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.

While the aim of the “Correct the Map,” resolution was to overcome the distortions arising from the Mercator Map which was biased towards colonial powers, the new Map while not strictly speaking a cartographic representation of national boundaries is likely to open a pandora’s box of claims and counter claims for countries as India with disputes with key neighbours Pakistan, China and Nepal.

Col R Hariharan in Sri Lanka Strategic Perspectives, August 2026 touches upon the sensitive issue of enforced disappearances and the callousness with which Colombo has handled the cases despite the large numbers involved. Not just Sri Lanka enforced disappearances are a critical rights issue in South Asia

The main instruments of India’s next war have been outlined as drones, missiles, counter drone and air defence and missile systems and the Narrative. What are the elements that will decide success and is this strategy common for the two main adversaries – Pakistan and China.

Strategic drift appears to be a permanent feature of Pakistan's character, something that India and Pakistan’s well wishers China, U.S. Turkey and Saudi Arabia need to factor in their engagement.