With adoption of the Johannesburg II Declaration, BRICS’ historic 15th summit has concluded in the South African city of Johannesburg. To wrap up the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented a joint declaration in the final day of the summit. The BRICS, the collective of the world’s largest developing economies, members have committed to strengthening the framework of mutually […]

This bloc goes to eleven. At its summit on Thursday in Johannesburg, the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa announced that its membership is more than doubling. Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia have been invited to join the group in January. A formidable rival to the Group of Seven […]

Two years on from the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan’s neighbors are increasingly concerned that their return to power has emboldened terrorist groups and networks, which are using the hospitable environment to regroup, rearm, and recruit substantially. There is growing evidence, as the United Nations’ Sanctions Monitoring Team warns, that al-Qaeda and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) are thriving under […]

It’s distressing to hear that 40 Members of the Legislative Assembly [MLA] belonging to various political parties have sought replacement of Assam Rifles to assist Manipur police for restoring peace in violence hit Manipur by other “trustworthy central forces.” However, since this bizarre demand is clearly an attempt by some politicians to score brownie points, it doesn’t come as any […]

Pakistan in the last eighteen months since PTI PM Imran Khan was constitutionally ousted in early 2022 has been subjected to incessant and unprecedented political turmoil not due to any external threats but due to politically disruptionist strategies unleashed by the megalomaniac ego of ousted PM Imran Khan. Pakistan witnessed unprecedented PTI mob violence against Pakistan Army GHQ, air bases […]

It seems all is not well in the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the contagion is spreading into the regime’s power hierarchy. China’s President Xi Jinping, who also heads the apex armed forces authority, the Central Military Commission (CMC), reconstituted the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), which is in charge of the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Wang Houbin, the […]

China’s President Xi Jinping might visit New Delhi for the G-20 summit to be held on 9 and 10 September 2023 has triggered political hopes for a breakthrough in Sino-Indian relations. Optimists view Xi’s presence in Delhi – yet to be confirmed by Beijing – as an opportunity to end the negative phase in bilateral relations. Pessimists, however, point to […]

Pakistan and Iran, two neighboring countries with a history of cordial relations, have taken significant steps to enhance their economic and diplomatic ties. In a move that underscores their commitment to cooperation, the two nations recently signed a five-year trade plan aimed at boosting their bilateral trade to $5 billion. The agreements come in the wake of discussions held between […]

Speakers at a consultation in Islamabad on Friday urged that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should start fresh negotiations to break the ongoing deadlock over the issue Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and cross-border terrorism. They said that Pakistan lacked continuity in its policies towards Afghanistan and added that Islamabad should form some “realistic and holistic” policy for the neighbouring country, which must […]

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said at a conference organized by Afghan investors living in Turkey, that they should return home and help rebuild the country. He said the development would help the country emerge from its dependence on the international community. According to a statement issued by his office on Saturday, Baradar said during […]