Int’l Affairs

The Rise of Populism in Asia Need to strengthen democratic institutions’ resilience M. Sheraz The populist wave that has swept the world during the recent years has shaken up global politics, sending many establishment-politicians heads spinning. Much of the focus of this surge has been in the western hemisphere, with the rise of Trump, recently Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, and most …

Clash of Civilizations in South Asia The Kashmir Crisis isn’t about territory. It’s about a Hindu victory over Islam. Kapil Komireddi For weeks, [Indian-Occupied] Kashmir has existed in a surreal state of nonexistence. Since a presidential decree abolished the state, revoked its autonomy and partitioned it into two federally administered territories, the Internet has been shut down, cellular networks have …

China International Development Cooperation Agency Foreign Aid with Chinese Characteristics China has fast changed its course of economic development at the turn of the century, from being a major recipient of global funds to a net provider of financial assistance. Following the National People’s Congress in March 2018, Beijing set up the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) to oversee …

Can Middle Powers Save the Liberal World Order? Turn the expressions of concern into concerted action Aftab Abbasi With major powers such as China, Russia, and now also the United States, chipping away at the foundations of the liberal international order, it falls to middle powers to sustain and reform some of its key elements. While middle powers may not single-handedly …

America and Pakistan in Search of Peace and Conflict Resolution Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD. Reflections on Today’s World of Politics US President, Donald Trump, and young-looking Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, met at the White House on July 24. Trump is a master of transforming rhetoric into reality – as he did to the North Korean leader. Both were trying …

Intra-Afghan Dialogue and Response of the Kabul Regime  Mairaj ul Hamid Nasri Afghanistan has seen a variety of peace processes and positive developments as well as many disappointments on the part of its government and the global community. But the reality is that no fruitful outcomes from these processes have been seen, and the Afghans are still living a miserable life. …

The Saffronisation of India Causes and Implications Aftab H. Wahla The result of the gruelling seven-phase Indian election (from April 11 to May 19, 2019) to the 17th Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament, has not only stunned political pundits and the opposition parties in India but has also sent shockwaves across South Asia, besides intensifying Kashmiris’ alienation …

Economic Sanctions and International Law “Modern-day economic sanctions and blockades are comparable with medieval sieges of towns … Twenty-first century sanctions attempt to bring not just a town, but sovereign countries to their knees.” Prof. Dr. Alfred de Zayas (American lawyer, writer, historian, and Former special UN Rapporteur) Shahzad Husain With the success of comprehensive financial sanctions against Iran over …

US-China-Russia Strategic Triangle A deep dive for new great power competition Magazine Desk “Oceania was at war with Eastasia: Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.” — George Orwell (1984) Now, even bleaker than the original 1984 novel, Oceania now has hostilities simultaneously with both Eurasia and Eastasia. Simply put, the US is still the dominant power in a …

Power Play in the Indian Ocean The Great Game Moves to Sea Magazine Desk India, China and the United States, the three major powers, which together account for nearly half of the global economy, are vying for influence in the Indian Ocean arena. All three of them view the region through their own geostrategic frameworks, ensuring intense jostling at best …