One of the greatest things about blogging is the unparalleled speed with which commentators can address the day's news. Unfortunately this paradigm also has a significant downside: it is easy for bloggers to get caught in a reactive rut. Instead of seeking out new stories and perspectives, they end up simply responding to the articles produced by mainstream sources. 

Our goal at PBOM is to counter this trend by pushing coverage of international affairs outside the popular purview. As part of this effort we are pleased to introduce a new monthly feature titled "In Focus." The basic idea is every month we will select an under-reported or under-analyzed topic and bring you a series of articles on that topic.

First up, Baluchistan.

Those of you who keep abreast of current affairs have probably heard of this ethnic quasi-state in relation to the recent bombing in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan that killed six Revolutionary Guard officers including General Noor Ali Shooshtari, the deputy commander of the Guards' ground force. Yet little of the coverage of the bombings provided the depth or breath of insight necessary to understand this isolated region. Most of the coverage instead chose to focus on Iran's assertion that foreign powers (read the U.S., Pakistan, and/or Saudi Arabia) were behind the attack.

Over the next month, we will attempt answer the following questions: Who are the Baluch? Where and how do they live? And what role do they play in regional politics? Today, I'll begin with a general overview of Baluchistan's geography and political history.

Click for more ------>