Pakistan

Formed after gaining independence in 1947 from the British empire, Pakistan continues to be plagued by internal and external instability. It has been hard for Pakistan to achieve strong economic growth over the years, but it still provides opportunities for private sector investors. Security remains a primary concern for Pakistan, as the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan and tensions with its eastern neighbor India persist.

Cracking down on militancy in Pakistan

Issue Brief Apr 1, 2025

Rescuing Pakistan’s economy

By Aasim M. Husain

For decades, Pakistan has struggled with a declining standard of living, skyrocketing public debt, and economic policies that have failed to address the root causes of its stagnation.
Economy & Business Middle East
Cracking down on militancy in Pakistan

Issue Brief Nov 14, 2024

Mapping South Asia’s digital landscape

By Mark Linscott, Gopal Nadadur

Data protection regulations are becoming critical for South Asia, where some countries are increasingly driven by digital economies.
Bangladesh Digital Policy
Cracking down on militancy in Pakistan

Memo to… May 16, 2024

Memo to the UN secretary-general: Establish a UN conflict prevention mechanism for the Afghanistan region

By Laurie Nathan and Nilofar Sakhi

The risk of conflict between Afghanistan and its neighbors has been rising since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, and is now at a critical point. The UN has tools that have lowered the risk of major conflict in other tense neighborhoods. It’s time to deploy them for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Central Asia

Events

Public Event Fri, July 25, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

Pakistan’s foreign minister on tensions with India and the future of US ties

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Pakistani Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar joins the Atlantic Council for a timely conversation on India-Pakistan tensions, regional stability, and the future of US-Pakistan relations.

Defense Policy Economy & Business Indo-Pacific Pakistan

The South Asia Center is the hub for the Atlantic Council’s analysis of the political, social, geographical, and cultural diversity of the region. ​At the intersection of South Asia and its geopolitics, SAC cultivates dialogue to shape policy and forge ties between the region and the global community.

Learn more

Content

Event Recap

Apr 13, 2015

Cracking down on militancy in Pakistan

By Refayat Haque

On April 13, IHS’s Asia Pacific Country Risk Lead Omar Hamid and South Asia Center Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz discussed the evolving militancy climate in Pakistan. Hamid cited the December 2014 attack on a government school in Peshawar as a “Pearl Harbor” moment for Pakistan, and suggested it enabled the nation to act swiftly and […]

National Security Pakistan

In the News

Apr 7, 2015

Rakisits on the Pakistan Helo Deal

By Claude Rakisits

Defense News quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Claude Rakisits on the US State Department clearing a $952 million sale to Pakistan that includes fifteen AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and 1,000 Hellfire II missiles:

Pakistan

In the News

Apr 6, 2015

Khoury on Pakistan and the Conflict in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

Voice of America quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Nabeel Khoury on how Pakistan’s potential involvement would impact the conflict in Yemen:

Pakistan Yemen

In the News

Mar 30, 2015

Rakisits on Pakistan Joining the Saudi Coalition in Yemen

By Claude Rakisits

DefenseNews quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Claude Rakisits on how Pakistan will contribute to the Saudi coalition in Yemen:

Pakistan

In the News

Mar 9, 2015

Rehman: Murky Waters: Naval Nuclear Dynamics in the Indian Ocean

By Iskander Rehman

South Asia Center Nonresident Fellow Iskander Rehman writes for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on India and Pakistan’s naval nuclear forces: Read the full report here.

India Pakistan

Event Recap

Feb 21, 2015

Pakistan’s Youth: Advocates for Change

By Huma Haque

The 2012, 2013, and 2014 Emerging Leaders of Pakistan Fellows gathered in Islamabad for a reunion over a jam packed weekend in mid-February.

Pakistan

In the News

Jan 6, 2015

Biberman in The Washington Post: In Pakistan, domestic threats begin to overshadow India

By Atlantic Council

Extremism India

In the News

Dec 22, 2014

Rakisits: Things Just Got Worse in Pakistan

By Claude Rakisits

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Claude Rakisits writes for The Strategist on the recent Taliban attack on a school in Pakistan that killed 148 civilians:

Pakistan

In the News

Dec 21, 2014

Rakisits on Preventing Future Taliban Attacks

By Claude Rakisits

Defense News quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Claude Rakisits on what can be done to prevent terrorist attacks, such as the recent one carried out by the Taliban against a school in Pakistan, from taking place in the future: 

Pakistan

In the News

Dec 21, 2014

Nawaz: The CIA Provides Pakistan and Others with Much Needed Help in Fighting Terrorism

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz writes for New York Times Room for Debate on why a revivified CIA is crucial for combating many of the terrorist threats the world faces today:

Pakistan
Load More

Experts

Staff

Manal Fatima

Assistant Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East North Africa

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Fellow

Erum Haider

Assistant Professor, Political Science and Environmental Studies, The College of Wooster

South Asia Center

Civil Society Economy & Business

Fellow

Hameed Hakimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Migration Security & Defense

Staff

Michael Kugelman

Resident Senior Fellow, South Asia

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Bangladesh

Fellow

Paul D. Miller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Pakistan
Load More