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Abdul Basit

Abdul Basit

Abdul Basit is a Senior Associate Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, where he covers extremism and militancy in South Asia. Follow him on Twitter @basitresearcher.

Abdul Basit is a Senior Associate Fellow and head of the South Asia desk at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore.  He specializes in South Asian security issues with a primary focus on terrorism and religious extremism in the Af-Pak region. He is also the Associate Editor of ICPVTR’s open-access monthly journal Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA). He regularly publishes commentaries and peer-reviewed research articles on the mentioned topics. He can be reached at [email protected]

Posts by Abdul Basit
November 26, 2024

Escalating Militant Violence in Pakistan

By Abdul Basit
So far in November, Pakistan has suffered around 89 terrorist attacks, including five suicide bombings, which left 298 people dead.

October 15, 2024

Impact of the Gaza War on Militancy in South Asia and Beyond

By Abdul Basit
The ISK is criticizing the Taliban for paying lip service to the Palestinian cause and shying away from sending its fighters to fight against Israel.
September 30, 2024

Conspiracy Theories as Fomenters of Violent Extremism in South Asia

By Abdul Basit
The most vivid and longstanding conspiracy theory among the region's jihadist groups targets the polio vaccine.

August 28, 2024

The Insecurity-Underdevelopment Nexus in Balochistan

By Abdul Basit
Separatist violence has undermined CPEC, which was promoted as a vehicle of development. Baloch separatists view CPEC through a neo-colonial lens.

August 16, 2024

A Gen-Z Revolution in Pakistan Will Have to Wait

By Abdul Basit
Ongoing protests in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fail to strike a chord in Punjab and Sindh, where most Pakistanis live.

July 29, 2024

‘Digital Terrorism’: A Label to Stifle Pakistan’s Political Opposition?

By Abdul Basit
Labeling political actors like the PTI as "digital terrorists" will weaken Pakistan’s democracy and undermine the state’s efforts to fight lethal terrorists like the TTP.
July 01, 2024

Pakistan’s Azm-e-Istehkam Operation: Old Wine in a New Bottle?

By Abdul Basit
The counterterrorism campaign is loud on rhetoric, low on substance and offers nothing substantive to stem the rising tide of militancy in Pakistan.

May 28, 2024

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Ingress Into Punjab: Prospects and Challenges

By Abdul Basit
The TTP’s ingress into Punjab will help it gain more publicity and transform into an urban insurgency.

April 29, 2024

Inter-group Militant Cooperation and Rivalries in Pakistan’s Newly Merged Districts

By Abdul Basit
ISKP has survived the hostile environment of the NMDs through alliances with like-minded groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jandullah.

March 29, 2024

Surge in Attacks on Chinese Nationals, Projects Amid Pakistan’s Dire Security Situation

By Abdul Basit
The suicide bombing near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was the third attack on Chinese nationals and projects in less than a week.

February 10, 2024

Post-Election Pakistan Is on a Knife-Edge

By Abdul Basit
The three main political parties must evolve a political consensus through a grand dialogue.
January 30, 2024

Pakistan’s Islamist Parties Could Emerge Spoilers or Kingmakers

By Abdul Basit
Although these parties may not win many seats -- they have not formed an alliance and lack the support of the military establishment -- they could still play a role post-February 8.

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