The Taliban Eclipse

Two years of Kabul’s takeover, what is new and what is old about the new rulers of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan’s Recognition Conditional With an Inclusive Government, Says Iran

Iran, once again, stressed the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and maintained that this is the only way through which Iran will formally recognize Afghanistan. This time, the statement comes from Iran’s Foreign Minister, Amir Abdollahian, as he was in a joint press briefing with his Iraqi counterpart. A high-level delegation from Iraq […]

Insurgency in Balochistan and Pakistan’s Security Concerns

Militant in Balochistan

Regional geopolitics and competition have played a major role in fueling the insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan. The streak of attacks by insurgent groups and terrorism\’s recent wave in Pakistan, especially when the Interim Afghan Government is hunting down ISKP in Afghanistan, make security challenges apparent.

Secessionist Agenda of Pakistan’s PTM: An Analysis

Political activism of PTM was directed towards the issues faced by the people of Erstwhile FATA now KPK, due to the military checkpoints [Image Credits: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters].

The use of Pashtun ethnicity as a basis for separatist agenda demands a normative understanding of ‘ethnic-nationalism’. The issues faced by Pashtuns in erstwhile FATA cannot be considered persecution or subjugation of an ethnicity.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban: Are the Tides Changing?

Pakistan wanted an ally on its west border that can oppose India and anti-Pakistan elements. Afghan Taliban being the ideologically driven faction emerged as indirectly favoring Pakistan. Though most of the Taliban are ethnic Pashtun, their ethnicity has never taken over their ideological identity, so in both respects, the Taliban were less detrimental to Pakistan’s security challenges.