China’s growing involvement in Pakistan’s security, especially with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a significant strategic shift that deserves a closer look. This shift occurs as Islamabad grapples with internal unrest, particularly in Balochistan, while Beijing focuses on safeguarding its economic interests. As regional stability and sovereignty issues become increasingly crucial, understanding this evolving dynamic is essential for academics and policymakers. CPEC, launched as a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is valued at roughly $62 billion (Caskey, 2024).
Tag: Pakistan
This is what Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Looks Like
Bangladesh’s complex history, marked by its struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971, provides a backdrop to the current turmoil. While the United States played a role during that period, the recent protests are driven by domestic issues such as the quota system, police brutality, and economic challenges. The recent turmoil in the country has been multifaceted, with several factors contributing to the ongoing crisis.
Epidemic of Exam Leaks: South Asia’s Education Under Siege
In a shocking turn of events, an investigation done by a team of journalists for six years has shown that more than 30 government jobs and academic board exams in Bangladesh including question papers of the nation’s most competitive exams like Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) have been leaked for over “a decade”. These incidents of paper leaks are spreading like a contagious epidemic in South Asia’s education system. Paper leaks where exam question papers are disclosed before the scheduled date have become a common phenomenon that disrupts the integrity of individual academic assessments.
Emergence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Beyond
There was a time in the year 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, at that moment both Pakistan and the US considered Afghanistan as a region to safeguard their interest. When Afghanistan was having wars with Pakistan it didn’t bother Pakistan much as it was aware of US funding to Pakistan but today the scenario has changed, post US withdrawal from the region Pakistan is left to deal with terror outfits in Afghanistan all alone. Pakistan has a long-shared bond with TTP as TTP is Pakistani militants from Pakistan, TTP experienced a strong comeback in 2020 after the Afghan peace deal with the US. Afghan Taliban and TTP share deep ideological roots.
Is Winning Control of PoK Beneficial for India?
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) refers to the portion of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently under Pakistani control. The territory has been a source of tension between India and Pakistan since the two countries gained independence in 1947, and the disputed status of PoK has been a key issue in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The disputed territory was ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu king, but the region had a majority Muslim population. When the state of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in 1947, Pakistan claimed that the accession was invalid and sent troops into the region.
Israel Conducts Airstrikes on Iran Despite US Implorements to not Retaliate
According to a US official, Israeli Defense Force carried out an air strike on Iran on Friday, April 19, in retaliation to an Iranian attack last Sunday, April 14. The Iranian defense force has blocked three drones near the air base in Isfahan province. However Iran did not make any comment on who could be behind the attack and nor did Israel claim responsibility over the strike. The No large scale damage was caused by the attack, reported CNN. Sources said that Netanyahu government’s war cabinet has been planning for an attack since Monday which was hold back due to international pressure coming from allies like the United States and Gulf.
Palestine opts for Technocratic Governance
Guns and Bullets is our popular newsletter offering critical intelligence, analysis and news on current ongoing wars and conflicts around the world. This issue cover story includes “Palestine opts for Technocracy Governance” and quick roundup of news around the world.
Feasibility of Nuclear Weapons as Deterrents
Initially, it was considered as a new means of warfare with an unprecedented destructive power. In the Cold War period, the creation of Soviet nuclear weapons especially after the Cuban missile crisis forced the then two superpowers to reconsider their views regarding the use of nuclear weapons as an offensive measure. This article will assess the credibility of nuclear deterrence in today’s geopolitical turmoils
Pakistan Conducts Intelligence based Anti-Terrorist Operations in Afghanistan
In this issue of our popular newsletter ‘Guns and Bullets’, the author writes about Pakistan’s intelligence based counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Further in-depth commentaries are provided about Israeli Airstrikes killing dozens in Gaza followed by Suicide bomber targeting Chinese engineers in Pakistan
CAA Protests Highlights Foreign Policy Illiteracy Among Indians
Four long years after the parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 11 March 2024 notified the rules for CAA. Though it has nothing much with domestic affairs, why do Muslims in India keep protesting? Is the CAA discriminatory against Muslims? What is the foreign policy angle of CAA?