Issue Briefs

Impact of ‘Operation Sindoor’ on Pakistan’s Fragile Economic Recovery
Pakistan’s economic crisis has reached a breaking point, with inflation exceeding 40% and foreign exchange reserves falling to critical levels.
The Changing Contours of Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations
Once strategic allies, Pakistan and Afghanistan are now engaged in direct military conflict. Despite Chinese mediation, cross-border airstrikes and TTP militancy have pushed bilateral relations to an unprecedented historic low.
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.


Comments
Perspective from Bangladesh: Balancing Economics with Geography: Why Dhaka’s China Success Demands a Pivot to India
Simon Mohsin
While Tarique Rahman’s China visit delivered economic and political success, geography dictates that Dhaka must balance this by stabilising relations with India to effectively manage permanent, vital neighbourly and regional interests.
AJK (PoK)’s Political Pulse Amid Continuing Unrest: Reading Between the Lines
Nazir Ahmad Mir
The banning of the grassroots JKJAAC has sparked fatal unrest in AJK (PoK), exposing Islamabad’s rigid control, structural political manipulation, and the military’s violent suppression of genuine local governance.
Governance deficit, Grievances, and the Criminalisation of Dissent: 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