(By Khalid Masood) Introduction The decade-long civil war in Yemen has long been a proxy battleground for regional powers, but in late December 2025, a dramatic escalation exposed deep fissures between two key players: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Once united in a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis, the two Gulf…
(By Quratulain Khalid) For decades, Bollywood has been India’s most potent instrument of soft power, beaming its songs, stars, and stories to more than three billion people worldwide. Yet this same industry has systematically weaponised its reach to demonise Pakistan, portraying its people, state, and institutions as the root of all evil on the subcontinent….
(By Khalid Masood) The United States’ recent approval of a $686 million sustainment and upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets represents a timely affirmation of Islamabad’s strategic resilience. Notified by the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress on December 8, 2025, this deal arrives at a pivotal moment, reinforcing the Pakistan Air…
(By Mohsin Tanveer) The two-day visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to Washington, culminating on 19 November 2025, will be recorded as one of the most consequential diplomatic events in the modern history of US–Gulf relations. Against the backdrop of a red-carpet welcome, fighter-jet flyover, and a black-tie dinner attended by global…
(By Tahir Masood) U.S. President Donald Trump stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced a 20-point Gaza plan. Trump called it a road to peace. In reality, the plan empowers Israel, weakens Palestinians, and forces them to surrender under pressure. Trump gave Hamas “three or four days” to accept the deal. He warned…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction The evolution of warfare has always been driven by technological leaps — from gunpowder to nuclear weapons, and from precision-guided munitions to unmanned systems. Today, the next transformation is already taking shape in the form of directed-energy weapons (DEWs). These systems harness concentrated energy, rather than explosive force, to disable, damage,…
(By Mohsin Tanveer) Introduction Diplomatic gatherings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have long been fertile ground for statesmanship, backroom bargaining, and the quiet forging of global alignments. This year’s highlight, however, has a distinctly strategic undertone. The White House confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with leaders from…
(By Khalid Masood) The strategic environment of the Persian Gulf has long been predicated on the technological superiority of Western-supplied air defence systems, forming the bedrock of the security architecture for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. This paradigm was fundamentally challenged on September 9, 2025, when an Israeli military strike successfully penetrated the airspace…
(By Khalid Masood) In a move that sends powerful ripples across the geopolitical landscape from the Middle East to South Asia, Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a historic ‘Strategic Defence Agreement’. The signing ceremony in Jeddah, attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks…
(By Ayesha Mahnoor) Doha, Qatar – In a move that has sent shockwaves across the Middle East and irrevocably altered the geopolitical landscape, an audacious Israeli airstrike on the 9th of September 2025 pierced the veneer of diplomatic sanctity in Doha. The target: the political leadership of Hamas, gathered to deliberate a ceasefire proposal. The…
