(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…
(By Khalid Masood) On 22 April 2025, a tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, in the Baisaran meadow. India swiftly pointed fingers at Pakistan, alleging state-sponsored terrorism without presenting credible evidence. This knee-jerk accusation launched a global diplomatic campaign to vilify Pakistan, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
(By Ayesha Mohsin) In June 2025, the inaugural China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral meeting in Kunming marked a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s resurgence as a key player in South Asia. Following closely on the heels of the May 2025 China-Pakistan-Afghanistan trilateral in Beijing, where the expansion of the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan was agreed…
(By Khalid Masood) In June 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a fiery speech, accusing unnamed states of sponsoring terrorism, a thinly veiled jab at Pakistan. Expecting applause, India instead met a wall of silence. The SCO’s refusal to endorse a joint…
(By Khalid Masood) In June 2025, as US President Donald Trump lauded Pakistan as a “serious trade partner” and hosted its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for trade and security talks, a perceptible shift in US–Pakistan relations emerged, stirring curiosity and skepticism across South Asia. This tilt, marked by warm rhetoric from Trump and…
(By Khalid Masood) I. Introduction: A War That Bared Hidden Truths The Iran–Israel war of 13–22 June 2025, ignited by Israel’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear sites, was a tempest of drones, missiles, and cyber sabotage that killed hundreds and cost billions. Iran’s Operation True Promise III, unleashing 400 ballistic missiles, pulverized Israeli cities,…
(By Khalid Masood) The Iran–Israel conflict, culminating in a nine-day war ending on 22 June 2025, marks a pivotal chapter in their decades-long enmity. Rooted in ideological clashes and geopolitical ambitions, this shadow war—fought through proxies, covert operations, and direct strikes—erupted into open warfare, exposing the military and economic toll on both nations. From the…
