G7 Summit 2025 Part-II: Declarations, Departures, and Diplomatic Biases
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G7 Summit 2025 Part-II: Declarations, Departures, and Diplomatic Biases

(By Khalid Masood) In the serene yet tense setting of Kananaskis, Alberta, the 51st G7 Summit, held from June 15 to 17, 2025, convened leaders from the world’s leading democracies to confront a cascade of global challenges. Hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the summit aimed to forge consensus on climate finance, artificial intelligence…

The Strait of Hormuz: Global Oil’s Lifeline and Iran’s Strategic Leverage
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The Strait of Hormuz: Global Oil’s Lifeline and Iran’s Strategic Leverage

(By Khalid Masood) As Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz amidst its intensifying conflict with Israel in June 2025, the world stands on the precipice of a potentially catastrophic disruption to global energy flows. The Strait, a narrow but vital maritime chokepoint, is not just a regional water-body – It is a jugular…

The Trump Card: A $5 Million Golden Visa and America’s Audacious Immigration Gambit
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The Trump Card: A $5 Million Golden Visa and America’s Audacious Immigration Gambit

(By Khalid Masood) In a gilded flourish aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump unveiled a shimmering prototype of the “Trump Card” in April 2025, a $5 million golden visa promising U.S. residency to the world’s elite. On June 11, 2025, with a flourish of digital fanfare, Trump announced the launch of TrumpCard.gov, opening a…

Powering Pakistan’s Digital Future: Leveraging Surplus Electricity for Crypto Mining and AI
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Powering Pakistan’s Digital Future: Leveraging Surplus Electricity for Crypto Mining and AI

(By Khalid Masood) In May 2025, as Pakistan basked in the afterglow of its military triumph over India’s ill-fated Operation Sindoor, a quieter revolution took root. The government, seizing a moment of geoeconomic opportunity, allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of surplus electricity to fuel Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, heralding a bold leap…

From Defence to Development: Rethinking Pakistan’s Security Paradigm
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From Defence to Development: Rethinking Pakistan’s Security Paradigm

(By Khalid Masood) In the crucible of May 2025, Pakistan’s military valor illuminated the skies, repulsing India’s Operation Sindoor with BeiDou-guided precision strikes that felled six Indian jets and shattered New Delhi’s belligerent ambitions (Le Monde, May 8, 2025). This triumph, sparked by India’s hasty accusations over the April 22 Pahalgam attack, reaffirmed Pakistan’s defensive…

From Vishwaguru to Alone: India’s G7 Exclusion
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From Vishwaguru to Alone: India’s G7 Exclusion

(By Khalid Masood) In the wake of the brief but bruising Indo-Pak war of May 7–15, 2025, India finds itself grappling with an unaccustomed diplomatic isolation. The conflict, sparked by the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists, saw India’s Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory strike against alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan—fail to achieve its…

SCALP-EG Missiles in Sindoor Op: A Legal Minefield for India
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SCALP-EG Missiles in Sindoor Op: A Legal Minefield for India

(By Khalid Masood) India’s Use of SCALP-EG Missiles in Operation Sindoor: Violations of EU Arms Export Rules and Options for Accountability On the night of May 6–7, 2025, India’s Operation Sindoor saw Rafale fighter jets deploy French-made SCALP-EG (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles and HAMMER precision-guided munitions against nine sites in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, including…

India vs Japan
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India’s Economic Misconceptions: A Comparative Analysis with Japan

(By Khalid Masood) In recent years, India’s economic narrative has been one of ambition, with claims of surpassing global giants like Japan fueling national pride. Posts on platforms like X and media reports often amplify this sentiment, citing India’s GDP growth and projections of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. However, such comparisons, particularly…