Sun Tzu’s treatise on war offers many stratagems to deal with the enemy. He emphasises deception and patience, cautioning that the general who makes many calculations like a chess player is more likely to win. Unfortunately, endurance is in short supply when it comes to India-China dynamics, especially in the era of 24/7 news cycles. In December 2024, the 23rd […]

In the first week of January 2025, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) welcomed a delegation from the Republic of Chechnya. The delegation was led by Jambulat Umarov, head of the Academy of Sciences of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. Zelimkhan Abdulmuslimovich Yandarbiyev, a Chechen writer and politician who served as second president of […]

Balochistan: Unending Carnage On January 8, 2025, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres seized control of the whole of Zehri town in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan for almost eight hours, and set fire to multiple Government buildings, including a Levies Force station, NADRA and municipal committee offices and a bank. According to local officials, around 80 cadres entered the area […]

There are two prevailing views on China’s economy this year: pessimistic and optimistic. Optimists believe that with the government’s intensive rollout of policies in the fourth quarter and the frequent release of central government meeting directives, China’s economy will continue to improve in 2025. This view believes that the supporting conditions and fundamental trends for the country’s long-term growth have […]

Bangladesh is at a crossroads. In the summer of 2024, a student-led revolution unseated Sheikh Hasina, one of South Asia’s most entrenched leaders, marking a potential turning point in the nation’s tumultuous political history. For years, Hasina’s rule epitomised the authoritarian drift of a country that had once aspired to democracy. Prompted by the July Revolution, her resignation offers a […]

The year just ended was a tumultuous one for Afghanistan, marked by many significant events that will continue to challenge the country in 2025. ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) carried out at least 19 terrorist attacks, targeting Hazara and Shia civilians, Sufi adherents, foreign nationals and Taliban officials. One notable incident was the assassination of Khalil Rahman Haqqani, a senior Taliban leader and […]

On 16 October 2024, Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a space marked by significant regional divisions in political preferences. This divide was evidenced by the considerable variance in the area-wise performance of political parties in the three-phase assembly election held during September-October 2024. The National Conference […]

Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday met with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the UAE, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for talks on various issues including the Islamic Emirate’s aspirations for stability, development and prosperity in the country. The two diplomats also discussed progress made […]

On January 2, 2025, the Punjab Police (Pakistan) released its annual performance report for 2024, highlighting significant achievements in apprehending criminals and ensuring public safety. Over 137,000 fugitives and proclaimed offenders involved in serious crimes were arrested across the province, including Lahore. Among them, 104 dangerous fugitives evading justice abroad were extradited to Pakistan. The report reveals that more than […]

India and Africa share a deeply rooted historical connection, forged through their mutual struggles against colonialism and a shared vision for independence. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who began his activism in South Africa, and African luminaries like Julius Nyerere highlighted the importance of solidarity between the two regions. This bond laid the groundwork for India’s long-standing partnership with Africa, spanning […]