Editorial: West Asia in Flux – De-escalation, Dialogue and Diplomacy Can End Conflict, Not War – Adv. S. N. Desai
In 2015, under Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), six countries lifted sanctions on Iran, which froze its nuclear programme. In 2018, United States (US) President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from JCPOA, re-imposing sanctions. Iran began stockpiling enriched uranium and suspended International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring. In 2019, President Trump announced his intention to designate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as foreign terrorist organisation. Revolutionaries in Iran, particularly leader Ali Khameini and IRGC were not predisposed to reconciliation. Iran attacked Saudi, Emirati, Japanese and Norwegian oil tankers; conducted drone strikes on Saudi Arabian oil facilities and shot down a US drone. Read More
Winds of Conflict: Houthi-Iran Drone Strikes and the Ripple Effect - Ms Uma Kabe
The Houthi-Iran drone attacks have become a serious problem for regional stability and international maritime security and have had a profound impact on India-Iran relations. This paper examines the facets of these attacks, beginning with an exploration of the geopolitical context shaped by the Israel-Palestine conflict and Iran’s involvement in supporting the Houthi rebels. Iran's strategic backing for the Houthis, coupled with its larger regional ambitions, exacerbates tensions and complicates the security environment in West Asia. Read More
From Surveillance to Smuggling and Striking: Role of Drones in the India–Pakistan Scenario
This article traces the evolving roles of drones between India and Pakistan. It briefly analyses the military drone programmes and capabilities of India and Pakistan, and provides the trajectory of the evolution of drones from being primarily used for surveillance purposes to now cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons and precision strikes during military operations. It also highlights the deployment of drones during Operation Sindoor in the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, and how this has underscored the necessity of drone capabilities as an essential requirement on the battlefield. Read More
Pakistan’s strategic geography and US-Pakistan relations in the 21st century: a rimland perspective
Pakistan, after independence in 1947, joined the US-led Western bloc and collective defence partnerships such as the South-East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). As a part of the American containment strategy in South Asia, it subsequently received billions in economic, military and developmental assistance from the US and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, along with multiple bailouts. US-Pakistan military cooperation rose exponentially, such as multiple defence exports or providing airbases for launching U-2 surveillance flights against the Soviet Union. US-Pakistan cooperation rose exponentially post-1979, following the anti-US Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Since then, Pakistan became an important strategic outpost for its observations and interventions in West Asia, and a crucial logistical base for the US to counter Soviet forces, using ‘mujahid’ tribal fighters launched from Pakistan to fight a guerilla war against Soviet regulars, who, following Soviet withdrawal in 1989, regrouped to form the Taliban. (Rubin, 2002; Dawn, 2012; Hussain, 2016; Javaid & Mushtaq, 2025) Read More
Revisiting the Baloch Insurgency: connecting dots between Internal Politics and Regional Dynamics
The demand for the independence of Baluchistan is rooted in their past struggle during colonial period and even after independence. This struggle has led to the emergence of several Baloch nationalist organizations fighting for justice for Baluchistan. Their idea of justice spans from their concerns about the neglect of their development, absence of due representation in the governance, tactics of suppression used by the government of Pakistan, exploitation of the resources of Baluchistan, opposition to the involvement of China through CPEC and demand for separate state of Baluchistan. This struggle is more or less violent much closer to terror. Due to the label of terrorism they naturally lose legitimacy, are considered as internal security threats and invite military and punitive action against them. Read More
US interests in West Asia: Security Architecture and Diplomatic Measures
West Asia in its entirety is undergoing a transformation. These times have been well defined and reiterated by various scholars. West Asia’s fundamental architecture is passing through defining times. The pace of these changing geopolitical structures is triggered by domestic transformations and the extra-regional alliances. The United States (US) vision for the region was essentially defined by security structure, which is manifesting itself in security engagements and wider presence in the region through military bases across the area. Though oil driven, the American association with the region has been an interplay of dynamic factors that underlined security of its sphere of influence. Another major US policy in the region includes US aid and support to its various allies like Israel in the region. Particularly, in the last decade, bold steps were taken by the US Administration to release the deadlock. Some of the initiatives such as the JCPOA or the Abraham Accords, were tough decisions and would cause disruption in an already fragmented regional sectarian profile. The article argues that the US’s policy towards the region is changing and is apparently failing in many facets. In this article, historical facts and evidence of the US policy in the region has been put across, where at times it has created a space for dialogue between the region and itself, and at times show signs of departure. Read More
The Yemeni civil war: History, consequences and future trajectory
The civil war in Yemen, raging for more than a decade now, is widely considered one of the most ferocious conflicts in recent history. The unprecedented scale of casualties, resulting from fierce battles amongst the leading powers of the region has ravaged the nation. With the recent developments on this front, it becomes paramount to analyse the origins of these clashes, document the progress of this war and what it portends for the future. This paper delves into these aspects while also exploring how the history of the Gulf state, its fractured polity, tribal loyalties and terrorist movements have influenced this fractious infighting. It briefly touches upon the history of the nation, how it acquired its current form, the evolution that it underwent and the armed conflict which has engulfed it. It also depicts the impact that proxy conflicts between various powers have had on the nation. The research shows the debilitating effects that this catastrophe has had on the populace and the exploitation of this situation by non-state actors like terror organisations in the fulfilment of their objectives. It also attempts to review the existing situation and chart a possible path towards the future.
Read MoreIndia’s approach to Joint Warfare Post Sindhoor Operation
As with India’s rising military profile after the Operation Sindhoor across the border much interest has gone into how it develop its approach to military strategy and Joint Doctrine which will improve operational aspects and having impact at the strategic level. The concept of Joint Doctrine and Grand Strategy has got more attention after the recent Operation Sindhoor. Further, the focus on Jointness, Integration and Theatratization will be the logical step and in that context the focus on Joint Doctrine will go on a long way as a part of the Joint Operations will be conducted in future by the individual services in India. In terms of applied policy option, the above option of continental and maritime aspects translates into military means to get the political objectives. Further, it’s assumed to facilitate shifting India’s strategic orientation to have a maritime strategic thought is important as it will give enable the internal force structuring and externally it enables it to balance the existing delicate diplomacy India has to play between Washington and Beijing. Read More
The Indus Waters Treaty: India’s Historical Blunder
The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), brokered by the World Bank between India and Pakistan, has long been regarded as one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements in modern diplomatic history. Surviving multiple wars and prolonged political hostility, the Treaty has functioned as a stabilizing mechanism in an otherwise volatile bilateral relationship. However, recent developments, including India’s decision to place the Treaty in ‘abeyance’ following renewed cross-border hostilities in 2025, have caused debates regarding its strategic, legal, environmental, and geopolitical implications to surface. This paper critically seeks to explore what the IWT entails, what it means to put a treaty into abeyance, the potential implications this could have for both India and Pakistan and the broader diplomatic and environmental consequences of such a move. It argues that while the Treaty has historically acted as a conflict-mitigating instrument, contemporary geopolitical realities necessitate a reassessment of its strategic viability. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at balancing national security imperatives with international legal obligations and environmental sustainability. Read More
India’s Digital Diplomacy: A Case Study of the Unified Payment Interface
In the present tech world, digital diplomacy cannot remain an exception to this. It implies the use of different social media platforms, technologies to spread and influence the global perception in favour of you. This paper is aimed at to see India's digital diplomacy through UPI, its genesis in India and its expansion in the globe. Role of digitization in economic growth, effect of digital schemes on economy and the significance of the Stack Knowledge programme. This paper also tried to understand the challenges faced by UPI stakeholders and its growing expansion in various countries. Read More
