trump mideast Courtesy:
5 December 2024

A new U.S.-Middle East diplomatic landscape

Donald Trump has re-entered Washington with the backing of a solid political base, a redefined Republican Party, and a more seasoned presence on the international stage, including in the Middle East. Since his last imprint on that region in 2016, 2024 presents significant shifts: alliances redefined, regional power dynamics realigned, trade networks transformed, and urgent security challenges restructured. These changes demand strategic recalibration from all stakeholders.

jirga Courtesy:
16 October 2024

Pakistan’s provinces demand electricity equity

In the backdrop of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being held in Islamabad this week, is a restive state and peoples. Three high profile attacks in just a week were followed by a show of defiance from the large Pashtun community, demanding political equity – but also electricity concessions. The military has been stepping in to resolve commercial power deals, underlining the criticality of this issue in Pakistan.

106335094-1578987923215gettyimages-1079998172 Courtesy:
10 October 2024

Energy cost of Iran-Israel Conflict

A potential escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict will affect energy supplies globally. Tempering the conflict will help the U.S. keep petrol prices down before its election, protect the oil and gas export traffic in the Persian Gulf, keep the surreptitious Iran-Malaysia-China oil sales going, and prevent a major headache for India, which imports over 80% of its oil.

Joint-Statement-following-the-22nd-India-Russia-Annual-Summit Courtesy:
18 July 2024

India-Russia relations march ahead

The 22nd India-Russia summit, held in Moscow on July 9 during Prime Minister Modi’s official visit, focused on expanding bilateral economic, energy, cultural and defense cooperation. It indicates the two nations’ commitment to adding substance and new momentum to their relationship. The long-delayed summit, which coincided with the NATO summit in Washington, should be viewed through the wider lens of a multipolar world.

534795_0_68_720_473_1920x0_80_0_0_27a8f74ace78cb73d7b0ab2075f99b85 Courtesy: Sputnik India
30 May 2024

Trouble in Pakistan’s periphery

Pakistan’s peripheral regions have long been treated as colonies to benefit the Punjabi core. This neglect is facing a vigorous pushback, in the form of peaceful protests and violent resistance. The economic crisis has exacerbated tensions in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, which remain poor despite abundant natural resources.

th Courtesy: Economy
16 May 2024

Iran-Pakistan pipeline to nowhere

The long-delayed Iran-Pakistan pipeline has put Pakistan in yet another bind of its own making. Abandoning the project will expose it to Iranian penalties, while completing it will violate the sanctions imposed by the U.S., its financial benefactor, and its other patron Saudi Arabia which competes with Iran for West Asian leadership.

00016c8b5de0110adb271e Courtesy: Spacewatch.global
4 April 2024

China, Quad and emerging technologies

China is racing ahead in building powerful emerging technologies for use in space, cyber security, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The Quad countries still have an edge in these capabilities – but must collaborate in the Indo-Pacific now to maintain their comprehensive national power and global influence to keep China at bay.