The escalating tensions between US-Israel and Iran threaten Pakistan’s economy, security, oil imports, remittances, and regional stability amid border conflicts.
Discover why US-Israel air strikes on Iran during Operation Epic Fury will fail to force regime change due to airpower limitations
Content Category: Commentary
In a rapidly fragmenting global order, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are exploring a trilateral defense arrangement that could redefine regional security architectures. Often dubbed an Islamic NATO, the proposed pact reflects a broader shift by middle powers toward strategic autonomy as US security guarantees wane. This convergence signals the merging of Middle Eastern and South Asian strategic theaters into a single geopolitical map.
Iran’s 2026 currency crash was not a sudden shock but the result of sanctions, IRGC-dominated economics, and institutional decay undermining trust in the rial.
Iran’s 2025–26 unrest reflects simultaneous pressure on economic stability, political legitimacy, and state coercive capacity, marking a critical juncture for the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s January 3, 2026 address reflects an Islamic Republic under acute economic and social strain. By validating bazaar grievances while condemning protest tactics, the leadership seeks to divide dissent and preserve regime authority amid a collapsing Rial.
Renewed hostilities in Yemen’s eastern Hadramout governorate signal more than a local power struggle—they reveal a deep structural fracture within the anti-Houthi camp. As UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council forces push into areas held by Saudi-supported government units, the collapse of the Riyadh Agreement risks reviving extremist sanctuaries, destabilizing Red Sea security, and accelerating Yemen’s slide toward permanent partition.
As 2025 ends, Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition collapses. The Saudi-UAE split leaves rival militias and foreign powers vying for control, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Qatar’s diplomacy has long been framed as pragmatic engagement, but its mediation model has increasingly blurred into political patronage. By hosting and legitimizing groups such as the Taliban and Hamas without enforceable conditions, Doha has helped normalize armed movements in international politics, weakening counterterrorism norms and reshaping regional stability.
The expulsion of Saudi-backed forces from Hadhramawt by UAE-aligned proxies signals the collapse of the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi alliance. In Yemen and Sudan, Abu Dhabi leverages non-state actors to secure ports, resources, and influence, while Riyadh prioritizes state stability and territorial consolidation. The result: a regional realignment where Gulf unity gives way to fierce intra-Gulf competition.