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India-Nepal
Sacred Ties, Contested Borders: India and Nepal Between Civilisation and Geopolitics


Afroz Khan

As Nepal’s historic 2026 “Gen Z” revolution elevates political outsider Balen Shah to Prime Minister, Kathmandu and New Delhi navigate territorial friction to forge a modern, development-driven bilateral partnership.

Gilgit-Baltistan
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

Petroleum Reserve (SPR)
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.

Issue Briefs

Pak-Afg War
The Geopolitical Logic of the Ongoing Afghanistan–Pakistan War


Syed Eesar Mehdi

This Issue Brief examines how the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) evolved from a regional strategic asset into an autonomous insurgent threat, fuelling a cycle of blame and instability between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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.