Operation Mahadev stands out not only as a military victory but as a new perspective on evolving national security practices. This operation aimed to neutralize the attackers of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. On July 28, 2025, Indian security forces conducted a joint operation in the Dachigam forests near Srinagar. It provided immediate retaliation and a data-driven closure, supported by continued intelligence, forensic verification, and international diplomatic efforts.
Author: Jaiee Ashtekar
Post-Pahalgam: Rethinking the Indus Waters Treaty amid Climate Pressures
Pahalgam attack in Kashmir has once again brought the India-Pakistan relationship into sharp focus. In the aftermath of such violent incidents, there is often a renewed scrutiny of the strategic levers both states hold over each other. One such lever—frequently invoked in times of heightened tensions—is the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960. Signed with World Bank mediation, the IWT is widely regarded as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in history. Despite multiple wars and skirmishes, the treaty has endured. But with accelerating climate stress, dwindling water resources, and shifting geopolitical dynamics, its resilience is being tested like never before.
Trade Truce of Trump with China: Tactical Withdrawal or Strategic Rebalancing?
In May of 2025, President Donald Trump had a significant announcement on his administration’s long-running trade conflict with China: a temporary agreement that reverses part of the high tariffs that have been levied over the last two years and provides a 90-day period for negotiations. Described by the White House as a “strategic recalibration” and by Beijing as a “welcome but cautious step,” the agreement is the first concrete easing of a battle that has broken global supply lines, shaken financial markets, and transformed geopolitical alignments.
The US Strategic Pivot Towards India and Saudi Arabia
During the recent POLITICO Security Summit, US Representative Mike Lawler presented a forceful argument for reshaping America’s strategic alliances. Focusing on India and Saudi Arabia as fundamentally important to US security interests for the coming decade, Lawler sketched out a policy direction that does not merely seek to deepen bilateral relationships but also rebalance world power in reaction to the intensifying assertiveness of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.