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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

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.

Pak-Saudi
Beyond Symbolism: Can Pakistan Become West Asia’s Net Security Stabiliser?


Mohmad Waseem Malla

This issue brief explores whether Pakistan can evolve from a traditional “security contractor” into West Asia’s net security stabiliser. The September 17, 2025, Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement marks a pivotal moment, formalising decades of military cooperation between the two countries. Historically, Pakistan has trained Gulf forces, guarded monarchies, and provided military personnel, often in transactional arrangements....