Issue Briefs

Beyond Symbolism: Can Pakistan Become West Asia’s Net Security Stabiliser?
This issue brief explores whether Pakistan can evolve from a traditional “security contractor” into West Asia’s net security stabiliser. The September 17, 2025, Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement marks a pivotal moment, formalising decades of military cooperation between the two countries. Historically, Pakistan has trained Gulf forces, guarded monarchies, and provided military personnel, often in transactional arrangements....
From Protest to Power: Can JNP reshape Bangladesh’s Political Future?
The Jatiya Nagorik Party (JNP)— born out of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement, that steered the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh— is seeking to break the decades-long dominance of the Awami League and BNP, and advocating for a Second Republic through constitutional reform and centrist, pluralist governance. As it navigates entrenched power structures and competing opposition forces, it faces both great promise and uncertain challenges in its quest to reshape the nation’s political future.
Indonesia’s Balancing Act : Between Contestation and Cooperation with China
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, balances economic ties with China while asserting its sovereignty amid tensions in the South China Sea. China's maritime claims and illegal fishing in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the....


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Islamabad’s Grip and Local Aspirations: The GB Election and the Constitutional Void
Mohammad Usman Bhatti
Gilgit-Baltistan’s 2026 elections exposed federal overreach, economic exploitation, and constitutional ambiguity. Despite PPP’s lead, unresolved grievances over rights, resources, and representation fuel persistent unrest and demands for autonomy
Reinforcing India’s Energy Security: Imperatives for India’s Strategic Oil Buffer
Mohammed Badrul Alam
India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves remain limited, but expansion through new caverns and UAE partnerships is vital to shield its economy from supply shocks and global energy volatility.
AJK at the Boiling Point: Broken Promises Ignite Unrest
Idrees Aftab
The so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is witnessing growing political unrest as long-standing grievances over governance, representation, and basic rights continue to intensify.