Issue Briefs

Fall of Hasina and Political Transition in Bangladesh: What has Happened and Why?
This Issue Brief seeks to analyse the events leading to the ouster of Hasina from power, identify the issues that brought about her fall, and the stakes for India in the evolving situation on Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s UPR National Report: Hides more Than it Reveals
Months after its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on the human rights condition in the country was approved by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during its 53rd Session on 30 October 2023, Pakistan continues to violate most of the agreed recommendations to alleviate the concerns of all the stakeholders and improve the rights situation in the country.
The Chabahar Port and India-Iran Agreement
On 13 May 2024, India and Iran signed a 10-year long-term contract for operation of Shahid Behesti terminal at the Chabahar port in Iran, eight years after concluding the general framework of cooperation on the Chabahar port. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in May 2015 for the development of this port by India and on 23 May 2016, the contract was executed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran.


Comments
Strait of Hormuz, Iran Crisis and India: Why it matters?
Mohammed Badrul Alam
As conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensifies, the Strait of Hormuz – the world's most critical energy chokepoint – has emerged as the focal point of a growing geopolitical and economic crisis. This article examines how disruptions in the Persian Gulf threaten global oil and gas supplies, destabilize international shipping networks, and threatens a wider regional conflict extending to the Red Sea.
A Region on the Edge: The Deepening Governance Crisis in PoJK
Syed Eesar Mehdi
This comment analyses the escalating 2026 crisis in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Driven by the Joint Awami Action Committee, widespread economic grievances over inflation and resource exploitation have transformed into a powerful political movement. This systemic collapse of public trust directly challenges Pakistan’s governance and regional narrative.
From Assertion to Deference: How the Iran War and Shifting Power Dynamics Redefined Trump’s China Visit
Imran Khurshid
The visit was defined more by symbolism than substance, where Beijing projected confidence while Washington appeared strategically constrained. The Trump–Xi meeting in Beijing highlighted shifting power dynamics, with China setting the terms of engagement across key geopolitical issues.