of Verifiable Peace: Realism in the Face of Proxy Politics

Farwa Imtiaz October 31, 2025

Pakistan’s Doctrine of Verifiable Peace represents a major shift from fraternal idealism to strategic realism in South Asia’s volatile security landscape. Rooted in classical realist thought, the doctrine emphasizes verification over trust, deterrence over sentiment, and conditional diplomacy over blind faith. Confronting the twin challenges of cross-border militancy and Indian-backed proxy networks in Afghanistan, Islamabad now seeks peace that is enforceable, monitored, and verifiable, anchoring regional stability on responsibility, not rhetoric.

Inside the Istanbul Talks: How Taliban Factionalism Killed a Peace Deal

SAT Editorial Desk October 28, 2025

The collapse of the Turkiye-hosted talks to address the TTP threat was not a diplomatic failure but a calculated act of sabotage from within the Taliban regime. Deep factional divides—between Kandahar, Kabul, and Khost blocs—turned mediation into chaos, as Kabul’s power players sought to use the TTP issue as leverage for U.S. re-engagement and financial relief. The episode exposed a regime too fractured and self-interested to act against terrorism or uphold sovereignty.

Afghan Taliban and Cross Border Terrorism in Pakistan

SAT Commentary October 20, 2025

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

TTP’s resurgence under the Afghan Taliban threatens not just Pakistan but global stability, linking jihadist networks across South and Central Asia.

Terrorism Beyond Borders: Why the TTP Threat Is Not Pakistan’s Alone

Faiqa Khanam October 11, 2025

The resurgence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) under the Taliban’s ideological protection is reactivating global terror networks across South and Central Asia. This op-ed explores how the TTP’s links with al-Qaeda, ISKP, and TIP make it a transnational threat, one that endangers U.S., Chinese, and regional interests alike, not just Pakistan’s stability.

The Unholy War: Religious Consensus Against Insurgency in Pakistan

SAT Editorial Desk September 15, 2025

For two decades, Pakistan has endured TTP-led violence. Now, a rare consensus among Deobandi, Barelvi, and Ahl-e-Hadith scholars delegitimizes the insurgency and redefines jihad versus rebellion.

Islamophobia and Global Politics After 9/11

Muhammad Aqib September 11, 2025

The 9/11 attacks reshaped global politics and ignited the US-led “War on Terror.” Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslims worldwide faced rising Islamophobia, systemic discrimination, and cultural vilification. This era marked the transformation of prejudice into an entrenched political and social structure across the West.

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.

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.

Professors, Students, and Suicide Bombers: How the BLA Exploits Education System

SAT Commentary August 18, 2025

The case of Dr. Usman Qazi, a university professor arrested for facilitating the BLA, underscores a disturbing trend: the radicalization of Pakistan’s educated youth. From Quaid-e-Azam University students to Shari Baloch’s suicide attack, these examples reveal how the insurgency exploits academic and social networks while pursuing an ethno-fascist campaign of violence.

US and Pakistan renew counterterrorism ties, targeting TTP, ISKP, and BLA, with focus on modern threats and regional stability.

USA–Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue

SAT Commentary August 13, 2025

The August 2025 USA–Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue marked a cooperative reset, targeting major terror groups and modernizing joint strategies.