Balochistan is one of the most restive areas in Pakistan that has endured systematic and extraordinary suppression at the hands of the Pakistani State and its security forces. The Baloch form a distinct ethno-national identity, and dream of creating a Baloch nation-state, but this runs contrary to the overarching Pakistani identity and State, attracting their fury. The Baloch have struggled for decades for international recognition of their plight but have hardly received any support.
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s research article ‘Rivalry between the Taliban and ISKP: The Collision of Terror’ has been published in India Quarterly Journal on 20 October 2022.
Concerns of radicalisation in SDF-run facilities in Syria remain high, given that reports flag corruption, crime, and deplorable security conditions at these camps.
Challenges, such as weak infrastructure and ill-equipped armed forces, corruption, pandemic, and drought, have become intrinsic to Somalia, mutually reinforcing each other. Additionally, they have been exploited by terrorists to advance their Islamist cause. While re-evaluating counter-terrorism strategies to defeat al-Shabaab, the allied partners should carefully consider these factors’ role in sustaining the insurgency and address the security crisis – state and human security – accordingly.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a 2000 per cent surge in heroin-related drug seizures between 2017 and 2022, with significant national security and societal consequences.
The strike against Zawahiri is being hailed as a vindication of the US’s ‘over-the-horizon’ strategy in eradicating terrorism without placing boots on the ground.
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘The ideological and non-ideological underpinnings of violent extremism: An American study’ has been published in Modern Diplomacy, on 14 July 2022.
Although there is no universal definition of violent extremism, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation believes it to be “the beliefs and actions of people who support or use violence to achieve ideological, religious or political goals,” including “terrorism and other forms of politically motivated violence”, says Ms Kidwai.
Escalating Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban
Border clashes and failure to act against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have led to rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.