Issue Briefs

Fall of Bashar Al-Assad: What it Means for the Region and India
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's government marks a significant turning point in the Western Asia region. Assad was overthrown by a quick onslaught by opposition troops commanded by Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, following more about 13 years of civil war and international sanctions.
Emergence of Terrorism in Central Asia: Roots, Drivers, and Implications
Central Asia, which includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, has always been regarded as a stable and safe region, but the recent incidents of terrorism, linked to this region and perpetuated by ISIS-Khorasan (IS-KP), have caused significant concern both regionally and globally.
How will Trump Impact Europe in his New Term?
The election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America (US) for the second time poses manifold challenges to the continent of Europe, which is already going through a major war, sluggish economic recovery after the pandemic and a myriad of issues from migration, to rise of the Far-Right.



Comments
Governance deficit, Grievances, and the Criminalisation of Dissent: The Crisis of Constitutional Legitimacy in AJK(PoK)
Mohammad Usman Bhatti
This comment examines the constitutional crisis in the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), detailing how contested refugee seats and federal overreach sparked mass protests, leading to a state-sponsored anti-terrorism crackdown ahead of the 2026 elections
Azad in Name, Controlled in Reality: The Colonial Contradictions of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Idrees Aftab
Behind Pakistan’s narrative of “Azad Kashmir” lies a region marked by political control, constitutional restrictions, and recurring unrest. The contrast between Pakistan’s rhetoric and its record in AJK(PoK) deserves closer scrutiny.
Pak Army’s Desperation in AJK(PoK): How Brute Force Shattered Pakistan’s Kashmir Narrative
Idrees Aftab
As repression intensifies in AJK (PoK), the very people, whose cause Pakistan claimed to champion, are increasingly turning against it. What is unfolding today is not merely a law-and-order crisis, but a challenge to the narratives that have shaped Pakistan’s Kashmir policy for decades.