South East Asia

Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day, on Aug. 14, was marked by an undercurrent of challenges. The 16-month rule of the 13-party Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government concluded, making way for a new technocratic caretaker administration tasked with overseeing upcoming general elections. However, this power transition is not as straightforward as …

Tensions borne out of quadrilateral conflicts have once again pushed India to the forefront of global politics. WPR remarks that hosting the G-20 summit in New Delhi further cemented India’s centrality to global politics and multilateralism and caps a year in which PM Narendra Modi strengthened his and the country’s …

Central Asia is seldom a top priority for U.S. foreign policy. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States was one of the first countries to recognize the five newly independent states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. For most of the 21st century, however, Central Asia largely served …

The internet portal CRUX named India, Russia & African Union as Winners of the G20 Meet in New Delhi (Sept.9-10 2023). The general euphoria sonograph now certifies India as a de facto world power coming on the heels of another of India’s spectacular success with Chandrayaan 3 Moon Mission recently, …

As the competition between India and China for influence in South Asia intensifies, foreign investment becomes more important in shaping regional outcomes. This discussion is particularly relevant as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to expand, reaching the borders of almost every South Asian country. India will need to …

The American filmmaker Woody Allen said, ““Eighty percent of success is showing up.” If he is correct, America is not succeeding in Central Asia. But the rulers of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and China, Xi Jinping, leave nothing to chance: Xj has visited every one of the republics and has been …

Transatlantic Disagreements Make the World Safer In April 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing, where he spent six hours meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussing Europe, Russia, and Taiwan. Then, on the flight home, Macron declared that Europe should strive for “strategic autonomy” from the United States. …

In a move that has reverberated across the international stage, China released a new map on August 29, 2023, following the BRICS meeting held in South Africa. This seemingly innocuous act of cartography has far-reaching geopolitical implications, as it asserts China’s territorial claims over several disputed areas, unsettling not only …

Recently, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) made headlines with a propaganda video that seems aimed at discrediting Pakistan and its law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The video suggests that Pakistan and its LEAs are unable to eliminate TTP hideouts, bases, and strongholds. While such propaganda attempts are not new, it is essential …

As Pakistan’s caretaker government takes over from the previous government under Shahbaz Sharif, security challenges paint a gloomy picture for the country. Last year saw the highest number of terror incidents in Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) and Baloch separatists being the main outfits responsible for the attacks. The return of the …