Iran is the only Muslim country in the world which is fighting on multiple fronts for the liberation of Palestine. On one hand, it’s directly arming the resistance groups of Palestine and on the other hand it’s fighting the US and Israeli funded terrorists like ISIS, Al Nusra Front, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Jaish Ul-Adl and so on.
Iran launched attacks Tuesday in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, potentially further raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Pakistan said the strikes killed two children and wounded three others in an assault it described as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace.
The global systemic transition’s impending evolution towards tri-multipolarity could see the US-led West’s Golden Billion, the Sino-Russo Entente, and the de facto Indian-led Global South becoming the most prominent poles in International Relations, below which would be rising powers and regional groups. All actors would balance one another by multi-aligning within and between their respective levels, which might result in stabilizing global affairs much more than the prior unipolar and bi-multipolar orders did.
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Key Takeaway: IS affiliates across sub-Saharan Africa have claimed attacks as part of the new IS global campaign and could attempt to carry out high-visibility attacks against civilians and religious sites in their areas of operation to maximize the propaganda value of the campaign. IS central media is branding the campaign as supportive of the Palestinian cause in response to the Israel-Hamas war and is also encouraging lone-wolf attacks against civilians in the West.
In August 2021, following nearly two decades of armed resistance, the Taliban movement forced their way to power in Afghanistan, coinciding with the withdrawal of international troops from the country. Following their return media attention and international policy discussions have, correctly, focused on the deteriorating economic situation, the looming humanitarian crisis, and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and on questions such as in which form the Taliban can and should be engaged.1 Less attention has been paid to the security and terrorist threats that are likely to emerge from the new situation in Afghanistan. Therefore, a clear gap in perception among policymakers and the general public seems to exist in this regard.
On November 13, 2023, a Chinese influencer known as “Flower-Dappled Horse Kesi” on the Chinese Bilibili social media platform shared a video titled “Suppose Hamas Wins,” in which he criticized Hamas’s leadership and speculated that even if Hamas defeated Israel and were able to rule Gaza with no external intervention whatsoever, the desperate situation of the Gazans would not change. He said that Hamas leaders don’t even live in Gaza and that they do not want to rule over their people with integrity, and he said that in this scenario of a Hamas victory, Gaza would become like Venezuela or Zimbabwe. It is noteworthy that the video contradicts the generally pro-Hamas tone of the Chinese government’s propaganda. Kesi also shared a screenshot from a MEMRI TV clip.
Across the globe, refugees, always treated as the pox of public policy, continue to feature in news reports describing anguish, despair and persistent persecution. If they are not facing barbed wire barriers in Europe, they are being conveyed, where possible, to third countries to be processed in lengthy fashion. Policy makers fiddle and cook the legal record to justify such measures, finding fault with instruments of international protection such as the United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stands as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges that not only threaten Pakistan but also have broader implications for regional security. Emerging in the early 2000s as a response to Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the TTP has evolved into a multifaceted and potent force. This article delves into the intricate layers of the TTP conundrum, exploring its background, internal threats to Pakistan, regional implications, ideological underpinnings, global links, counter-terrorism efforts, humanitarian impact, and the future outlook of this resilient militant group.
Indo-Islamic architecture refers to the Islamic architecture of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the region of the present-day states of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. (1) Although Islam had already gained a foothold on the west coast and far northwest of the subcontinent by the early Middle Ages, the current phase of Indo-Islamic construction began with the subjugation of the Northern Gangster by the Ghurids at the end of the 12th century. (2)
A terror group which globalised the concept of Jihad and have existed for more than three decades is not dependent on just one leader for its survival
With the recent killing of Al-Qaeda (AQ) chief Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghan capital Kabul a lot of speculation is happening on the future of this terror outfit. Some analysts even going to the extent and suggesting that Al-Qaeda is nearing its end. But certainly that is highly unlikely. The group survived its ideological chief Osama bin Laden’s death in 2011. In fact with the killing of Zawahri Al-Qaeda may regenerate itself and become more dynamic. Ayman al-Zawahri was an Egyptian-born jihadist who became al-Qaida’s top leader in 2011 after his predecessor, Osama bin Laden, was killed by a U.S. operation. Zawahiri was not a very charismatic personality, nor was he effective at connecting with the younger generation. As a leader of AQ for over a decade, he could not bring back the lost capabilities. But he managed to keep the terror brand alive amidst the rise of Islamic State (IS). A new leader might not have these shortcomings. The trajectory of the movement might shift dangerously with a new and more effective communicator, reaching and inspiring a new generation. This happened previously with Anwar al-Awlaki re-invigorated Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the late 2000s. Reaching out to new audiences in new ways and identifying with Westerners in particular. Ironically, a new leader might benefit the movement, offering an opportunity to reinvigorate itself.