Memoricide: Zionism’s Deletion of Palestinian Memory
In its pursuit of rewriting history and justifying its occupation of Palestinian land, Zionist Israel has actively erased the memory of Palestinians. Nothing illustrates this better than the term “memoricide,” first coined in 1991. To push the narrative of a purely Jewish nation inexorably linked to God, Israel has employed tactics ranging from massacres, depopulation, and destruction to toponymic changes. The memoricide that began before 1948 continues to this day, effectively erasing the presence and history of Palestinians in their own land.
Israel’s Heinous Targeted Killing Programme
The ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has brought to the fore the violations of international law committed by Israel. Sarmad Ishfaq discusses one such violation—Israel’s targeted killing program—and the moral and legal debates surrounding it. Highlighting the historical context and prominent operations, he outlines Israel’s use of targeted killings to eliminate perceived threats, including Palestinian leaders and Iranian nuclear scientists.
Palestine and the System that Controls the World
Palestine has been pleading for help since time immemorial, but its plight remains perpetually disregarded. Why is it so?
It is easy to overlook the rising Palestinian body count because we have become used to the massacre. The global media – directed by Western powers and the Israeli government in particular, plays a major role in this desensitization.
Sarmad Ishfaq explains the hierarchies of the world we live in. Those in power have erected systems of control – they decide what narratives remain relevant across the board. Hypocrisy and double standards run rampant. Against these odds, will Palestine ever be able to break free of its shackles?
India’s Cultivation of the Khalistan Movement—Past & Present
The Khalistan Movement is an attempt to liberate the Sikhs of India. The separatist movement was started by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and gained momentum in the ’80s.
The recent murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver has rekindled the movement, shedding light on India’s persisting anti-Khalistan sentiments.
India’s distaste for the Sikhs has been seen time and again over the years from Operation Blue Star of 1948, to the unsavory response that the Farmer’s Protests received.
Sarmad Ishfaq summarizes that with the way India keeps targeting Sikhs, the revival of Khalistan seems inevitable, and it’s only a matter of time before it gains momentum again.
Why Is the Middle East Such a Complicated Region to Study?
A culturally, politically, and historically diverse area, the Middle East has been quite an enigmatic region for scholars to study. This is mainly because of past and present complexities in the region itself and also due to the obscure picture painted by the methodologies employed by scholars in the past. Although there are copious amounts of problems, Mr. Ishfaq has only briefly elucidated several major ones i.e. history, definitional issues, Islam, the West-dominated field, orientalism, and a lack of theoretical focus.
Freemasonry’s “Jadoo Ghar” Once Existed in Pakistan
The Freemasons, an enigmatic and often myth-shrouded organization, have sparked curiosity in the people of Pakistan. Unknown to most, Pakistan was home to several Freemasonry lodges, and even though the organization has been banned since 1972, traces of its existence can still be found in the country.
Palestinian Casualties in the Last Five Conflicts vs. the 2023 Genocide
Thousands of Palestinians have been martyred in the horrific genocide that Israel is currently undertaking. The Gaza War has amassed a higher fatality count than that of the five major escalations which took place in the past. The total number of Palestinian casualties combined from those aggressions was estimated to be 18,992, while the Gaza War of 2023, which shows no visible end, has as of yet a total of 70,756 casualties.
Israel’s Strategic Depth: History & The 2023 Gaza War
Sarmad Ishfaq examines the concept of strategic depth, primarily in the context of Israel. He outlines the historical evolution of Israel’s strategic depth, discussing both the political and maritime dimensions of the phenomenon. Considering both traditional and political strategic depth, the article explains how these two aspects have manifested themselves in the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Irgun and Lehi: Israel’s Pre-independence Terrorist Groups
Israel’s true nature, stained by countless crimes against the Palestinians, cannot be concealed.
Whether through the killing of innocent Gazans or the proliferation of illegal settlements in the West Bank, the state of Israel and its defense forces, the IDF, have a long-standing history of terrorism deeply rooted in the actions and ideologies of Jewish pre-independence extremist groups, namely the Irgun and Lehi.
