Issue Briefs

Widening gulf between Pakistan and AJK
Although most of the demands have been accepted― of course, not before securitizing the political issue by deploying FC, Rangers along with police to use force against the protesters― the people of AJK are unlikely to forget the ordeal they have had to pass through, for the last more than six months, which has certainly steeled their nerves.
National Report by China in the 45th UPR Session: Hiding More than it Reveals
China’s report on human rights in the 45th session of the UPR on 23 January 2024 has drawn the attention of human rights activists worldwide. It has painted a rosy picture of the human rights situation within China.



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From Assertion to Deference: How the Iran War and Shifting Power Dynamics Redefined Trump’s China Visit
Imran Khurshid
The visit was defined more by symbolism than substance, where Beijing projected confidence while Washington appeared strategically constrained. The Trump–Xi meeting in Beijing highlighted shifting power dynamics, with China setting the terms of engagement across key geopolitical issues.
Terrorism, Trust, and India-Pakistan Relations: Peace Remain Elusive
Afroz Khan
Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism has pushed India toward aggressive, kinetic retaliation, weakening Islamabad's nuclear deterrence and making genuine bilateral rapprochement impossible without visible, credible actions against extremist networks.
Divided Commands and Fragmented Lenses: Reconciling American Regional Policy with Indian Interests
Imran Khurshid
US regional strategy operates through fragmented command structures that elevate India and Pakistan in different theatres, producing enduring contradictions. These structural inconsistencies continue to shape—and often complicate—India’s security calculus in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.