Setting aside “Axis of Evil,” or its calibrated stepchild “Axis of Upheaval,” what might be a better name for the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea cluster? Consider an acronym—”CRANK,” representing China-Russia-Iran-North Korea. A deepening alignment among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is drawing considerable attention as the United States and its allies confront new challenges from these four nations, both individually and […]

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, including with the Israeli killing of one of the Iran-backed group’s commanders. Hezbollah showcased purported footage of Israeli military sites in the Golan Heights on Tuesday amid international efforts to prevent an all-out war in Lebanon. The nearly 10-minute video contains drone footage of several sites throughout the territory […]

In the landscape of contemporary development, the active engagement of the youth has become a critical element for fostering community engagement, ownership, and the long-term sustainability of projects. With 64% of Pakistan’s population under 30 years old, and 29% aged between 15 and 29 years, as reported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the youth bulge presents both a […]

In the face of relentless challenges, the Pakistani security forces have stood as an indomitable barrier against terrorism, ensuring the safety and stability of the nation. Their dedication and professionalism have been especially evident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where extensive intelligence-based operations over the last six months have resulted in significant achievements against militant activities. This article delves into the valor, […]

Pakistan has renewed its vow to combat and eradicate terrorism from the country by announcing Operation Azm-e-Istehkam on June 22, 2024 which has been declared a whole of nation approach which will contain both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. Country’s political and military leadership decided to deal with all factions of Taliban without any demarcation of “Good Taliban” and “Bad Taliban”. […]

Regional moves to expand power influence and friendshoring efforts have been intensifying, and reflected in the array of manoeuvrings amidst the volatile hard power and security tussles.RIMPAC The US Pacific Fleet started to host the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) starting early this month, the world’s largest international maritime exercise in Hawaii, which will last until August. Held every other […]

On June 12, Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, penned a special message for President Putin for Russia Day, characterising their bilateral relations as a ‘far-reaching strategic relationship’. This description of ties between Pyongyang and Moscow symbolised a new bonhomie between the two leaders and marked a paradigm shift in Northeast Asian geopolitics. The exchange was soon followed by […]

In mid-June this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea and signed the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Putin emphasized the importance of this document as a foundation for further development in bilateral relations. He stressed that according to the treaty between Russia and North Korea, each party would provide assistance to the other […]

The security agreements between Ukraine and its partners contain important commitments for ensuring Ukraine’s long-term defense and deterrence capabilities. Still, there is significant room to make their design more credible and durable. In July 2023, on the margins of the NATO summit in Vilnius, the leaders of the G7 countries issued a joint declaration pledging to work with Ukraine on […]