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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Between Ambition and Reality: The Paradox of Pakistan’s Shuttle Diplomacy
Nazir Ahmad Mir
Pakistan is attempting to broker a ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran to protect its own economic stability, which relies heavily on Gulf oil and remittances.
Managed Ceasefire, Helpless Mediation: Pakistan’s Constrained Diplomatic Role
Imran Khurshid
The Iran ceasefire highlights the intersection of US strategic recalibration and Pakistan’s constrained diplomatic agency. What appears as mediation is, in reality, a reflection of broader power asymmetries in regional politics.
Bab el-Mandeb as the Next Possible Flashpoint: IMEC’s Role as a Strategic Hedge
Anubhuti Jain
Amid continuing US/Israel–Iran tensions, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait emerges as a new flashpoint threatening global trade, energy, and digital flows. India’s India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) offers a strategic hedge to mitigate these maritime risks.