Abubakar Siddique

'Robust' US Military Deployment To Gulf Ahead Of Possible Iran Strikes In one of the largest military deployments to the Persian Gulf in decades, the United States is building up its forces after President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Tehran if it fails to negotiat...

I report on one of the largest US military deployments to the Persian Gulf as it builds up its forces after President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iran if it fails to negotiate a nuclear deal.

With insights from Amin Tarzi, David Des Roches, and Brian Carter

lnkd.in/dZKK47PB

What's Behind The Unprecedented Attacks In Pakistan’s Balochistan? Pakistan has used violence and political repression to stamp out a decades-old insurgency in Balochistan Province. The largest-ever attacks in the region have called into question that strategy.

I report on why the largest separatist attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province have called into question Islamabad’s approach to taming the two-decade-old insurrection through violence and political repression.

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-b...

Looks like disinformation, fake news and propaganda is winning amid the confrontation and tensions between India and Pakistan.

Is South Asia now on the brink of a nuclear showdown?

Pakistan is likely to
Respond to the Indian attacks, which might swiftly spiral into unprecedented escalation.

The Indian armed forces have confirmed it targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as part of “Operation Sindoor”.

Who Is Mahrang Baloch, The Rights Advocate Arrested By Pakistan On Terrorism Charges? The arrest of Mahrang Baloch, leader of a civil rights movement in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province, draws attention to why members of the beleaguered Baluch ethnic minority are drawn to h...

I report on Mahrang Baloch, a doctor from #Balochistan. Her transformation from being a victim of the #Pakistan's oppression of #Baloch nationalists to becoming an icon for Balochistan's rights is remarkable.

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-m...

Russian-Occupied Ukrainian Regions Key To Ending War, Says US Envoy Witkoff US envoy Steve Witkoff says the status of the Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia is central to ending the war between Moscow and Kyiv.

Russian-Occupied Ukrainian Regions Key To Ending War, Says US Envoy Witkoff www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-ru...

Undocumented Afghans In Iran Face Uncertain Future Amid New Restrictions A new immigration policy in Iran is depriving undocumented Afghans of accessing healthcare, education and even housing.

A new immigration policy in Iran is depriving undocumented Afghans of accessing healthcare, education and even housing. #RFE #Afghanistan

Undocumented Afghans In Iran Face Uncertain Future Amid New Restrictions A new immigration policy in Iran is depriving undocumented Afghans of accessing healthcare, education and even housing.

My Latest: Iran is denying undocumented immigrants access to healthcare, education and housing. This policy is part of Tehran's efforts to pressure the over 4 million Afghan refugees and immigrants currently living in the country to return to Afghanistan.

www.rferl.org/a/iran-afgha...

Undocumented Afghans In Iran Face Uncertain Future Amid New Restrictions A new immigration policy in Iran is depriving undocumented Afghans of accessing healthcare, education and even housing.

My Latest: Iran is denying undocumented immigrants access to healthcare, education and housing. This policy is part of Tehran's efforts to pressure the over 4 million Afghan refugees and immigrants currently living in the country to return to Afghanistan.

www.rferl.org/a/iran-afgha...

What's Behind The New Wave Of Violence In Pakistan's Balochistan? Attacks targeting security forces are increasing in frequency and lethality in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, where a separatist militant group has adopted new tactics.

I report on why attacks targeting security forces are increasing in frequency and lethality in #Pakistan’s #Balochistan Province, where a separatist militant group has adopted new tactics amid the absence of a political track to address the insurrection.

www.rferl.org/a/violence-p...

Pakistani Troops, Baluch Separatist Fighters Face Off Over Train Hostages Hundreds of Pakistani troops engaged in a tense confrontation with a similar number of militants on March 12 over more than 200 hostages a day after a separatist group hijacked a train in a remote reg...

Pakistani Troops, Baluch Separatist Fighters Face Off Over Train Hostages

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-b...

*profile of the..

The Rise Of The Baloch Liberation Army In Pakistan Experts say the attacks highlight the growing strength of the Baloch Liberation Army, which has expanded its recruitment efforts and gained access to modern weapons.

I wrote a profile for the Baloch Liberation Army recently. Today it has claimed to have hijacked a train in #Pakistan's restive southwestern province of #Balochistan.

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-b...

Armenian Minority Living In Fear After Violence Rocks Syria The tiny Armenian community had hoped that Syria’s long civil war had concluded with the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad in December. But a deadly bout of violence targeting Assad loyalists has ...

Armenian Minority Living In Fear After Violence Rocks Syria www.rferl.org/a/armenian-m...

Pakistan's Arrest Of Islamic State Operative Signals Renewed U.S. Cooperation The arrest of an Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militant who is suspected of helping plan an attack against the U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2021 marks an upturn in strained ties between Washington an...

