A Critical Analysis of BBIN, a Sub-Regional Cooperation
Introduction The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Initiative represents a sub-regional cooperation framework aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, and sustainable development among its member states. Emerging as a response to the shortcomings of the larger regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BBIN seeks to foster integration through practical agreements and policy coordination. […]
“Ein Mikreh ba Olam”: Disguised aspirations of Israel and the West
“Ein Mikreh ba Olam” i.e. there are no coincidences in the world, is an ancient Hebrew maxim that aptly reverbates with the current geopolitical aspirations of the West (United States) and its West Asian ally Israel to hegemonize the global maritime trade route. It is imperative to underscore the wider interests behind the recent displacement […]
Egypt’s Foreign Policy: A Masterclass in Diplomatic Pragmatism
Egypt has long been practicing a compelling balancing act in the Middle East and beyond, juggling ideological commitments and national interests with a combination of pragmatism, survival instinct, and regional ambition. From its early position on Palestine and its peace agreement with Israel to its realist stance on the Kashmir dispute and its diplomatic approach […]
Reimagining Empire- Turkey’s Aspirations for the Revival of Ottoman’s Power
Turkey witnessed an ideological transformation from Kemalism to neo-Ottomanism in the post-Cold War era. The movement emerged as Turkey’s new business class leveraged the nation’s economic growth, accumulated capital, and regional military strength to assert a more assertive role in international affairs. The idea of Neo-Ottomanism is a blend of apparent conflicting values. This revived […]
Steering the New Order: India’s Foreign Policy in Israel and West Asia’s Geopolitics
For decades, India carefully steered the turbulent waters of West Asia, balancing energy security, diaspora well-being, and economic ties while maintaining a calculated distance from Israel. The relationship was taboo, steeped in ideological reservations and diplomatic tightropes. But all that has changed. Pragmatism is now at the wheel, and India is now forging closer relations […]
How Terrorism Shapes Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations
Introduction Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have long been shaped by historical tensions, security concerns, and geopolitical objectives. However, in recent years, terrorism has emerged as a major disruptive factor in bilateral relations. Multiple terrorist organizations, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), have taken advantage of regional instability, causing diplomatic divisions, cross-border violence, […]
Saudi-Israel Normalization: A Stop or a Full Stop?
The Gaza war has undeniably interrupted the pace of Saudi-Israel normalization, at least temporarily calling a halt to the diplomatic talks that were unfolding under American brokered mediation. But history attests that with the Palestinian problem as an emotive and political consideration, nevertheless realpolitik and national interest tend to predominate ultimately. The only question is […]
The Betrayal of Palestine: How Arab States Abandoned Their Cause
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attack has laid bare a stark reality: the profound abandonment of Palestinians by Arab states. This abandonment, however, is not a sudden development but rather the culmination of decades of gradual distancing, political calculations, and shifting regional priorities that have left […]