(By Khalid Masood) I. Introduction In an era where nations leverage cultural heritage as a tool of soft power, Pakistan stands poised to harness its ancient Gandhāra civilization—a cradle of Buddhist philosophy, art, and scholarship—as a cornerstone of its diplomatic strategy. Termed Gangadhara Diplomacy, this initiative seeks to revive Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage, centred in sacred…
(Quratulain Khalid) I. Introduction In July 2025, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Tianjin marked the first such high-level trip since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, a deadly skirmish that plunged India-China relations into a deep freeze. Against a backdrop of border…
(Ayesha Mohsin) Pakistan stands at a transformative crossroads, orchestrating a strategic reorientation that positions it as a formidable force in global diplomacy, military resilience, and youth-driven innovation. The May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, a defining moment, showcased the unparalleled bravery of the Pakistani Armed Forces, who decisively countered Indian aggression, downing six Indian Air Force (IAF)…
(By Khalid Masood) Every year on July 13, Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir) is solemnly observed across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and by Kashmiris worldwide to honor the 21 martyrs killed by Dogra forces outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931. This day marks a pivotal moment in the Kashmiri struggle for freedom, symbolizing resistance…
(By Khalid Masood) On the night of 10 to 11 July 2025, the N70 highway in Balochistan’s Zhob district became the site of a chilling act of violence. Armed militants intercepted two Lahore-bound passenger buses, checked passengers’ computerized national identity cards (CNICs), and singled out nine individuals of Punjabi origin. These victims were abducted and…
(By Mohsin Tanveer) In the annals of Indian history, few leaders have polarised the nation as profoundly as Narendra Modi, Prime Minister since 2014. While his supporters hail him as a transformative figure, critics label him India’s “worst-ever Prime Minister.” The scathing critique accuses Modi of undermining democracy, fostering societal divisions, and promoting organised hatred…
(By Khalid Masood) Arrogance, as Dante wrote in Inferno, is one of the “tongues men know and heed, a babel of despair.” Defined as an attitude of superiority manifested in overbearing conduct or presumptuous claims, arrogance erodes humility and fosters self-obsession, blinding leaders to their weaknesses while exaggerating perceived strengths (Merriam-Webster). In the case of…
(By Khalid Masood) In an era where regional conflicts can rapidly escalate into global crises, the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict stands out as a stark reminder of modern warfare’s evolving nature. The brief but intense clash—marked by missile barrages, drone strikes, and covert operations—has fundamentally reshaped strategic thinking within military and diplomatic circles. Triggered by escalating…
(By Ayesha Mohsin) In a seismic shift in South Asian geopolitics, China and Pakistan are spearheading an audacious initiative to replace the dormant South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) with a new regional bloc that pointedly excludes India. Advanced discussions, highlighted by a trilateral meeting in Kunming, China, on 19 June 2025, involving Pakistan,…
(By Khalid Masood) In the aftermath of the May 2025 Indo-Pakistani clashes, sparked by the 22 April Pahalgam attack, the Indian government, military high command, and media orchestrated a concerted campaign to deny significant military losses, particularly among Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots and assets like the Rafale jets and S-400 air defence systems. The…
