The Islamabad Memorandum: A New Paradigm for Middle Power Diplomacy
The signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 June 2026 marks a watershed moment in contemporary geopolitics. By facilitating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran to halt a conflict that threatened global economic stability, Pakistan has transitioned from a peripheral player to a pivotal mediator. This agreement, whilst interim…
Water as a Weapon: How India’s Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty Threatens South Asia’s Future
Editorial Note: This article was published in June 2026. On the 31st of August 2026, the Court of Arbitration issued a further Award on the Status of the Indus Waters Treaty, again affirming the treaty remains in force, alongside interim measures on the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant. India has rejected this ruling as well, maintaining…
Breaking the Nuclear Deadlock: Kazakhstan’s Strategic Leverage in the US–Iran Ceasefire Negotiations
The current phase of back-channel diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran has reached a critical juncture, with the final disposition of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile emerging as the primary obstacle to a sustainable regional settlement. Following the military operations conducted by a joint United States and Israeli coalition against major Iranian nuclear sites,…
Bhan Singh’s List: Recording the Sikh genocide of June 1984
The June 1984 Indian military assault on the Sikh religion’s most sacred place of worship, the Golden Temple complex, Sri Harimandar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib, stands as a monumental watershed in modern Sikh and Indian history. This historical event exposed a profound rift between state-mandated narrative and collective trauma. The Indian government classified…
Eid, Faith, Systematic Fear: The Shrinking space for Muslim festivals in India
For millions of Muslims across India, the arrival of Eid ul-Adha should be a season of profound spiritual devotion, communal charity, and familial gathering. The core religious rite involves Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of livestock to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God, with the meat distributed among family, neighbours, and impoverished communities. Yet, in…
TWO MILESTONES IN HISTORY: Pakistan’s Nuclear tests – and the Conquest of Constantinople
The month of May has been important in history. On 28 May 1998, Pakistan became a nuclear power, the first and only country in the Muslim world to attain this status. Pakistan was constrained to conduct the tests after India carried out its provocative nuclear tests. This also needs to be noted in the…
At the Edge of an Arms Race: The Limits of the NPT Review Process
The forthcoming review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) convenes at a flashpoint for the global nuclear order. Once known as the bedrock of international security, the treaty is buckling under the weight of geopolitical rivalries and rapid technological shifts. With the world’s total nuclear inventory hovering around 12,100 warheads, expectations that this…
Can Pakistan Save Us From World War 3?
It doesn’t take too much catastrophising to imagine a scenario where the America/Israel/Iran situation spirals rapidly downwards into a global conflict: if President Trump follows through on his threat to destroy Iran’s whole civilisation, China might see an existential threat to its energy supplies and Russia might see an opportunity to cause more mischief.…
Militant Hindutva as a Form of Extremism
The communal violence that unfolded in Leicester in 2022 marked a turning point in discussions about extremism, diaspora politics, and social cohesion in the United Kingdom. Long regarded as a model of multicultural coexistence, the city witnessed unprecedented clashes between sections of its Hindu and Muslim communities. In 2026, a major independent inquiry led…
Hate Speech Against Muslims and Christians in India’s Political Landscape
India’s constitutional framework is founded on secularism, pluralism, and equal citizenship. Yet over the past decade, political discourse surrounding religious identity has become increasingly polarised. Hate speech directed at religious minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, has emerged as a major concern for scholars, civil society organisations, journalists, and international observers. The issue is no…
