Issue Briefs
The Narrative Battlefield: Democratic Dissent in India and Information Warfare by Pakistan
As Pakistan faces mounting internal challenges, its information warfare apparatus is intensifying propaganda campaigns against India to divert attention from domestic crises. The battle over Kashmir is increasingly being fought not only on the ground but also in the realm of narratives and global perceptions.
The Breaking Point in Balochistan: Failure of Pakistan’s Governance Model and Making of a Multi-Front Conflict
Balochistan has become the epicentre of Pakistan’s growing internal security crisis, where decades of militarisation, political alienation, and economic neglect have deepened instability. The failure to address governance and development challenges has transformed the province into a multi-front conflict zone.
Water, Terror, and Transborder Realities: Reassessing the Indus Waters Treaty
This issue brief analyses the strategic obsolescence of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty against the backdrop of Pakistan's cross-border terrorism, severe climate stress, and domestic water mismanagement. It highlights the immense developmental costs borne by Jammu and Kashmir, justifying India’s decision to condition future hydro-cooperation on regional security and ecological realities.
Books/Journals
The Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), New Delhi, organised a webinar titled “The Iran War: Implications for the Region and Beyond” on 31 July 2026. The event was chaired by Dr Jajati K. Pattnaik, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Member of the Research Advisory Council of the Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi.
The US‑Israel military campaign against Iran in February 2026 quickly escalated into a regional conflict, with Tehran striking US bases across the Gulf and asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption of global energy supplies has intensified inflationary pressures worldwide, particularly harming economies in the Global South.
| Speech by Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India CALM WATERS, RISING TIDE: Stability as the Foundation for Indian Ocean Growth |
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ICPS Board Members had a meeting with Dr Yousuf Bulushi, Chairman, Muscat Policy Council today. They discussed the evolving regional geopolitics, the nature of emerging global order and its implications for southern and western Asian regions and the state of India-Oman relations. The importance of exchange of views at the Track II level was discussed too with both sides agreeing to inter-institutional collaboration in future.
The Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), New Delhi, organised a webinar titled “The Iran War: Implications for the Region and Beyond” on 31 July 2026. The event was chaired by Dr Jajati K. Pattnaik, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Member of the Research Advisory Council of the Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi.
The US‑Israel military campaign against Iran in February 2026 quickly escalated into a regional conflict, with Tehran striking US bases across the Gulf and asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption of global energy supplies has intensified inflationary pressures worldwide, particularly harming economies in the Global South.
| Speech by Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India CALM WATERS, RISING TIDE: Stability as the Foundation for Indian Ocean Growth |
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This occasional paper examines Balochistan’s struggle for autonomy, from British colonial “Sandemanisation” to its forced 1948 accession to Pakistan. By highlighting the suppression of Kalat’s independence and the exploitation of regional resources, Ray illustrates how systemic marginalisation transformed a secular identity movement into an enduring conflict against centralised state authority.
The academic world mourns the passing of Professor Tharailath Koshy Oommen, a distinguished sociologist, prolific author, and Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who passed away on 26 February 2026, in Gurugram at the age of 88.
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When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, much of the West viewed global responses through a binary lens, as usual—us versus them—defining countries as either supporters of Ukraine or allies of Russia. Western nations, particularly the United States and its European allies, presented this struggle in moralistic terms: democracy vs autocracy, good versus evil, the free world versus an expansionist dictatorships.
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India and Bangladesh share a deep-rooted historical, civilizational, and geographical connection. As neighbours in South Asia, their relationship has been characterized by cooperation and mutual respect but has also faced occasional challenges due to differing perceptions, internal politics, historical reasons, and relative power dynamics.
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For years, this community has endured systematic targeting, with little to no substantial response from the state to protect its citizens or address the root causes of these attacks
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Securing the Supply Chain: Critical Minerals and India’s Quest for Defence Self-Reliance
Mohammed Shoaib Raza
India’s defence self-reliance is threatened by severe vulnerabilities in critical mineral refining. Discover how strategic policy shifts, processing corridors, and mineral reserves can bridge the gap to true technological sovereignty.
SCO Bishkek Summit 2026 and India as a Valuable Stakeholder
Mohammed Badrul Alam
The 2026 Bishkek Summit highlights the SCO's Eurasian ambitions. India leverages the bloc for counterterrorism, connectivity, and cultural diplomacy while navigating complex regional challenges and balancing its Western strategic partnerships.
The Securitisation Trap: How Military’s Defacto Rule Deepens Pakistan’s Regional Conflicts
Navneet Khan
Pakistan's political crises in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stem from federal marginalisation and economic inequality. Military securitisation of legitimate grievances deepens conflict; genuine political dialogue is essential for stability.