Introduction In Bangladesh, identity has long been intertwined with the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War—an emblem of secularism, pluralism, and democratic aspirations. Yet, over the decades, this foundational ethos has been compromised by successive political regimes, opportunistic alignments, and the strategic misuse of religion and ethnicity. Amidst a growing crisis of democracy, Bangladeshi identity […]
Posted inAsia, Opinion
The Shadow War in Balochistan
The strategic crucible of Balochistan Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet most underdeveloped province, has long served as a geopolitical flashpoint. Rich in natural resources but mired in chronic poverty, military repression, and ethno-nationalist alienation, it has become fertile ground for a complex entanglement of insurgencies and international security threats. While Baloch ethno-nationalist movements like the Baloch […]
Posted inAsia, Opinion
The Forgotten Republic: Balochistan’s Fight for Freedom and the Silence of the World
A Land Suppressed, a People Disappeared Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, has for decades witnessed an unsettling contradiction. Mineral wealth is extracted at gunpoint. Meanwhile, its people disappear without a trace. Pakistan’s intelligence services often carry out enforced disappearances. These services include the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI). The practice has […]
Posted inAsia, Opinion
A State of Strategic Hostility: Terrorism as the Grammar of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Partitioned Foundations and a State Built on Siege (1947–1958) From day one, Pakistan saw survival through the lens of conflict, not coexistence. The state of Pakistan did not simply emerge from the trauma of Partition — it was born out of an ideological project premised on religious exclusivism and political negation. Its founding narrative, crafted […]
Posted inAsia
A History Written in Broken Handshakes: An Introduction
Since their traumatic partition in 1947, India and Pakistan have waged war not only on battlefields but across negotiating tables. The distance between the two nations has never been merely geographical; it has been ideological, psychological, and historical. Every diplomatic overture has carried the shadow of mistrust, and every agreement has been followed by disillusionment. […]
Posted inAsia, Opinion
The Military Mind Behind the Pakistani State: How the Army Controls Every Institution
Pakistan’s military has entrenched itself as the central authority across all sectors of governance, economy, and national identity. From Ayub Khan’s economic consolidation to Zia-ul-Haq’s ideological expansion and beyond, civilian institutions have been systematically undermined. Backed by global powers and fortified by vast business interests, the military’s unchecked dominance leaves little space for democratic resurgence.
Posted inAsia, Opinion
The Great Wall of Capital: How China is Rewriting South Asia’s Future in Asphalt, Debt, and Silence
This article critically examines China’s growing economic influence in South Asia, focusing on Pakistan and Bangladesh. It argues that behind the façade of infrastructure development lies a deeper strategy of dependency, surveillance, and regional control. The piece warns that without strategic balancing, South Asia may surrender its autonomy to Beijing’s expanding economic empire.
Posted inAsia
The Unyielding Baloch Question
Balochistan’s fight for autonomy reveals deep tensions between identity, resistance, and state power in South Asia—where Pakistan’s control and India’s rhetoric collide with a people’s enduring struggle for self-determination.
Posted inAsia, Opinion
Censorship, Silence and the Persecution of Writers in South Asia — A Focus on Bangladesh
In recent years, South Asia has seen a rapid deterioration in press freedom and freedom of expression. Writers are facing increasing censorship, silence, and persecution in South Asian countries. These include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Press freedom in Bangladesh has severely declined. This is especially noticeable in recent […]
Posted inAsia, International relations
The India-Pakistan Rivalry and China’s Strategic Role: A Historical Overview
India, Pakistan, and China are locked in a high-stakes strategic rivalry centered on Kashmir, shaped by decades of war, proxy militancy, and nuclear brinkmanship. This article traces the conflict’s evolution and China’s growing influence through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional alignments. In a multipolar world, South Asia’s future hinges not on peace declarations, […]