(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 Quratulain Khalid) I. Introduction On November 5, 2025, New York City made history as 34-year-old Zohran Kwame Mamdani surged to victory in the mayoral race, securing over 50% of the vote against formidable challengers. Democratic socialist Mamdani, a Queens state assemblyman since 2021, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an independent with 40%+)…
(By Khalid Masood) In the bustling corridors of of Kuala Lumpur, amid high-level diplomacy and the humid haze of Southeast Asian geopolitics, two major powers – India and the United States – formalised a defence pact that may reshape the Indo-Pacific theatre for the next decade. On 31 October 2025, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh…
(By Khalid Masood) When President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza Peace Plan on September 29, 2025, it set off ripples across the world. Framed as a sweeping roadmap to end the Israel–Hamas war, the proposal promises an immediate ceasefire, hostage exchanges, Israeli withdrawal, and the establishment of a transitional, technocratic governance structure in Gaza…
(By Quratulain Khalid) Introduction: On September 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that officially greenlit the transfer of TikTok’s U.S. operations to American ownership. This wasn’t merely a corporate transaction; it was the culmination of a multi-year geopolitical struggle over data, influence, and the very future of the global internet. The signing…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction “Gentlemen, they may even be in this room right now!” quipped President Donald Trump to reporters on September 25, 2025, acknowledging his slight delay before meeting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in the Oval Office. This light-hearted moment belied the gravity…
(By Mohsin Tanveer) Introduction In the grand hall of the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a speech that blended familiar bombast with an unexpected pivot—one that could reshape the contours of the Russia-Ukraine war. Amid criticisms of global migration, climate policies, and the UN itself, Trump articulated…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction From the vantage point of Lahore, a city that has for centuries served as a crucible of the Sub-Continent’s destiny, President Donald Trump’s speech at the UN was a seismic event. His address has immediately and profoundly altered Pakistan’s strategic landscape. Watched in offices in Islamabad and debated in policy circles…
(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…
