Sarmad Ishfaq

Sarmad Ishfaq is an independent researcher and writer whose work has been published by Harvard Kennedy School Review, the Diplomat, Open Democracy, Paradigm Shift, Mondoweiss, and Eurasia Review to name a few. He has also been published by several international peer-reviewed journals such as Taylor and Francis' Social Identities. Before becoming an independent writer, he worked as a research fellow for the Lahore Center for Peace Research. He has a master's degree in International Relations from the University of Wollongong in Dubai where he was recognized as the 'Top Graduate'.

The Irgun and Lehi: Israel’s Pre-independence Paramilitary Groups

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 7:30 pm

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.
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Losing My Mine-d: The Dubious Cases of Reko Diq, Saindak, & Khewra

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 7:39 pm

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.
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The Propaganda War Between India and Pakistan Post-Pulwama

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 8:00 pm

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.
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Waning US Hegemony, De-Dollarization, & the Incoming War with China

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 9:23 pm

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.
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Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, and Pakistan’s Historical Opposition to Israel

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 1:00 pm

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.
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How a Bloody & Battered TTP Made a Comeback in Pakistan

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 1:57 pm

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.
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David vs Goliath: The Epic Military Mismatch Between Palestine and Israel

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 7:00 pm

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.
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Propaganda Against Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: From “Islamic Bomb” to Biden’s Comments

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 8:19 pm

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.
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Crown of Blood: The Dark Side of Elizabeth II’s Legacy

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 9:11 pm

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.
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Weather Warfare & Climate Modification – A War Without Weapons

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 12:00 pm

Though mostly recognized for its use by states like the UAE to produce more rainfall, weather modification can prove to be destructive if malicious intent is involved. Sarmad Ishfaq addresses America’s past weaponization of weather, namely Operation Popeye, and how the superpower has managed to exploit the Environmental Modification Convention (ENMOD) – a treaty on weather warfare. He argues that even in contemporary times, the possibility of the weather being used as a weapon cannot be ruled out.
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A Cyclical Disaster: The 2022 Floods of Pakistan

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 12:31 pm

Having experienced severe political and climatic storms this year, Sarmad Ishfaq laments the difficult times ahead for Pakistan. These devastating floods are putting the economy under even more pressure. There is a strong possibility that food costs and unemployment will now surge to record highs.
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Are Early Elections Inevitable after PTI’s Landslide Victory in Punjab?

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 11:35 am

Given PTI’s landslide victory in Punjab’s by-elections and the confidence of the masses in Imran Khan and his party, Sarmad Ishfaq states that PTI’s return to the federal government is imminent. He states that Imran Khan can now force early elections by either of these options: 1. Using his new majority in Punjab to pressurise PDM into dissolving the National Assembly 2. Resuming his ‘Long March’ & forcing PDM to step down 3. Dissolving the KPK & Punjab Assemblies. One thing is for certain: it has become untenable for the PDM to sustain its contentious stay in power.
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Exposing Western Propaganda: How Russia is Winning the War

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 6:07 pm

The Russia-Ukraine war has been portrayed by the West with extreme prejudice. The American-European media has been demonizing Russia, while Ukraine, the second-most corrupt country in Europe (behind Russia), is being showcased as a champion of liberty and democracy. Where Russian war crimes are discussed ad nauseam, Ukraine’s Azov Regiment and its war crimes are obfuscated. Sarmad Ishfaq notes that despite Western sanctions and propaganda, the Russian ruble is surging and after re-orienting the war efforts towards the Donbas, Russia is indeed winning this war.
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The Untimely Deaths of Dr. Rizwan, Malik Maqsood Chaprasi & Others: Coincidence or Conspiracy?

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 1:02 pm

Pakistan is a country where uncanny coincidences are commonplace. The sudden deaths of key figures in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case like Dr. Rizwan and Malik Maqsood Chaprasi have raised a few eyebrows. Sarmad Ishfaq details a few of these recent ‘sudden’ deaths and then discusses how such ‘random convenient coincidences’ have also taken place in the past.
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The Instability in Pakistan & Afghanistan: How the US & India Benefit the Most

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 6:11 pm

Since the Taliban takeover, the situation in Afghanistan has continued to deteriorate to the point where the country is not only facing a humanitarian crisis but also an insurgency in the shape of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). Moreover, Afghanistan’s neighbor – Pakistan – has experienced an increase in terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Amid the political crisis in Pakistan, these attacks have soured Pak-Afghan relations. The author, Sarmad Ishfaq, notes that the continued instability in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and their strained relations, are benefitting India and the United States the most.
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Imran Khan vs the Supreme Court: Analyzing the Apex Court’s Verdict

Written by Aleena Imran Sarmad Ishfaq 4:15 pm

Imran Khan’s premiership ended last night by a no-confidence vote. The events leading up to this have stirred a debate about the Supreme Court’s decision, with many people citing their dissatisfaction with the disregard for the letter and the court’s micromanagement of the Parliament’s proceedings. Aleena Imran and Sarmad Ishfaq explore horse-trading, the letter, the relevant articles of the Constitution, and what’s next for Imran Khan.
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PTI vs PDM: Why Imran Khan Will Win Whether He Stays PM or Not

Written by Sarmad Ishfaq 6:49 pm

All eyes were on Imran Khan during his historic jalsa in Islamabad on the 27th of March. In Pakistan’s recent political history, Imran Khan’s party has been the only one that has consistently garnered massive numbers, and this jalsa exceeded expectations. It transcended others not just because of the sheer volume of people but due to the impetuous political context that surrounds it. The author, Sarmad Ishfaq, believes that in either case, Imran Khan will win — and that the vote against him could embolden him more.
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