Context In the post-October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the geopolitics of Middle East is fast evolving. This has been accompanied by the loss of Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024. The inauguration of President Trump on January 20, 2025 has presented unique threats…
Since the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 2020 Doha Agreement, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have frequently escalated. These tensions reached their peak last year when the Pakistani military conducted targeted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Barmal district located in eastern Paktika province, claiming to neutralize key TTP commanders…
ContextThe chain reaction that got underway in the aftermath of the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel continues to unfold at a tremendous speed. The fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, a key ally in Iran’s axis of resistance against Israel, has triggered profound geopolitical changes in the Middle East, reshaping regional power dynamics. These…
What began as a focused conflict between Israel and Hamas has morphed into a complex regional crisis that threatens to engulf the entire Middle East. Despite intensive diplomatic efforts from both Western powers and Arabian Gulf states, the situation continues to get worse, with military action becoming less a means to peace and more an…
Trump had criticized NATO even in his first term, and the prospect of him getting re-elected is making the European allies worried. Trump has consistently questioned NATO’s relevance, criticized member countries for not meeting defense spending commitments, and pushed for a more transactional approach to alliances. This strategy could lead to several significant outcomes in…
The saga of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project is a stark illustration of how geopolitical complexities can impede critical infrastructure development, even when the need is dire. For Pakistan, a country grappling with chronic energy shortages, this pipeline has long represented a beacon of hope for economic stability and growth. Yet, for decades, it has…
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31st has brought Iran and Israel, and the larger Middle East, to the brink of all-out conflict. Non only that, it has also escalated the great power rivalry, which was already simmering over the situation of Ukraine. For the first time, Ukrainian forces have…
Context After a long and arduous negotiations, the US reached an agreement with the Afghan Taliban in 2020, which came to be known as Doha Accords. While the treaty was agreed on during the Trump administration, it was the Biden administration that abruptly decided to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan in 2021. In the aftermath…
ContextOn May 13, India signed a 10-year agreement to develop and operate Iran’s strategic Chahbahar Port, committing $120 million, along with an additional $250 million loan credit facility for related projects. This landmark deal between Iran and India has unsettled the US and threatened China and Pakistan by India’s full-scale presence next to the Gwadar…
Israel’s latest ground offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, has triggered international frustration over its military strategy towards ‘total victory’ over Hamas, resulting in a significant loss of diplomatic support and growing isolation. With close allies pressuring Israel to change its course, its steadfast defiance carries the growing risk of economic and security…
