A few months ago, it was suggested that Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, could be allowed to operate in Pakistan. The proposal, initially framed as a way to extend internet access to remote and underserved regions, was met with sharp criticism and quietly shelved by the government. With the benefit of hindsight, that decision appears prescient.

Starlink is often marketed as a neutral technological solution. In reality, across multiple theatres of conflict, it has operated as an extension of the American empire rather than a benign communications service. Its infrastructure bypasses state regulation, domestic internet controls, and national security frameworks, placing communication capabilities firmly outside the reach of sovereign........

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