Latest Articles about South Asia
Hafeez Pandrani: the Man Behind the Emerging Insurgency in Sindh
Pakistan’s southern province Sindh has been a hotbed of terrorist activities since the 1980s and Karachi, the capital of the province and financial capital of Pakistan, has been considered to be the most violent city in Pakistan. Islamist terrorist groups, ethno-political and national-separatist groups have... MORE
From Military Major to Militant Mastermind: A Look at Ansar al-Islam Bangladesh’s Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque
With a bounty of 20 lakh BDT (approximately $25,000) on his head, Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque is one of the most notorious militant fugitives in Bangladesh. Haque has masterminded subversive militant violence in the country, including the recent targeted killings of secular bloggers. A disgraced... MORE
Pakistan-Armenia Friction Has Intensified
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh province, which has simmered since the collapse of the Soviet Union, seems to have drawn Pakistan and India into the most violent and enduring rivalry in the South Caucasus. As Yerevan and Baku both endeavor to... MORE
Foreign Fighters and Sectarian Strikes: Islamic State Makes Gains in ‘Af-Pak’ Region
Since its formation nearly two years ago, Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, known as IS Khorasan, has struggled to maintain a foothold in an ever-competitive jihadist landscape. Its disregard for local sensitivities and a number of setbacks on the battlefield had relegated it to a... MORE
The Arrest of Asif Choto: A Serious Blow to Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Islamist terrorist organizations in Pakistan have not been very successful in recruiting rank and file from Karachi. The city developed a culture somewhat resistant to their influence, which is demonstrated by local voting patterns. People in the southern port city and financial capital of Pakistan... MORE
Karachi’s Security Crackdown a Boost for Pakistan’s Islamists
Political violence and gang wars in Karachi have remained a critical issue for the Pakistani authorities over the years. The situation even became an agenda item in the country’s National Action Plan on counter-terrorism, an initiative that received unanimous approval in parliament following the 2014... MORE
Briefs
MALI: ISLAMIC STATE CONSIDERS ITS ALTERNATIVES Islamic State (IS) has acknowledged a pledge of allegiance from a fledgling group of Islamist fighters in Mali following several recent cross-border attacks by the group, and as IS itself comes under pressure in Iraq and Syria. On October... MORE
Village Mullah Turned Emir of the Afghan Taliban: An In-Depth Portrait of Haibatullah Akhundzada
Following the announcement of Mullah Muhammad Omar’s death in July 2015, the defunct Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s reign rested with his powerful deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, amid internal conflict and contestation over leadership. Although he had been leading the Afghan Taliban as de facto... MORE
‘Surgical Strikes’ Mark Change in India’s Stance on Cross-Border Attacks
On September 29, India announced it had carried out “surgical strikes” on terrorist “launch pads” in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), in an operation aimed at “neutralizing terrorists” and preempting their infiltration beyond the Line of Control (LoC). According to Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, India’s director... MORE
Uzbekistan Determined to Improve Relations With Its Neighbors
Uzbekistan’s diplomats may never have been quite as busy as Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov has been in just the past several weeks. In addition to attending or hosting a series of routine meetings, Kamilov has also become a goodwill ambassador for Uzbekistan’s interim president, Prime... MORE