Yusufzai Aqib

The Battle Over Bagram: Trump’s, China Claim Versus Strategic Reality

More than three years after the last U.S. troops departed Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield once the beating heart of American military power in South Asia has returned to the geopolitical spotlight. But this time, its runways and barracks are not staging combat sorties or housing allied troops. Instead, they have become a rhetorical battlefield in a […]

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Has Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Quietly Become the New ‘Khorasan’?

When gunfire once again echoes through the valleys of South Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan, a disturbing question emerges: are we still living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or has this region quietly morphed into something far more perilous something unrecognizable under the shadow of escalating militancy? Has Khyber Pakhtunkhwa silently become the new “Khorasan,” the

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Of Factions and Fiefdoms: The Taliban’s Inward Struggles and the Weight of Unfinished History

After nearly four years of Taliban rule, the so-called Islamic Emirate is less a unified ideological formation than a fragile patchwork of rival power centers. What was once hailed as restoration of order has become an uneasy equilibrium between competing commanders, tribal networks, and economic patrons. At its apex sits Amir-ul‑Momineen Hibatullah Akhundzada, whose ultraconservative clerical

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From FATF Compliance to Counterterrorism Doctrine: Pakistan’s Offensive Against Militant Financing

Pakistan’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2022 was more than a diplomatic success it was a watershed moment in the country’s long and complicated battle against terrorism and extremism. Often under intense international scrutiny and regional pressure, Pakistan undertook one of the most rigorous institutional overhauls in its

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Russia Bets on the Barrel: Recognizing the Taliban and Rewriting the Rules of Regional Diplomacy

Russia’s official recognition of the Taliban on July 3, 2025, marks a troubling and consequential shift in regional geopolitics. By becoming the first country to formally acknowledge a regime that seized power through force and continues to govern without legitimacy, Moscow has effectively redrawn the diplomatic map of Central and South Asia. This recognition is

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Putin’s War of Attrition Risks Collapse as Drone Firepower Outpaces Manpower

As Russia intensifies its summer offensive in Ukraine, the Kremlin hopes a cascade of drone strikes, battlefield gains, and geopolitical shifts will force Kyiv to submit. But behind the façade of strength lies a fragile campaign built on dwindling manpower, exaggerated recruitment figures, and a strategy that may, in time, backfire. If Russia fails to

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The Coming Storm in Asia: NATO Can’t Afford to Stand Aside

As NATO leaders convene for the 2025 Summit, the alliance faces a defining challenge that lies far beyond its traditional borders. While the war in Ukraine continues to dominate the European security agenda, another strategic confrontation is emerging in the Indo-Pacific one that could upend the global order if mishandled. The United States is increasingly

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The Rise of Saraya Ansar al-Sunna and the New Jihadist Challenge in Damascus

What should have been a moment of religious observance turned into a scene of carnage this past Sunday, when a suicide bomber detonated inside the Mar St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, killing 25 worshippers and injuring 63 others. Initially attributed by Syria’s Ministry of Interior to the Islamic State (ISIS), the bombing took

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The Shadow Wars: Unraveling the Geopolitical Utility of ISIS

The emergence of the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIS) has often been presented as an organic outgrowth of religious extremism. Yet, a closer look reveals a deeper, more disturbing reality: ISIS was not merely the product of fanaticism or sectarian strife, but a manipulated force, shaped and sustained by broader geopolitical interests. While ISIS operated under

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Turkey and Pakistan Forge a Strategic Axis for Regional Peace and Defense

The worsening security dynamics in South Asia have accelerated the formation of strategic military alignments, and among the most noteworthy developments is the growing defense and economic partnership between Turkey and Pakistan. Both countries, guided by shared geopolitical perspectives and mutual respect, are actively expanding their cooperation across a wide spectrum from trade and technology

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