Issue Briefs

The Geopolitical Logic of the Ongoing Afghanistan–Pakistan War
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’s Odessa Drive: Geopolitical Imperatives and Competing Visions
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.
Structural Constraints and Strategic Inertia: Rethinking Gulf Security After Israel’s Doha Attack
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.


Comments
Governance deficit, Grievances, and the Criminalisation of Dissent:Â 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:Â 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.