| Who After Ayatollah Khamenei? | | |
Asad Mirza
The latest Israeli-US war on Iran began with airstrikes on the home and offices of the Late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Apparently, the strategy behind this stemmed from the wishful thinking that Khamenei’s sudden elimination would pose a dire threat to the current ruling system of Iran and after his elimination the country would be thrown in chaos. Further, these chaos would be exploited by anti-Iran elements present in the country to foment anti-government mass movement, resulting in the formation of a new government in Iran.
These calculations might have been suppor... | | Read More |
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| Ripples of a Regional Conflagration | | How the Middle East Crisis Is Reshaping Security Dynamics in Pakistan and South Asia | |
Dr Shabir Choudhry From London
The recent escalation in the Middle East has underscored a stark geopolitical truth: localised conflicts now have global reverberations. What began as shifting regional alignments in West Asia has rapidly evolved into a cascade of political, security, and societal effects — extending far beyond the immediate theatre of confrontation. Pakistan and the broader South Asian region are currently experiencing the early shockwaves of this unfolding crisis.
1. A Regional Flashpoint and Its Global Ripples
Reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatol... | | Read More |
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| From the Abraham Accords to South Asia: Realignment, Escalation | | and the Risk of Strategic Spillover | |
Dr Shabir Choudhry
The current turbulence in the Middle East is not an isolated eruption of violence. It is the visible phase of a deeper structural transformation that began years ago with shifting alliances, normalisation agreements, and recalibrated power balances. The question now confronting policymakers is not merely whether the conflict will intensify within West Asia, but whether its consequences will extend into South Asia.
The concern is not about tanks moving across continents. It is about alliance systems, strategic compression, and geopolitical contagion.
1. The ... | | Read More |
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| Backgrounder: Nepal Elections | | |
Asad Mirza
Nepal will go to the polls on March 5 to elect a new government. Nearly 19 million people will take part in the ballot for Nepal's House of Representatives. The general election will be the first the country has held since the youth-led anti-corruption protests toppled the government in September 2025. The republic has since been governed by an interim government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, which promised to hold fresh elections and hand over power within six months.
India’s neighbour Nepal will hold its 9th parliamentary election since the first one held... | | Read More |
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