I report on how the arrest of an Islamic State-Khorasan (#IS-K) militant who is suspected of helping plan an attack against the U.S. forces in #Afghanistan in 2021 marks an upturn in strained ties between #Washington and #Islamabad.
#Pakistan #USA

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-a...

WIDESPREAD HUNGER IN AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan is descending toward famine, aid workers operating on the ground tell us. (Warning: Distressing images) Millions of Afghans are already severely food-insecure, and there is fear a permanen...

My latest: One in three Afghans is already going hungry. The loss of donor funding, particularly U.S. assistance, could hit the most vulnerable Afghans hard. Some aid workers even fear famine-like conditions if the country loses humanitarian aid dollars.

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ef7f...

Deadly Blast Rocks Pro-Taliban Seminary In Pakistan A powerful explosion at a seminary in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least four people, including a top cleric.

Deadly Blast Rocks Pro-Taliban Seminary In Pakistan

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-s...

Why Is Saudi Arabia Hosting U.S.-Russia Talks? And Why Now? Saudi Arabia is hosting talks between Russia and the United States to end the war in Ukraine. Experts see the event as part of Riyadh’s effort to assume a central role in international diplomacy.

I report on why #SaudiArabia is hosting groundbreaking talks between #Russia and the #UnitedStates to end the war in #Ukraine. Experts see it as part of Riyadh’s effort to expand ties with Washington while staying away from President #Trump’s plan for the #Gaza Strip.

www.rferl.org/a/saudi-arab...

Why Is Saudi Arabia Hosting U.S.-Russia Talks? And Why Now? Saudi Arabia is hosting talks between Russia and the United States to end the war in Ukraine. Experts see the event as part of Riyadh’s effort to assume a central role in international diplomacy.

I report on why #SaudiArabia is hosting groundbreaking talks between #Russia and the #UnitedStates to end the war in #Ukraine. Experts see it as part of Riyadh’s effort to expand ties with Washington while staying away from President #Trump’s plan for the #Gaza Strip.

www.rferl.org/a/saudi-arab...

Pakistan Cracks Down On Free Speech Online Journalists in Pakistan are up in arms after a new law was passed that empowers the government to punish anyone for spreading what the authorities deem online disinformation.

A new law in #Pakistan that criminalizes online disinformation is raising concerns of subjectivity and abuse @rferl.org.web.brid.gy @siddiquea.bsky.social www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-e...

Pakistan Cracks Down On Free Speech Online Journalists in Pakistan are up in arms after a new law was passed that empowers the government to punish anyone for spreading what the authorities deem online disinformation.

Pakistan Cracks Down On Free Speech Online www.rferl.org/a/33297599.h...

Pakistan Cracks Down On Free Speech Online Journalists in Pakistan are up in arms after a new law was passed that empowers the government to punish anyone for spreading what the authorities deem online disinformation.

I report on why journalists in #Pakistan are up in arms against a draconian overhaul of #PECA law. The amendments, widely condemned by human rights and press freedom watchdogs, empower the government to punish anyone for spreading vaguely defined fake news.

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-e...

Diminished Hamas Remains Dominant In Gaza Despite Israel War Hamas has survived Israel’s 15-month war in the Gaza Strip. Now, the militant group is replenishing its ranks, although restocking its weapons supplies will be more difficult.

I write about how the #Palestinian group #Hamas has survived #Israel’s 15-month war in the #Gaza Strip. The militant group is replenishing its ranks now, although restocking its weapons supplies will be more difficult.

www.rferl.org/a/hamas-isra...

Diminished Hamas Remains Dominant In Gaza Despite Israel War Hamas has survived Israel’s 15-month war in the Gaza Strip. Now, the militant group is replenishing its ranks, although restocking its weapons supplies will be more difficult.

I write about how the #Palestinian group #Hamas has survived #Israel’s 15-month war in the #Gaza Strip. The militant group is replenishing its ranks now, although restocking its weapons supplies will be more difficult.

www.rferl.org/a/hamas-isra...

Pakistan Cracks Down On Free Speech Online Journalists in Pakistan are up in arms after a new law was passed that empowers the government to punish anyone for spreading what the authorities deem online disinformation.

I report on why journalists in #Pakistan are up in arms against a draconian overhaul of #PECA law. The amendments, widely condemned by human rights and press freedom watchdogs, empower the government to punish anyone for spreading vaguely defined fake news.

www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-e...

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim in Syria on first visit by Arab head of state since Assad downfall | The National Doha was long-time supporter of armed uprising that toppled former president

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim in Syria on first visit by Arab head of state since Assad downfall

www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...

Syria’s new government ends Russian lease of Tartous port

www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

How The Israel-Hamas War Reshaped The Middle East The 15-month Israel-Hamas war has profoundly altered the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Iran and Russia, once dominant forces, have suffered severe setbacks, while Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and Qa...

@thecynicist.bsky.social: "Weakening Hamas’s core leadership and destroying Gaza is going to fuel other types of militancy.”

www.rferl.org/a/middle-eas...