Issue Briefs

Emergence of Terrorism in Central Asia: Roots, Drivers, and Implications
Central Asia, which includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, has always been regarded as a stable and safe region, but the recent incidents of terrorism, linked to this region and perpetuated by ISIS-Khorasan (IS-KP), have caused significant concern both regionally and globally.
How will Trump Impact Europe in his New Term?
The election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America (US) for the second time poses manifold challenges to the continent of Europe, which is already going through a major war, sluggish economic recovery after the pandemic and a myriad of issues from migration, to rise of the Far-Right.
Fall of Hasina and Political Transition in Bangladesh: What has Happened and Why?
This Issue Brief seeks to analyse the events leading to the ouster of Hasina from power, identify the issues that brought about her fall, and the stakes for India in the evolving situation on Bangladesh.


Comments
Voice from Gilgit-Baltistan: Its Future Lies with India
Senge Sering
Gilgit-Baltistan remains under Pakistani occupation despite its legal accession to India in 1947. Pakistan’s demographic engineering, sectarian manipulation, and denial of local rights erode indigenous identity. Nationalists demand reinstatement of state subject rule, legislative autonomy, and reunification with India to secure cultural survival, resource control, and democratic self-determination.
The Faiz Hameed’s Case in Pakistan Politics: Power, (Dis)Loyalty, and Retribution
Syed Eesar Mehdi
This commentary analyses the rare public conviction of former ISI chief Faiz Hameed, framing it as a case study of Pakistan’s shifting civil-military relations. It argues his downfall reflects institutional recalibration after his political alignment with Imran Khan became a liability.
Pakistan Approaches the Northern Alliance to Subdue the Taliban
Senge Sering
This comment argues that Pakistan has approached Tajikistan and the Tajik-led NRF to secure a corridor to Central Asia, bypassing Taliban-controlled routes. Islamabad hopes this pressure will weaken Taliban support for the TTP, but risks alienating Pashtuns and complicating ties with China.
Pakistan’s Ideological Lens: Why Anti-India Narratives Persist
Imran Khurshid
Pakistan’s anti-India narrative is not about concern for minorities but about preserving an ideology that defines India as a permanent civilizational enemy.