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Expert Explains | Why the fresh US sanctions on Iran are unlikely to have significant impact

September 02, 2026 4:03 pm

Amid signs of Pakistani mediation, the US seems to be adopting an economic strategy against Iran. But this may do little to improve its bargaining position.

NSA Ajit Doval co-chairs the 25th Meeting of Special Representatives with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Beijing on Tuesday. ANI

Expert Explains | How India and China's differing approaches to talks may hinder boundary resolution

August 27, 2026 2:15 am

The 25th round of Special Representative talks, led by NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, shows that the two countries have moved from crisis management to reconciliation. But a solution to the boundary dispute still appears unlikely.

Taliban fighters in a captured Humvee after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Wikimedia Commons

Five years after Kabul fell, how India has warmed up to the Taliban

August 24, 2026 7:16 am

A 'victory day' event at the Taliban-controlled Afghan embassy was the latest sign of the deepening India-Taliban relationship. What's India's thinking behind this? And what about its stated positions on human rights and women’s education?

A man rides on his bike past a billboard with a message that reads in Farsi: "We must rise up" and an image of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Iran-US MoU ends today: how things stand, what lies ahead

August 17, 2026 7:22 pm

Hostilities resumed soon after the 60-day Iran-US MoU was signed. As the 60-day period ends, what is the state of play now?

Why US is allowing American private firms to become ‘hackers for hire’

August 15, 2026 3:54 pm

Vetted private American companies can carry out cyber attacks against foreign cyber-enabled transnational criminal organisations. But every operation is meant to be carried out on the US government’s directions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after signing a trilateral defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (Photo credit: X/ @PakPMO)

Expert Explains: How Netanyahu’s war unexpectedly birthed an Islamic defence alliance

August 10, 2026 8:52 pm

For Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel’s changing defence capabilities and regional ambitions proved to be a source of heightened insecurity. This has now contributed to a defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey, with implications for India.

Expert Explains | Why India needs a clear ‘Arctic narrative’

August 10, 2026 9:08 am

While science continues to underpin India’s presence in the Arctic, the scope must extend beyond exploration. Although India released its Arctic Policy in 2022, a recent parliamentary committee report highlights a concerning gap.

Suicide blast at Swat peace rally: The many layers of violence in Pakistan province

August 05, 2026 6:31 pm

The bombing incident in Swat Valley on Sunday has drawn attention to the anti-militant rallies held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which often gather thousands of protesters to demand peace and stability from the government.

A migrant who crossed from Morocco into Spain holds a sign reading, "asylum" as he lines up for food distribution on a beach in Ceuta (AP Photo)

Spain migrant rush: Deeper crisis it highlights, and the possible solutions

August 12, 2026 5:32 pm

The migrant crisis at Ceuta shows how migration has evolved beyond a humanitarian issue into a complex challenge involving geopolitics and national security. What has been India's approach?

Expert Explains | From Saudi to Kuwait, how US-Iran war is forcing Gulf states to rethink security strategies

July 31, 2026 6:39 pm

Kuwait has ratified a 2023 defence pact with Pakistan, while Qatar has committed to deepening its security cooperation with Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, will have to navigate renewed Houthi attacks while protecting its nuclear ambitions and economic stability.