The recently concluded Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) provided a revealing glimpse into the current state of the Africa-China relationship. On the one hand, the official imagery and language of the summit emphasized constancy — a vision of a stable South-South relationship stretching from the past into the future. On the other hand, the summit also projected a relationship that […]

The July 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in in Astana, Kazakhstan provided China with another platform to highlight its vision for global governance and security. While the SCO has expanded to include states beyond Central Asia, the organization’s focus on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism — the so-called “three evils” — is particularly relevant for China in Central Asia, […]

KEY TAKEAWAYS Last week, China welcomed more than 50 African leaders to Beijing for the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which has met every three years since 2000 to coordinate economic and political relations. FOCAC is China’s main platform for Belt and Road-affiliated projects and Chinese plans for infrastructure development have generally dominated the action plans that come out […]

The TAPI pipeline is a large-scale project that envisions the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. Construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project was officially inaugurated on Wednesday in Turkmenistan. Attending a ceremonial opening event in Turkmenistan was Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund along with Chairman of […]

Now that the U.S.-led punitive expedition to Afghanistan has ended, regional trade patterns are returning to normal, as in pre-Soviet Union normal, enhanced by China’s Belt and Road Initiative and local efforts, like the Uzbekistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan (UAP) Railway Project. In August, the government of Uzbekistan announced the opening of the Termez International Trade Center, in the border town of Termez, the […]

Afghanistan, long regarded as a battlefield of geopolitical interests and regional conflicts, has taken on a more sinister identity in recent years: a hub for the training and indoctrination of suicide bombers. The rise of extremist ideologies and the influence of militant groups within the country have made Afghanistan a breeding ground for individuals willing to sacrifice their lives for […]

On September 5, 2024, a 22-year-old man was beaten by a mob on the premises of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Police in the Sonadanga area, over a social media post allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), however, asserted that the person was being treated under Army supervision, and was out of danger. […]

Ahmad Shah Massoud, hero of the Northern Alliance, was assassinated two days before 9/11. His namesake talks to RS. Three years after the Taliban takeover, the images still haunt those who watched as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan met a catastrophic end. The president Ashraf Ghani and his close entourage fled to safety by private plane, while hours later young […]

Rise of Unapologetic Jihadism On September 5, 2024, a 22-year-old man was beaten by a mob on the premises of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Police in the Sonadanga area, over a social media post allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), however, asserted that the person was being treated under Army supervision, and […]

India, with its vast coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres, is inherently a maritime nation. The seas that surround India have been instrumental in shaping its history, economy and security. Yet, for many citizens, the concept of maritime security often remains abstract, perceived merely as naval ships patrolling distant waters. However, maritime security is far more than a military endeavour; it […]