SUMMARY  For the last quarter century, Asia has been seeking greater autonomy within the existing international monetary system. While the region has had the resources to go its own way, intraregional rivalries and a reluctance to damage ties to the US and the International Monetary Fund have put a damper on regional initiatives. Now the ascendency of China offers a […]

In a statement released on Umar Media, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP’s) official web site on November 28, 2022, Mufti Muzahim, the TTP’s ‘Minister of Defence’ announced an end to the seven months-long ceasefire. Muzahim “ordered” TTP forces throughout Pakistan “to launch attacks anywhere in the country” in response to Pakistani military operations. The outfit claimed that it chose to end the […]

In a sharp turn towards authoritarianism and archaic religiosity, Indonesia’s parliament is expected to pass, within a few days, a new Criminal Code that will extend the ambit of blasphemy, ban criticism of State Institutions and criminalize cohabitation and sexual relations outside wedlock.   Justifying the harsh new code, Deputy Justice Minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej told Reuters: “We’re proud to […]

On November 21, the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) launched its first-ever Indian Ocean Region Forum. The meeting was attended by representatives and former leaders from over 19 Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries – from Australia to southern and eastern Africa. There was no representation from India during this meeting, or perhaps, as several […]

The economic architecture in East Asia and across the Pacific is rich and overlapping and has been built up over decades. Habits of cooperation and consensus building have been entrenched across the region but they are now challenged by geopolitical distrust and US–Chinese strategic competition. At the core of regional architecture is ASEAN. The new Australian government has refocused on […]

In this new era of international politics marked by increasing rivalries of major powers amidst global security uncertainties, the role of think-tank is very essential to make sense of the challenging situation that we all find ourselves. Despite the current global turbulence caused by the current international and regional security situation arising primarily from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine War and […]

It is commonly believed in Pakistan that its existence is under threat from its eastern neighbor India with which it has an unending dispute over Kashmir. But the threat actually comes from the outlawed Teheeik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an offshoot and ally the Afghan Taliban that now rules Pakistan’s Western neighbor, Afghanistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s commitment to forcing sharia on Pakistan […]

India had always found Bangladesh by its side when needed. The bilateral security relation had always been reciprocal. Bangladesh has shown its commitment to the security issues of India. Especially the trend started when the prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Came into power. As well as, the credit for a reciprocal security relationship goes to the Prime Minister for […]

For a regime constantly flaunting its ‘over 90 per cent approval rate’, the sudden outbreak of protests across China is both embarrassing and perplexing. Three years of severe COVID restrictions have caused frustration and anger toward the government that transcend class and geography — a situation unseen since 1989 and one that strikes fear into the authorities. With the slogan […]

Within two months of the conclusion of the 19th National Party Congress in October 2017, China’s relationship with the United States was thrown into disarray. In December 2017, the Trump administration’s U.S. National Security Strategy labeled China a revisionist rival and formally re-opened the door to great power competition. In Spring 2018, tariffs were unilaterally imposed on China’s exports to […]