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Brics India 2026
Forthcoming BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi : Can India Seize the Moment?


Mohammed Badrul Alam

India chairs the 2026 BRICS Summit amid geopolitical turmoil, balancing internal divides and global pressures. Its agenda prioritises resilience, innovation, and Global South solidarity for a more equitable world order.

Balochistan
Silencing Dissent, Fuelling Despair: The Arrest of Mahrang Baloch and the Dangerous Transformation of the Baloch Conflict


Syed Eesar Mehdi

The article examines how Mahrang Baloch’s imprisonment and the rise of female suicide bombers reflect a dangerous convergence of shrinking democratic space and evolving militancy, challenging Pakistan’s long-term strategy for restoring peace and order.

India-Japan Relations
Fusion of Sushi and Samosa: Evaluating Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s Visit to India


Mohammed Badrul Alam

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s visit to India underscores a robust strategic partnership. Driven by China's regional dominance, both democracies are aligning on defence, technology, and economic diversification to secure a balanced Indo-Pacific.

Issue Briefs

Russia-Ukrain
Russia’s Odessa Drive: Geopolitical Imperatives and Competing Visions


Deepak Mehra

Russia’s intensified strikes on Odessa highlight its bid to neutralise Ukraine’s maritime lifeline and assert dominance in the Black Sea. Rooted in historical claims and NATO security fears, Moscow’s campaign threatens Ukraine’s economy, global food security, and regional stability, while exposing the limits of international institutions.

GCC
Structural Constraints and Strategic Inertia: Rethinking Gulf Security After Israel’s Doha Attack


Mohmad Waseem Malla

This Issue Brief analyses the structural limitations of the Gulf security framework in light of Israel’s unprecedented attack in Doha on 9 September, targeting Palestinian Hamas leadership. While the attack marked a dangerous escalation of Tel Aviv’s regional adventurism, it also exposed the enduring structural weaknesses of the Gulf’s security architecture which has been defined by entrenched dependency on the United States.

Pak-Saudi
Beyond Symbolism: Can Pakistan Become West Asia’s Net Security Stabiliser?


Mohmad Waseem Malla

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....