Data. Insight. Accountability

Analyzing Conflict. Exposing Networks. Informing Policy.

Arakan Strategic Forum (ASF) is an independent research and analysis platform focused on Myanmar’s western conflict ecosystem — where politics, narcotics, and human displacement intersect.

Featured Reports

Arakan Army’s Systematic Shutdown of Rohingya Schools & Madrasas

While claiming to be a “liberation force,” the Arakan Army (AA) is executing a silent cultural cleansing campaign across northern Arakan: The deliberate shutdown of Rohingya schools, maktabs, and madrasas cutting an entire generation off from education, identity, and community.......

Rohingya Civilians Are Being Brutalized in Silence, Inside the Arakan Army’s Secret Torture Cells

While the world debates “resistance narratives,” a darker reality unfolds inside Arakan: the Terrorist Arakan Army (AA) is operating a shadow network of torture cells, black-sites, and interrogation centers specifically targeting Rohingya civilians. These facilities, hidden inside abandoned schools, village.......

From Drugs to Displacement: How the AA Became the Most Dangerous Actor in South & Southeast Asia

Across the Bay of Bengal, a silent empire is expanding an empire built not on ideology, but on narcotics, extortion, forced displacement, and the systematic destruction of Rohingya lives. From the beaches of Bangladesh to the jungles of northern Arakan.......

Who We Are

Arakan Strategic Forum (ASF) is an independent, research-driven platform dedicated to understanding and documenting the evolving conflict and security landscape of Myanmar’s western frontier — particularly the Arakan (Rakhine) region and its regional implications across Bangladesh, India, and the Bay of Bengal.

ASF brings together field researchers, data analysts, and policy observers to produce verified, intelligence-grade assessments that help governments, media, and humanitarian organizations make informed decisions.

Our Mission

To expose, analyze, and communicate the underlying systems of conflict, crime, and displacement shaping western Myanmar and its borderlands — through verified data, professional reporting, and policy-oriented analysis.

ASF strives to:

  • Document the truth behind disinformation and armed propaganda.
  • Trace transnational crime, narcotics, and trafficking networks that finance violence.
  • Amplify credible field-verified information for humanitarian and policy response.
  • Promote regional awareness and accountability in line with international norms.

Our Vision

To establish Arakan Strategic Forum (ASF) as a trusted centre of analytical excellence—bridging the gap between ground realities and policy tables, and contributing to a stable, just, and informed region where facts, not propaganda, define the narrative.

ASF is committed to fostering evidence-based understanding of Myanmar’s western frontier by combining field intelligence, data analytics, and strategic foresight. Through rigorous verification, multidisciplinary research, and collaboration with credible local and international experts, we aim to illuminate complex realities that often remain hidden or distorted.

Our mission extends beyond observation — we seek to shape policy discourse, strengthen regional awareness, and support decision-makers in building responses grounded in truth, context, and long-term stability. ASF aspires to be a platform where knowledge meets integrity, serving those who value clarity over noise and insight over influence.

Our Core Values

Integrity

All information undergoes multi-source verification before publication.

Neutrality

ASF maintains analytical independence from all political or armed entities.

Confidentiality

 Sources and field data are protected through secure protocols.

Accountability

Every report is open to scrutiny and factual review.

Our Research & Approach

At Arakan Strategic Forum (ASF), our research focuses on the intersection of conflict, security, and regional stability — translating complex realities into verified, intelligence-grade insights.

We examine five core domains:

  • Conflict & Security Dynamics – Mapping armed actors, territorial changes, and operational trends across the Arakan region and its borderlands.

  • Transnational Crime & Narcotics – Tracking production routes, trafficking networks, and the financial systems sustaining illicit economies.

  • Humanitarian Impact & Displacement – Documenting civilian harm, forced migration, and the humanitarian fallout of ongoing conflicts.

  • Information Warfare & Propaganda – Analyzing digital narratives, state-sponsored disinformation, and influence operations shaping perception.

  • Policy & Regional Stability – Translating field intelligence into actionable recommendations for policymakers and international stakeholders.

ASF’s methodology integrates Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), on-the-ground reporting, and data-driven visualization, ensuring each publication meets international analytical standards. Through this balanced and disciplined approach, ASF bridges the gap between local realities and global understanding, contributing to a clearer, more informed policy dialogue on Myanmar’s evolving crisis.

Disclaimer

Arakan Strategic Forum (ASF) is an independent, research-oriented platform. All reports, analyses, and assessments published by ASF are produced for informational and academic purposes only. The views expressed in ASF publications represent the authors’ analytical interpretations and do not necessarily reflect the positions of any government, organization, or entity.

ASF does not endorse or support any political party, armed group, or ideological movement.
While every effort is made to verify information through credible sources and multi-layer validation, ASF cannot guarantee absolute accuracy or completeness of all data, especially in conflict-affected environments.

Use of ASF materials should be accompanied by proper citation. ASF accepts no liability for decisions or actions taken based on its content.