Sarmad Ishfaq delves into the origins of these organizations, shedding light on their gruesome acts of terror in Palestine, and ultimately emphasizes how their extremist legacy continues to shape the actions of the modern state of Israel.
Losing My Mine-d: The Dubious Cases of Reko Diq, Saindak, & Khewra
Blessed with copious amounts of natural resources, Pakistan presents perhaps one of the worst cases of resource management in South Asia. Sarmad Ishfaq assesses how mismanagement, obscured policies and agreements, and corruption have undermined the potential of the Khewra Salt Mines, Reko Diq, and the Saindak Copper-Gold Mine. Additionally, the absence of a regulatory framework, especially concerning the Himalayan salt trade, has facilitated illegal practices and unsustainable resource exploitation, ultimately harming Pakistan’s economy.
The Propaganda War Between India and Pakistan Post-Pulwama
After the Pulwama attack in India, tensions between both Pakistan and India rose rapidly. The escalation eventually culminated in an aerial dogfight where an Indian MiG-21 was downed by Pakistan and its pilot, Abhinandan, captured.
To save face, India began a propaganda campaign claiming that a Pakistani F-16 was downed by India. This led to a massive war of words between both countries characterized by lies, jingoism, hyperbole, and nationalism.
While both countries’ media were to be blamed for the preceding, the Indian media was more culpable for displaying such negative traits. Eventually, this propaganda war was settled by international news agencies and organizations that corrected many false Indian claims, especially the one relating to the alleged downed Pakistani F-16.
The final nail in the coffin was when a US inventory check asserted that no Pakistani F-16s were missing and therefore Pakistan came out as the victor in the dogfight as well as the propaganda war.
Waning US Hegemony, De-Dollarization, & the Incoming War with China
With the US’s foreign policy failures, its domestic rifts, and the China-led de-dollarization initiative, the current global landscape finds itself in a state of upheaval.
Sarmad Ishfaq explains that the steady decline of the US’s hegemony and the simultaneous rise of China will lead to an imminent conflict between the two, resulting in the US’s demise and the birth of a new world order.
Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, and Pakistan’s Historical Opposition to Israel
There is a belief that Pakistan is solely opposed to Israel due to the latter’s post-independence atrocities against Palestine, but this is not the complete picture.
Pakistan’s opposition to Israel can be traced back to the founding fathers like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal who, through their speeches and policies, laid the groundwork for the nation’s pro-Palestine stance long before Pakistan or Israel came into existence.
How a Bloody & Battered TTP Made a Comeback in Pakistan
It is difficult to understate the deadly threat of the TTP’s resurgence in Pakistan. With the country already in economic distress as it is, the growing militancy has further enfeebled the state. Sarmad Ishfaq deems three primary reasons for the TTP’s revival: the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the peace negotiations with the TTP, and Imran Khan’s ouster.
David vs Goliath: The Epic Military Mismatch Between Palestine and Israel
While the mainstream media is cognizant of the military discrepancy between Israel and the Palestinians, the consequences of this discrepancy are almost never commented on.
Propaganda Against Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: From “Islamic Bomb” to Biden’s Comments
For decades, the West has had its eyes set on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, going as far as to stir up paranoia against it. The recent statement by President Joe Biden is just another notch in America’s extensive propaganda campaign against Pakistan. Sarmad Ishfaq points out the fallacies in the West’s perceived notion of Pakistan’s nuclear insecurity. He highlights how Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are secure and in turn proves that the countries questioning Pakistan have many nuclear-related issues themselves.
Crown of Blood: The Dark Side of Elizabeth II’s Legacy
The death of Queen Elizabeth II prompted diametrically opposed viewpoints. One group mourns her loss, while the other deems her guilty of the Empire’s crimes. The brutal crimes were marked by colonialist ambitions and a penchant for slavery throughout the years.
Sarmad Ishfaq recounts the Empire’s horrific brutalities against the people of India, Kenya, and Yemen (to name a few) and the Queen’s apathy towards it all.