What Caused Algeria and Morocco to Cut Ties?
On 24th August 2021, Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco, citing Morocco’s recognition of Israel and its support of the Kabyle separatist movement as the two main reasons.
In this piece, follow the real story behind why two of North Africa’s biggest powers severed their diplomatic ties, and the events that led to this rift.
Dissolution of Guaidó’s Interim Government: What’s Next for Venezuela?
The Venezuelan presidential predicament takes a new turn as the opposition-controlled National Assembly dissolves Guaidó’s interim government ahead of presidential elections expected in 2024. What led to this removal and what’s next for the petrostate of Latin America?
Turkey, Greece and the Cyprus Dispute
Hafsa Ammar discusses how international mediation sometimes is necessary to maintain world order and peace.
She builds on this case by recalling the Cyprus dispute. The mediation attempts by the US and the United Nations managed to subdue Turkey and Greece, and this effectively prevented the conflict from escalating.
Assessing Nuclear Security in Pakistan & India
In South Asia, Pakistan has been subjected to growing criticism over the insecurity posed by its nuclear infrastructure. However, what’s commonly ignored is that the region houses another nuclear state—one that presents greater and deadly nuclear concerns.
The Plight of Afghan Women Under the Taliban
With Afghanistan having already become the victim of immense sanctions imposed upon it by the West, the Taliban’s recent ban on women’s education will only continue to disrupt the lives of the people of Afghanistan. Myra Imran Rafiq recommends intervention and engagement by international actors to minimize the cost of human suffering.
Prospects of a Technocratic Government in Pakistan
Rumors of technocracy have been echoing in Pakistan for a few weeks as the country’s economic plight worsens with each passing day.
A technocratic government is a form of government in which the ministers of the government are not politicians by career and do not necessarily belong to any political party.
The Case of the Twitter Files
In December 2022, Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, released the Twitter Files—the company’s internal emails, documents, and Slack conversations that revolve around company rules and critical decisions made before Musk took over.
Twitter’s controversial decision to censor the New York Post’s article on the information obtained from a laptop allegedly owned by Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, is particularly significant here.
Exploring the India-China Border Dispute in Arunachal Pradesh
The absence of clear demarcations in the Arunachal Pradesh region has led to multiple conflicts between China and India. Tawang, the reason for the recent skirmish, is claimed by both India and China. Leveraging the tactical and cultural importance of the Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh will undeniably provide a strategic advantage to either of the two nations.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and International Security
Afaq Ahmad explores the potential benefits and challenges of using artificial intelligence (AI) in intelligence gathering and analysis in the larger field of international security.
He holds that AI has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency, accuracy, and objectivity of intelligence gathering and analysis, particularly if the multi-dimensional concerns around it are addressed.
Tajikistan’s Geoeconomic Significance: Unfolding New Dimensions
According to certain economic assessments, Tajikistan has had consistent development since the end of the Tajik civil war in 1992, as well as an overall rise in the standard of living and foreign investment.
To Maha Afzal Chaudhary, the country’s great hydroelectric potential and geostrategic significance make it a prominent player in regional affairs.
Japan Approves Its Revolutionary National Security Strategy
Japan has unveiled an updated version of its National Security Strategy to ramp up the counterstrike capabilities of the self-defense force. The strategy consists of three documents: the National Security Strategy (NSS), the National Defense Strategy (NDS), and the Defense Buildup Program (DBP). Sajid Khan believes that the vital changes in Japan’s strategy have occurred because of the threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.
Pak-Afghan Clashes at the Chaman Border
The Taliban regime came into power by overtaking the Afghan government in August 2021. Despite the fact that Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the Taliban government, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained contentious since then.
Deadly cross-border exchanges at the Chaman border on 13th November, 11th December, and 15th December have alarmed the people of the two states who fear a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
Pervaiz Elahi & PML-Q: Kingmakers in Pakistan
In a political wrestling match, we have a ruling party and an opposition—and more often than not, both form coalitions with other political parties and independents.
Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and KP assemblies has further polarized the political parties.
In such critical times, the kingmaker of the country—PML-Q—has found its place on the political stage once again. Raja Abdullah shares how PML-Q came to power, and eventually emerged as a kingmaker for its own political survival.
Deepfake or Real? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
Deepfake, as the name suggests, uses deep learning technology to create convincing yet fake digital media. In this article, Shahzeb Rizwan Raja enumerates specific characteristics that distinguish between an actual and a deepfake video and image.
Pakistan’s Political Circus: PDM, PTI, and the New COAS
The swift and undisturbed appointment of Pakistan’s new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on 24th November brought an end to what could have been a possible cause of political unrest.
Will the change in command at GHQ let go of the past and usher in a new era of civil-military relations?
FATF Exit: Benefits for Pakistan
Placed on the FATF’s grey list in June 2018, Pakistan was finally removed from the list in October 2022. The country has undoubtedly undergone strict scrutiny from the global monetary watchdog.
Of course, there should be benefits that come with being white-listed, but what are they? And how much loss has the country suffered from being placed on the grey list for over four years?
Black Lives Matter—A Theoretical Outlook
American society is set up to reward those who are born advantaged but claims that all can succeed through arduous work—a portrait of race neutrality painted by the privileged white class. This has led to the re-instigation of the ‘black struggle’ in America. The struggle is not new, as it has reared its head multiple times in the history of the US.
To understand the different layers of the BLM conflict, Hafsa Ammar studies the movement through the instrumentalist theory of ethnicity, the social identity theory, and the strain theory.
The social identity theory elaborates on the sharp divides between the ‘blacks and whites’ and explains how such an ethnic divide manifests in education, employment, social interactions, narrative building etcetera. The instrumentalist theory highlights the cultural and racial peripheries within which they live and die. Lastly, the strain theory is used to study the manifestations of the social roles assigned to the African American race.
