Poppy cultivation in Pakistan has been a long-standing issue, intensely for decades. Yet, its involvement in the modern international drug trade began only in the 1970s. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 transformed Pakistan into a critical processor and transit corridor for narcotics. Cover by The Geostrata Although narcotics did not initiate the conflict in Afghanistan, the drug trade has both sustained and been sustained by the ongoing violence. This trade has str

In the magnificent world of diplomacy, nations speak the language of friendship and trust, followed by the treaties, agreements, or pacts that promise solidarity, resilience, and cooperation. These pacts are signed and agreed upon in a spirit of warmth and confidence, marked by gestures of goodwill, photographs, and cordial handshakes; however, the dark truth lies deep in the shifting interests of nations. Illustration by The Geostrata History reveals the colder side of thes

The Taliban coming to power in August 2021 represents not only a regime change, but it also reinstated one of the most oppressive regimes towards gender in history. To decode their politics, two crucial steps need to be followed: firstly, the geopolitical realities of the Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and secondly, analysing the usage of state-sponsored violence from a feminist lens. Illustration by The Geostrata As Moghdam states, Afghanistan is the most aggressive cases o

The launch of a Chinese-funded airport in Gwadar in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has been delayed due to the coordinated attack by...

South Asia has been increasingly witnessing seismic shifts in the political front, with swift regime changes in almost all of India’s...

Afghanistan- a board for great powers to play chess on. A graveyard of empires. A cauldron of mixed ethnicities and rich culture.  In...

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have been marred by political instability over the past few decades. The presence of Afghan refugees in...

Mr. Devasher is a member of the National Security Advisory Board and an acclaimed author of a wide range of books focusing on the Pakistan a

Ms Suhasini Haidar, acclaimed journalist and the Diplomatic Editor of the esteemed national daily, The Hindu speaks with The Geostrata...