Pakistan and the Changing Strategic Milieu
Pakistan\’s geographic location, strategic capability, closeness to China, relations with regional countries and the US, and, most importantly, animosity towards India, have made the US Indo-Pacific strategy and its arrangements of interest to it.
India Warns Afghanistan From Joining CPEC | A Threat to Afghan Economic Potential
Afghanistan, a landlocked country, is dependent on other countries for its trade. Despite being a central point that connects South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, Afghan economic potential is hindered due to limited opportunities.
Afghanistan and Pakistan: The Road to Prosperity
The most significant challenge for both Pakistan and Afghanistan is not persuading stakeholders of the economic viability of their transboundary projects but rather creating an ideal environment for them.
India and Afghanistan: The Windows of Opportunity
The geopolitical rivalry between India and Pakistan in the Afghan theater is not the only rationale for India\’s readiness to step up and boost international collaboration on counterterrorism issues. There are vested interests for other regional actors as well.
CPEC: Expansion Projects and Indian Influence
CPEC would link Pakistan\’s Gwadar port in Balochistan with China\’s largest province, Xinjiang. Owing to China\’s plans to extend CPEC to Afghanistan and the possibility of strengthening economic ties between China and Pakistan, India\’s concerns have grown.
At Crossroads: The Indo-Afghan Ties
After a year’s hiatus, India is cautiously returning to Afghanistan. Amid China making inroads in Afghanistan, explore the evolving dynamics of Indo-Afghan ties in the region, and the crossroads at which they stand.
The Taliban Recognition Conundrum
For all the lip service paid to ‘world peace, the Western governments, in particular, must reflect on whether subjecting Afghanistan to a diplomatic vacuum would win them any favors in the long run.
Taliban India Ties Post-August 2021
Well aware of the fact, that cash-strapped Afghanistan under the Taliban is in dire need of economic assistance and International recognition, India, by leveraging its economic clout, and political reach is once again trying to influence the foreign policy of Afghanistan.
Insurgency in Balochistan and Pakistan’s Security Concerns
Regional geopolitics and competition have played a major role in fueling the insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan. The streak of attacks by insurgent groups and terrorism\’s recent wave in Pakistan, especially when the Interim Afghan Government is hunting down ISKP in Afghanistan, make security challenges apparent.
The Resurgence of Sectarianism in Pakistan: A Threat Matrix?
Sectarianism is so deep-rooted in our society that even the state deems it ‘normal’ and does not react unless extremist manifestations of the phenomenon start turning ugly. The state’s typical response entails the ‘concealment and appeasement’ approach, which was evident from its dealing with the recent upsurge in sectarian tensions in the country.