The Makkah defence pact unites Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan in a collective-security framework. Symbolic yet strategically significant, it diversifies Gulf security, expands Ankara’s footprint, and boosts Islamabad’s relevance—reshaping regional alignments and complicating India’s strategic calculations.
Houthis have transformed Red Sea attacks into maritime coercion, leveraging Iran’s support but pursuing independent aims. Persistent insecurity looms, with dual chokepoint disruption posing severe risks to global trade and energy.
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.
As part of the CPS Peace Dialogue, the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), in collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC), organised a special talk by H.E. Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, on 17 August 2026 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
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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As part of the CPS Peace Dialogue, the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), in collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC), organised a special talk by H.E. Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, on 17 August 2026 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
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.
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.
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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From SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: India’s Quest for Maritime Leadership and Security
Mohammed Badrul Alam
India’s maritime strategy evolves through SAGAR and MAHASAGAR, uniting naval power, Coast Guard roles, blue economy goals, and regional partnerships to secure trade routes and counter rising Indian Ocean challenges.
Black September and Zia-ul-Haq’s forgotten war: The Butcher who became a Champion
Mohammed Shoaib Raza
In 1970 Brigadier Zia-ul-Haq helped Jordan crush Palestinian fighters in Black September, earning royal gratitude that later aided his rise—before reinventing himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.
Pakistan, Eight Decades Later: The Unravelling of Pakistan’s Founding Dreams
Imran Khurshid
Decades after shedding British rule, the Pakistani people are still fighting for freedom—this time, from the very state institutions that claim to protect them.