The ethno-national fault line of Pakistan’s North-West has tactfully been weaponized by PTM to further sub-nationalist desires.
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 Abdollahi
Insurgency in Balochistan and Pakistan’s Security Concerns
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.
![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].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/5acc715046085.webp)
Secessionist Agenda of Pakistan’s PTM: An Analysis
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.
