
Latest Articles about South Asia

Rahman Gul: The Former Pakistani Army Captain Now Commanding the BLA’s Majeed Brigade
Executive Summary: Captain Rahman Gul, the Baloch Liberation Army’s second-in-command, is thought to be behind the group’s turn toward sophisticated suicide attacks in recent years. A poet and former member of Pakistan’s security forces, Rahman Gul provides his group with both military training and effective... MORE

Dr. Aminul Haq: Osama bin Laden Associate Released from Prison in Pakistan
Executive Summary: Top al-Qaeda leader Dr. Aminul Haq has been in and out of Pakistani prisons over the years. Most recently, he was released in April 2025 and deported to Afghanistan after having been arrested in July 2024. Officially designated as a terrorist by the... MORE

Amid Geopolitical Tensions, Baloch Militant Attacks Undermine Sino–Pakistan Projects
Executive Summary: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a prime target for Baloch separatists and jihadist groups, with attacks escalating since 2021 and culminating in high-profile incidents like the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking. These attacks reflect deeper regional and geopolitical tensions, as CPEC's... MORE

Moscow Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Executive Summary Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Kabul. Moscow has rationalized the move as a pragmatic concession in the fight against drug trafficking and emerging terrorist threats. While in some ways purely symbolic, the Kremlin’s decision is rooted... MORE

Jihadist Narratives in the Aftermath of India’s Airstrikes on Pakistan
Executive Summary: In the aftermath of the Indian air strikes on Pakistan on May 6, militant groups active in and around Pakistan took a variety of approaches to responding to the brief escalation within their respective propaganda apparatuses: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) initially... MORE

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Expedite Work on Joint Railway Project
Executive Summary Recent meetings between officials from Tashkent, Kabul, and Islamabad have given fresh impetus to the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) railway project, with Pakistan leading the way in coordinating final steps before construction. The railway will provide a direct connection from Central Asia to the Indian... MORE

Mahikhan Baloch: Fourth Female Baloch Suicide Bomber Amid Factional Friction
Executive Summary: On March 3, the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) conducted its fourth attack using a female suicide bomber. This suggests that the trend is likely to continue, with the women acting as powerful symbols for the BLA in its claim to represent the... MORE

Shahid Umar: Senior-Most TTP Commander Killed in Afghanistan to Date in Apparent Assassination
Executive Summary: On December 3, 2024, senior Pakistani Taliban (TTP) commander Shahid Umar was killed in Afghanistan, the most significant killing of a TTP commander under Afghan Taliban rule to date. The assassination was unusual in that Shahid Umar was killed in the home of... MORE

Connectivity and Security Drive Russia’s Elevated Ties With Taliban
Executive Summary: Russia’s concerns regarding threats emanating from the Islamic State Khorasan Province and diversions from north-south transit routes have been the driving factors behind Moscow’s rapprochement with the Taliban. Afghanistan and Russia are close to establishing official diplomatic relations, but the Kremlin will likely... MORE

Rising Islamist and Anti-Hindu Sentiment in Bangladesh in Wake of Pahalgam Attack
Executive Summary: Following the ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Islamist factions have filled the power vacuum in Bangladesh, leading to a surge in anti-Hindu violence. These groups have capitalized on growing anti-India sentiment—especially after the Pahalgam terror attack—to justify attacks against the Hindu... MORE