Dr. Shoaib Baloch

The author is a strategic affairs and foreign policy analyst, based in Islamabad.

A Blueprint for Counterinsurgency

Brute force fuels insurgency; winning hearts wins wars. A counterinsurgency blueprint for Balochistan demands trust-building, political reform, and economic development—not just military might.

Changing Face of Insurgency in Balochistan

The fifth wave of the Baloch insurgency was sparked by the assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006. Initially, the movement was led...

Trump’s Diplomatic Coup

“We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty...

Don't miss

What Canada’s Submarine Decision Means for South Korean Arms Exports

Canada's submarine choice highlights a key lesson: modern arms sales depend not only on capability and price, but also on alliances, strategic trust, and long-term security partnerships. South Korea must sell relationships, not just weapons.

Can Abiy Ahmed Afford His Power in Ethiopia’s Political Marketplace?

Abiy Ahmed's political capital is shrinking as insecurity, inflation, elite fragmentation, and dependence on external patrons drive up the cost of power. Can Ethiopia's political marketplace sustain his rule much longer?

BRICS+ cooperation in a complex economic and geopolitical environment: Opportunities and impediments

BRICS+ offers vast potential in trade, technology and local currency cooperation, but geopolitical rivalries and divergent strategic priorities will shape whether it emerges as a cohesive force or remains a loose coalition.

BRICS and De-Dollarization: Is the Global Financial Order Really Changing?

BRICS may not end dollar dominance, but it is accelerating a shift toward a more multipolar financial order where currencies, influence, and economic power are becoming increasingly contested.

Between Two Fronts: Why Japan-South Korea Security Cooperation Is No Longer Optional

Japan and South Korea can no longer afford fragmented security policies. In a Taiwan-Korea dual contingency, coordination is no longer strategic preference, but the foundation of deterrence and regional stability.