Author: Filza Asim

The Guardians of the Khyber While the world’s attention remains tethered to the high-stakes diplomacy of the “Islamabad Process,” a more visceral struggle for sovereignty is being waged in the rugged corridors of the Hindu Kush. On May 1, 2026, the silence of the northwestern frontiers was broken by a decisive tactical engagement that serves as a microcosm of a much larger strategic reality. Thirteen militants, identified by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as members of the “Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij” (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan), were neutralized while attempting to breach the sovereign borders of Pakistan from Afghan soil. These were not isolated…

The government in Islamabad is struggling to navigate a delicate time in the region through a two-fold approach in foreign diplomacy: active diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and reaching out at the highest levels to the Iranians on the other hand. COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit to Iran and the reported travel of the prime minister to Saudi Arabia indicates that Pakistan is striving hard to ensure it keeps talking to both nations without compromising on its interests. It’s not about taking sides here. It’s about keeping balance. The Pakistani foreign policy machinery seems to be operating on the principle…

Some sentence is floating around diplomatic quarters: To the table not to eat; you are on it. To the menu, Pakistan is not on the menu. Nevertheless, amidst the clamorous accounts enhanced by some form of selective statistics and political analysis, there is a more, and more importantly, strategically important story in the systematic evaluation of the counter-terrorism situation in Pakistan. When measured by internationally accepted metrics, as opposed to impression management manifested by headlines, the trend is obvious: the space for terrorist operations is becoming smaller, the capacity to respond is increasing at the state level, and the calculation…

IntroductionBalochistan’s under attack, and it’s no accident. These recent strikes in Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, Kharan, Panjgur really, all over aren’t random. Armed groups hit police stations, banks, jails, and went after public officials. They’re trying to grind the government to a halt, mess with business, and keep people scared. Security forces didn’t sit back; they moved fast and hit back hard. Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed the killing of 92 terrorists during counter operations. Fifteen soldiers embraced martyrdom. Eighteen civilians lost their lives. The response prevented longer sieges and wider loss. Operational coordination limited damage across multiple locations.Historical Context of Cross-Border…

Recent violence in Balochistan demands a clear examination. A simplistic view centered on grievances misses the core structure of the crisis. Organized militancy, backed from outside Pakistan, drives the instability. The state response integrates security, politics, and economics. This record shows a consistent pattern. A coordinated series of attacks struck over a dozen locations. Nearly two hundred people died. Civilians, security personnel, and attackers were among the casualties. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army claimed these acts. Officials provided evidence against inflated claims of security losses. The operational pattern showed precise coordination. This level of planning requires logistics, financing, and training…