Nearly three years after seizing power, the Taliban’s systematic violation of their international commitments under the 2020 Doha Accord has transformed Afghanistan into a sanctuary for terrorism, entrenched an autocratic regime, and institutionalized gender apartheid. Beyond moral failure, this deceit poses a grave threat to regional stability, international counterterrorism efforts, and the credibility of global diplomacy. Holding the regime accountable is now a strategic necessity, not a choice.
India’s Agni‑5 Bunker Buster: Strategic Shift & Regional Impact
India’s development of a deep-strike bunker-buster variant of its Agni-5 ballistic missile marks a serious transformation in South Asia’s strategic landscape. Traditionally anchored in a doctrine of “No First Use” and “Credible Minimum Deterrence,” India is now signaling a shift toward pre-emptive conventional strike capabilities. The modified Agni-5, armed with a massive 7.5-tonne conventional warhead, is reportedly capable of penetrating 80 to 100 meters underground, designed specifically to destroy hardened nuclear and command-and-control infrastructure. While its range is reduced from 5,000+ kilometers to around 2,000–2,500 kilometers, it still covers all of Pakistan and key Chinese installations. This development, reportedly influenced by U.S. use of bunker-busting munitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, directly targets deeply buried strategic facilities in adversarial states.
Strategically, this move introduces a new form of asymmetry. By enabling conventional strikes on nuclear infrastructure without crossing the nuclear threshold, India has effectively lowered the bar for escalation. In any crisis, the temptation to use such a weapon for a pre-emptive decapitation strike could dangerously destabilize the region. It blurs the line between deterrence and aggression, undermining long-standing norms that helped prevent rapid escalation in past conflicts.
For Pakistan, India’s shift presents both a technological and doctrinal challenge. In response, Islamabad can explore multiple countermeasures. A key step can be improving the Anti-Ballistic missile system, which is already in process with the recent Pakistan-China weapons deal that included the acquisition of the Chinese HQ-19 anti-ballistic missile system, a mid-course interceptor capable of targeting incoming ballistic threats. When deployed, the HQ-19 would significantly enhance Pakistan’s ability to defend against high-altitude threats like Agni-5. Additionally, Pakistan may accelerate the hardening and dispersal of its strategic assets,
ensuring survivability through redundancy and mobility. Another path involves advancing indigenous missile systems to include deeper penetration and MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle) capabilities. Importantly, Pakistan may reinforce its Full Spectrum Deterrence doctrine, which promises a calibrated nuclear response to conventional or sub-conventional threats. The presence of Indian deep-strike conventional weapons could, therefore, trigger a nuclear threshold sooner than anticipated.
In this rapidly evolving environment, the absence of arms control mechanisms or strategic dialogue greatly increases the risk of miscalculation. Without transparency, confidence-building, or crisis management frameworks, India’s pursuit of deep-strike capabilities, driven by its jingoistic government, could drive South Asia into a new and dangerous phase of arms competition and instability.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
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Broken Promises: The Taliban’s Betrayal of Global Commitments
Nearly three years after seizing power, the Taliban’s systematic violation of their international commitments under the 2020 Doha Accord has transformed Afghanistan into a sanctuary for terrorism, entrenched an autocratic regime, and institutionalized gender apartheid. Beyond moral failure, this deceit poses a grave threat to regional stability, international counterterrorism efforts, and the credibility of global diplomacy. Holding the regime accountable is now a strategic necessity, not a choice.
Do You Remember 6/11/ 1947?: A Forgotten Jammu Genocide and the Continuing Erasure of Kashmiriyat
On November 6, 1947, one of South Asia’s earliest genocides unfolded in Jammu, where hundreds of thousands of Muslims were massacred or forced to flee. Yet, unlike other global tragedies, this atrocity remains buried in silence. The Jammu Genocide not only reshaped the region’s demography but laid the foundation for India’s ongoing campaign of identity erasure in Kashmir. From demographic engineering to cultural censorship, the spirit of Kashmiriyat continues to face systematic annihilation.
India’s Climate Policy after COP28: Net Zero 2070 — A Fair Promise or a Risky Postponement?
India’s Net Zero 2070 target reflects a delicate balance between development equity and climate urgency. While progress in renewables, green finance, and adaptation is visible, the absence of clear interim milestones risks turning ambition into delay. The real challenge lies in translating a distant horizon into measurable, near-term climate action before 2030.
The Tehreek-e-Hijrat of 1920 and Its Parallels with Contemporary Refugee Politics
The Tehreek-e-Hijrat of 1920 saw thousands of Indian Muslims migrate to Afghanistan, only to be turned away when Kabul could no longer cope. A century later, Afghan officials criticise Pakistan’s refugee policies while ignoring their own historical refusal to host Muslim migrants. The parallel reveals not just irony, but the enduring challenge of compassion, capacity, and collective responsibility.
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.