China’s growing involvement in Pakistan’s security, especially with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a significant strategic shift that deserves a closer look. This shift occurs as Islamabad grapples with internal unrest, particularly in Balochistan, while Beijing focuses on safeguarding its economic interests. As regional stability and sovereignty issues become increasingly crucial, understanding this evolving dynamic is essential for academics and policymakers. CPEC, launched as a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is valued at roughly $62 billion (Caskey, 2024).
Category: Pakistan
Epidemic of Exam Leaks: South Asia’s Education Under Siege
In a shocking turn of events, an investigation done by a team of journalists for six years has shown that more than 30 government jobs and academic board exams in Bangladesh including question papers of the nation’s most competitive exams like Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) have been leaked for over “a decade”. These incidents of paper leaks are spreading like a contagious epidemic in South Asia’s education system. Paper leaks where exam question papers are disclosed before the scheduled date have become a common phenomenon that disrupts the integrity of individual academic assessments.
Emergence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Beyond
There was a time in the year 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, at that moment both Pakistan and the US considered Afghanistan as a region to safeguard their interest. When Afghanistan was having wars with Pakistan it didn’t bother Pakistan much as it was aware of US funding to Pakistan but today the scenario has changed, post US withdrawal from the region Pakistan is left to deal with terror outfits in Afghanistan all alone. Pakistan has a long-shared bond with TTP as TTP is Pakistani militants from Pakistan, TTP experienced a strong comeback in 2020 after the Afghan peace deal with the US. Afghan Taliban and TTP share deep ideological roots.
Imran Khan vs. Establishment: Pakistan’s Youth and Political Turning Point
Pakistan’s recent election results marked a potential turning point in its political history, with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerging as the front-runner, challenging the military-backed establishment. This research piece will analyse this phenomenon through power dynamics, social change and the complexities of navigating a nascent democracy.