The Houthi use of hybrid drone and missile swarms is tactically innovative and strategically cost-effective placing high cost Saudi Arabian air and missile defences with low interceptor magazine at a distinct disadvantage. But who will win the current phase in the Yemen War, here is a review.

What to make of an announcement by the Pakistan military media of test of a hypersonic missile on October 13, deciphering the nuances – reality or fluff

Dismissal of a popularly elected government of the PTI howsoever, unsavoury towards Islamabad will only drive public resentment in the tribal areas reducing support to any counter militancy campaign launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but may achieve the short term objective of disrupting the long march to Islamabad by the PTI.

In recent weeks there are multiple reports in the digital mainstream media of growing instability and some say even a civil war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan may not be at the threshold of civil war, but the ingredients—external support to internal resistance, factionalism, early signs of anti-Taliban insurgency and economic stress—are accruing, warranting close regional monitoring. Here is a review of brief overview of some of these and the conclusions that can emerge from the

Finally, the dice seems to be loaded against Iran as it faces multiple setbacks in just two weeks of ‘triumph’ in terms of closure of the second oil channel – the Bab el Mandeb after the Straits of Hormuz. Six key factors relevant to the contemporary and emerging scenarios in the Middle East and state of play of stakeholders, Iran Saudi Arabia, the Mecca Alliance and Yemeni forces covered herein.

Growing contestations over Afghan Taliban support to the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan or TTP between Kabul and Islamabad appears to be moving beyond air and drone strikes and border clashes to support the anti-Taliban resistance forces by Pak ISI, here is how the cookie may crumble…

TRAC Terrorism has reported Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claims of a new female unit Karima Armed Assault Division (KAAD) targeting a Pakistani Army Convoy on CPEC Highway near Jusak, Kech District. If the report is true than a female militant arm could denote further empowerment of Baloch groups and a challenge to Pak counter terrorism operations.

The Kohat Terrorist Attack on 18 September attack and its fallout reveal much about the state of collaboration and friction among the various militant entities that have fueled violence say Saif Tahir and Amira Jadoon based on field research of two years.

Peace, stability, human rights, economy and development in Afghanistan continue to remain dangerously precarious. The unwillingness of the Taliban regime calling itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to compromise externally and internally represents a dead end for the international, regional and internal stakeholders even as the Afghan people tired of decades of conflict suffer.

The ides of October are likely to increase complexities for Pakistan from managing a likely Saudi demand for military support to combat the Houthis in Yemen, relations with Iran, political turbulence in the wake of proposal for splitting Punjab and Sindh and deteriorating internal security while the economy continues to face shock of rising fuel price.