Pakistan’s “Three Ds” of Foreign Engagement (Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf on Substack)
An external confrontation can serve an internal purpose: keeping those in power beyond scrutiny.
Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf examines this connection through Pakistan’s “Three Ds” of foreign engagement: Delay India’s international advance, Distract from domestic governance failures and Discredit New Delhi abroad. His analysis links disputes over Kashmir and the...
Indus Water Treaty – Countering Pakistan’s War of Narratives (Siegfried O. Wolf on Substack)
Putting a water treaty on hold is not the same as stopping a river.
The dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty reveals how water, security and political narratives intersect in a changing South Asia. Understanding it requires looking beyond diplomatic accusations to the infrastructure that controls water—and the institutions that...
Truncation of Academic Freedom in Today’s Bangladesh (Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf on Substack)
Truncation of Academic Freedom in Today’s Bangladesh
Can universities sustain democracy when disagreement becomes dangerous?
In “Truncation of Academic Freedom in Today’s Bangladesh”, Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf argues that the post-2024 political transition has failed to secure independent campus governance. He describes forced resignations, political labelling and competing student organisations asserting...
Defence Diplomacy by a Praetorian State (Dr. Siegfried Wolf on Substack)
The most important question about Pakistan’s arms exports may not be where the weapons go — but who gains power from selling them.
Pakistan’s expanding defence industry and military diplomacy are giving its armed forces new sources of international influence — and potentially greater financial autonomy from civilian institutions at...
Press Release: Pakistan’s Role in Sudan’s Civil War by European Pulse
At a UN conference in Geneva on human rights in Pakistan, speakers examined the country’s growing militarisation, religious persecution, and alleged involvement in Sudan’s civil war. The discussion highlighted the contradiction between Islamabad’s public support for Sudanese sovereignty and reports of Pakistani military equipment reaching the Sudanese Armed Forces,...
Pakistan: for a meaningful EU human rights policy (Paulo Casaca on Substack)
In this Substack article, Paulo Casaca argues that the European Union needs a far more serious and coherent human-rights policy toward Pakistan, grounded in principles rather than diplomatic convenience. He examines how questions of religious freedom, democratic accountability, and the rule of law remain central to understanding Pakistan’s internal...
Public Review of the EU Election Observation Mission Final Report on the 2026 Parliamentary...
Public Review of the EU Election Observation Mission Final Report on the 2026 Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh
South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF)
Background
On 28 April 2026, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) published its Final Report on the 12 February 2026 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh (1), describing the elections...
Press Release “The International Crimes Tribunals of Bangladesh: The New Government Must Stop the...
The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) expresses grave concern over the use of the International Crimes Tribunals of Bangladesh (ICTBD) to target the political leaders of Bangladesh Awami League (ALBD), Jatiyo Somajtantrik Dol (JaSod), Bangladesh Workers Party, journalists and the secular activists and human rights defenders, e.g., Shahriar...
Bangladesh: a new venue for totalitarianism
In this incisive analysis, Paulo Casaca examines the alarming political trajectory of Bangladesh, questioning whether the country is becoming a new venue for totalitarian governance. The article explores the erosion of democratic institutions, the consolidation of power, and the broader regional and international implications for rule of law and...