With the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2021, the security situation in Afghanistan has become even more uncertain. Pakistan, like other neighboring countries, has concerns about the potential for instability and the spillover of violence into its territory. It has sought to engage with the new Afghan leadership under Taliban regime to protect its interests and […]

The recent allegations of India’s involvement in the murder of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar have added a layer of complexity to the already intricate landscape of Sikh politics, international relations, and regional tensions. The accusations, made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have ignited a diplomatic spat between the two nations, leading to the expulsion of diplomats and […]

The national discourse in Sri Lanka moved from conflict termination to reconciliation with the end of the war in 2009. This essay argues that the concerned parties should shift the discourse from reconciliation to de-escalation because (1) the reconciliation project failed, and (2) the ethnic conflict shows signs of reescalation. It also argues that the possibility of anti-Tamil riots in […]

During the year, international media has charged China for global inflation, deflation risk and now, economic collapse. Yet, Chinese recovery is likely to broaden in the second half of the year. So why the myths? According to reputable international media, we live in a new world in which China’s economy no longer exists. It has collapsed. Here’s a sample of […]

In the annals of Pakistan’s legal history, Justice Qazi Faez Isa emerges as a trailblazing figure poised to bring a wave of positive changes to the country’s judiciary. As he takes the helm as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan, his journey is marked not only by admiration but also by a transformative vision that promises to leave an indelible […]

As Russia’s relationship with the West has deteriorated, the Kremlin’s view of the Taliban has changed. But substantive economic cooperation will be hard to achieve. Russia is one of just a handful of states in the world actively seeking to strengthen its relationship with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. While Afghanistan’s rulers, the Taliban, are still formally designated a banned […]

Pakistan’s caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Wednesday the “biggest concern” currently facing Pakistan was a threat from militant groups using Afghanistan’s soil to carry out attacks on his country. According to Pakistani officials, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have become emboldened since the Islamic Emirate regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and have found sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Since […]

Azerbaijan said on Wednesday it had halted military action in its breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh after its battlefield success forced Armenian separatist forces to agree to a ceasefire that will see the area fully return to Baku’s control, Reuters reported. Under the agreement, outlined by Azerbaijan and the Russian Defence Ministry, which has peacekeepers on the ground, separatist forces are […]

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Pakistan’s Acting Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Uzbekistan presidential press service reported. The discussions primarily revolved around the mutual efforts to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, with a particular focus on trade, […]

When international delegates to the Third Belt and Road Forum gather in October 2023, they might find the focus of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has shifted again. If that happens, it could prompt some to wonder anew what are the ultimate goals of the BRI—a program that began in 2013 as the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the […]