Author: Sarah Saeed

In the volatile environment of South Asia, where strategic crises have become more common, the assessment of any crisis cannot be based only on its military or territorial gains. It is equally affected by factors such as the credibility of deterrence and its impact on escalation control and legitimacy. This is evident from the recent case of “Marka-e-Haq.” What makes the case of Marka-e-Haq significant is not the confrontation itself, but what it tells us about the dynamics of conflict in the age of nuclear weapons. When information moves faster than troops and when perception plays a pivotal role in…

In an era where conventional diplomatic instruments appear to be losing efficacy owing to polarization and great power rivalry, the Iran-Israel crisis represents a symptom of a more insidious problem. Direct links between warring states have been constricted, hardline approaches have ceased to be an effective solution, and even the intervention of states such as the United States has served to heighten tension even as it has complicated avenues to resolution. In such an environment, the entry of Pakistan as a potential mediator cannot be seen as a mere coincidence. Rather, it represents a broader shift in international diplomacy, where…

The relationship between counter-terrorism operations and public trust is inherently complex in conflict-scarred areas. In the border regions of Pakistan, where proactive security measures interact with densely populated civilian areas and transnational militancy, claims of civilian harm can swiftly escalate to strategic importance. The recent comments by Mohsin Dawar, a former member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan and a prominent advocate for rights-based activism in the ex-FATA regions, regarding an alleged drone strike on a civilian residence must be considered in the context of a larger analytical framework. Such a framework is required to distinguish between fact and…

India’s gradual disengagement from any active and effective operational role at Chabahar Port reflects more than merely a tactical shift. Rather, it reveals an underlying paradox at the core of India’s foreign policy: its assertion of strategic autonomy and its structural dependence on American economic hegemony. As Iran faces the challenge of intensifying sanctions and genuine security threats from outside its borders, the gradual disengagement by India from Chabahar Port reflects less a neutral and rational business decision and more a strategic decision that raises important questions of credibility and reliability and the true meaning of its multipolar vision. Chabahar…