Issue Briefs

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.
Beyond Symbolism: Can Pakistan Become West Asia’s Net Security Stabiliser?
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....



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Pakistan’s Credit Upgrade: When Better Ratings Mask Economic Pain
Mohammed Shoaib Raza
Pakistan’s latest credit upgrade masks a deeper paradox: international confidence has improved, but ordinary citizens continue to bear the heavy economic costs of IMF-driven stabilisation and fiscal adjustment.
Recent Trends in India- European Union Partnership: Towards a New Paradigm amidst Competitive Diplomacy
Mohammed Badrul Alam
The European Union (EU) is a political, economic union of 27 member states that are located geographically within the continent of Europe. It is a supra-national union with a total area of 1,634, 469 square miles and with an estimated population of 452 million as of 2026.
The July 2026 Balochistan Attacks Expose the Limits of Coercive Approach in Pakistan
Mohammed Shoaib Raza
The July 2026 Balochistan attacks by the TTP and BLA exposed critical vulnerabilities in Pakistan's security state, proving that kinetic military operations cannot substitute for dialogue and political reconciliation.