Ms Nadira Panjwani HI, SI Chairperson KCFRAssalam-o-Alaikum, Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) is pleased to hold this seminar. Because what we will examine today is more than just a regional conflict. What is happening in the Middle East is a global disaster with far-reaching consequences affecting all of us. This conflict is perhaps the…
How the 2026 Middle East War Shattered American Hegemony The Empire did not Fall in a Single Battle. It Fell in The Silence of Allies Who Declined to Answer the Phone. In November 1956, British and French paratroopers descended on the Suez Canal and seized it with the confident swagger of men who believed the…
Security Dilemmas, Strategic Distrust, and Regional Power Competition Abstract Pakistan–Afghanistan relations remain among the most complex and volatile bilateral relationships in South and Central Asia. Despite deep historical, cultural, and geographic linkages, the relationship is increasingly defined by security tensions, strategic mistrust, and competing regional interests. The return of the Taliban in 2021 was expected…
Shakil R. Crafting a New Era of Geopolitical ThrillersAn Interview with Air Cdre (Retd.) Dr. Shakil R. Sheikh, Author of Shadow: The SENTRY Directive Introduction Air Cdre (Retd) Dr. Shakil R. Sheikh represents a unique intersection of disciplines: a retired PAF Aerospace Engineer turned strategic storyteller. In an exclusive interview conducted in Islamabad, Defence Journal…
The May 2025 Air War between the PAF and the IAF will go down in history as the largest Beyond Visual Range (BVR) battle between two nuclear-armed neighbours. So too would the consequences of a 7-nil loss for the IAF, which resulted in a ‘strategic paralysis’ of the Indian political and military leadership. This consequential…
The Treaty of Westphalia is considered to be the foundation and a reference point for the conceptual establishment of the idea of a “Nation State”. It solidified the notions of territorial sovereignty, state autonomy, and the structure of the international system. Signed in 1648, the treaty stabilised patterns of interstate conduct it reinforced. Since 1648,…
Operation Swift Retort to the 4-Day War of May 2025 The Air Force is an inherently technology-sensitive force and without adopting emerging technologies, concepts, and doctrines, it risks falling behind in effectiveness and relevance. Aware of this eventuality, the leadership of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has always remained open to change and ready to embrace…
Realism never left; it merely receded from view while a brief liberal moment convinced the world that power politics had been tamed. Today, that illusion lies in ruins across a cascading sequence of conflicts unfolding in stark succession – from the ongoing Iran–U.S.–Israel war, which has ignited a multi-theatre confrontation across the Middle East, to…
Visualise a modern-day Air Force commander sitting in the operations room, miles away from the combat zone, overseeing every friendly and enemy aircraft and all assets involved in the campaign. In a split second, he can task a fighter, reposition a drone, and authorise a strike. In today’s promising technological era, he does not even…
My Tribute to the Silent Strength of our Society When I first opened my eyes in this world, the first face I saw was that of a loving, caring, and devoted mother. Her gentle touch, warm smile, and endless patience formed the earliest memories of my childhood. Like every child, I did not understand the…
