Why the US–Iran War Reached Islamabad Deterrence BreakdownDeterrence in the US–Iran confrontation did not fail in a single moment; it eroded across successive escalatory steps that neither side fully controlled. American naval deployments in and around the Strait of Hormuz were intended to signal resolve and impose limits, yet they did not prevent further escalation….
“He plays a game with which I am unfamiliar” (Bobby Jones the golfer talking about Jack Nicklaus) Asymmetric warfare is the war form that has been relevant to all the previous generations of warfare but has found its apotheosis in the era of fourth generation of warfare (4GW). A quick recap of the different generations…
Part VI Written on the 9th of April. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 5 withspecial emphasis on pages 3 of both, Global Order ii and Global Order V. ‘Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate’– John F. Kennedy The powers that be are…
Part VII Note: To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 6. They came, they talked, and agreed to disagree. Islamabad was abuzz with diplomatic activity as US and Iranian delegations arrived on 10th April 2026 for high-level talks conducted on the 11th. The US delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance,…
Part V Note: Written on 29th March 2026. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 4 ‘The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts’ Bertrand Russell. More than a month has gone by as we stand…
The Desperate Search For Peace Part IV This article was written on 26th March 2026. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1, 2 and 3. The conflict in the Gulf has not turned out as the US would want or Israel had hoped. The consequences of their mindless war have begun to take…
The art of negotiation during conflict is often romanticised as a moment of breakthrough – a dramatic handshake, a sudden concession, a historic document signed under the flash of cameras. In reality, diplomacy is rarely so cinematic. It is slow, iterative, and frequently frustrating. The recently failed negotiations between the United States and Iran in…
A Strategic Pathway for Pakistan’s Economic and Defence Transformation Abstract A single missile arcs across the night sky and slams into the Strait of Hormuz. In an instant, the world’s lifeline ruptures. Tankers burn, oil chokes, drinking water vanishes, shelves empty, and markets convulse. By dawn, oil prices have doubled, then tripled. Fuel pumps sputter…
From A Fragile Truce to Regional and Equitable Reckoning The protracted marathon in Islamabad did not produce a grand bargain. It did not need to. AbstractBeyond the Ceasefire takes us on a journey through the historic yet fragile truce brokered by Pakistan between Washington and Tehran, a dialogue unseen for 47 years. But this isn’t…
Having lived and worked in the UAE for more than a decade, it was heart-wrenching for me to see my second home come under a reign of fire. The once business capitals of the Middle East are in a shambles, as corporates, investors and tourists are keeping their fingers crossed. Likewise, the death and destruction…
