Editorial: U.S. - Iran Deal: Resolving Crisis or Refinancing it; Temporary De-escalation or Deferred Explosion

On June 18, 2026, United States (U.S.) and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), dubbed ‘Islamabad MoU’, committing to negotiate a roadmap to end hostilities that had commenced in late February 2026. Over four months, conflict rippled across the region, exacting significant costs on neighbouring states, severely disrupting traffic through critical maritime chokepoint of Strait of Hormuz, affecting global economy Read More

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor and the Reconfiguration of India’s Nuclear Energy Architecture: A Policy Framework for Strategic Resilience and Energy Sovereignty

The thorium-centred trajectory of Viksit Bharat is, in a deliberate and sustained manner, shaping a distinct pathway to strengthen India’s energy sovereignty and technological autonomy in a global environment marked by supply chain fragility and fuel dependencies. In this context, nuclear energy is no longer confined to its conventional role as a source of electricity; it is increasingly being repositioned within a broader national framework that links energy security with industrial continuity and long-term capability building, and the emphasis now lies on developing a self-reliant thorium-based fuel cycle capable of sustaining industrial growth, supporting strategic manufacturing, and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure. This transition is accompanied by advances in reactor technologies, including fast breeder systems and future thorium-based designs, which offer reliable, scalable, and low-carbon energy aligned with India’s long-term developmental priorities and its broader aspirations of technological self-reliance Read More

Chemical Warfare in the Syrian Civil War: Lessons for Strengthening Multilateral Frameworks

Chemical weapons have remained a paramount part of unconventional warfare for decades. Though these weapons were banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention which came into force in 1997, they have been observed to have played crucial roles in conflicts globally. The Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the apex body which ensures that the countries which have signed and ratified the treaty, abide by its clauses. Notwithstanding this, independent think tanks have repeatedly claimed that variegated agents outlawed by this accord have been used by both state and non-state actors in several wars globally. The most significant case remains the alleged usage of these weapons in the devastating civil war which had ravaged Syria over the past decade and a half. Most of these attacks have been attributed to the erstwhile Baathist regime led by Bashar al Assad. However, he has denied employing these measures. Numerous instances were also said to have been brought about by the terrorist organisation - the Islamic State. Analysing these examples reveals the fundamental issue of the proliferation of these weapons in spite of the CWC and their wanton usage by rogue non-state actors like ISIS. Therefore, this paper aims to study these incidents, comprehend the lacunae in multilateral frameworks which enabled them and suggest measures on remedying them. The paper relies upon credible secondary data sources like renowned think tanks, governments, multilateral bodies like the OPCW, etc. The methodology adopted is analytical, critical and interpretive driven by a thorough qualitative analysis of extant literature Read More

Missile Diplomacy: India’s Soviet turn in the 1971 India-Pakistan War

Independent India’s defence trajectory (submarines, T72 tanks, MiG) underwent a drastic geopolitical transition in the 1960s and early 1970s, thereby striking a switch from its longstanding dependence on British naval platforms to venturing into a strategic partnership with the then USSR – the Soviet Union (now Russia). New Delhi therefore decided to seek refuge from then technologically advanced USSR to curb the emerging border threats – particularly from Pakistan. The materialisation of their newly developing relationship was finalised through the acquisition of Soviet naval platforms –notably the Osa-I class missile boats which changed the course of Indian Navy’s history in the 1971 India Pakistan War Read More

State-Sponsored Terrorism: Mechanisms, Case Studies, and Global Implications

This paper examines how states deliberately employ terrorist organisations as instruments of foreign and domestic policy, distinguishing between active sponsorship, passive enabling, and varying degrees of commitment ranging from strong to antagonistic support. It first situates state-sponsored terrorism within broader debates about the definition of terrorism, emphasizing how definitional ambiguity and plausible deniability enable states to frame proxies as autonomous actors while reaping strategic benefits. Drawing on theories of asymmetrical warfare, realism, and constructivism, the study argues that sponsoring terrorism functions as a cost-effective “weapon of the weak,” allowing states to erode stronger adversaries’ will and capacity without incurring the political and material costs of conventional war. Through contemporary case studies of Iran and Pakistan, it analyses how proxy networks such as Hezbollah, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed are cultivated, funded, and integrated into state strategy, including the financial and organisational infrastructures that sustain them. The paper further explores the phenomenon of blowback, showing how long-term reliance on jihadist proxies in arenas like Kashmir and Afghanistan has generated severe internal instability, sectarian violence, and enduring security liabilities for sponsor states themselves. It concludes that understanding the mechanisms, motivations, and unintended consequences of state-sponsored terrorism is essential for designing nuanced policy responses that move beyond treating all sponsors as uniform and instead target the specific configurations of support that make proxy violence such a resilient feature of global politics. Read More

US-Israel and Iran War Paving for an ‘Advantage China’ Trajectory in West Asia

The Gulf represents a typical sub-region where the national security of all the states of the region are interdependent. Threat travels from one state to another faster and disrupts peace and stability in a short span of time. The conflict underway is the telling evidence. Apart from the regional powers and their aspirations, the region is marked by presence and interests of major global powers making regional security a inexorably complex. Managing security is, therefore, dependent on managing the interests of both regional and global powers. For almost a decade now US, the pre-eminent power in the region was pursuing to create an American order in the region with security alliance of Israel and its Arab allies with Abraham Accords and its expansion as well as bringing Israel to the CENTCOM from EUCOM. The strategic intent behind is to shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific and deal with rise of China and the impending challenge which is apparent from its references of China in its latest National Security Strategy. The Iran war is a clear disruption of the US strategy and pursuits in the region and its China strategy. Rather, the war has spurred the Chinese power and credibility in West Asia without actual military engagement and security costs. With the war, the US is adrift from its position of primacy and paving for an ‘Advantage China’ trajectory in the Gulf, Wider West Asia and the emerging multi-polar World. Read More

Why Transport Infrastructure is Exigent for the Strategic Robustness of Northeast India

The North Eastern Region (NER) of India, comprising eight states and accounting for nearly 8 per cent of the country's geographical area, occupies one of the most consequential locations on the Indian subcontinent. Approximately 99 per cent of the region's external boundary is shared with five sovereign states China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal while only the narrow Siliguri Corridor, barely 22 kilometres at its slimmest point, tethers it to the rest of the Indian Union. This geopolitical configuration renders transport infrastructure not merely an instrument of economic development but a determinant of national strategic robustness. The present paper argues that the modernisation of road, rail, air and inland water transport networks in the Northeast is exigent in three interlocking senses: first, as a counterweight to China's accelerated military and dual-use infrastructure across the Tibet Autonomous Region; second, as a bulwark against the cascading vulnerabilities exposed by political volatility in Bangladesh and the protracted civil conflict in Myanmar; and third, as the structural precondition for translating the Act East Policy into operational reality. Drawing upon official policy documents, ministerial data, and recent strategic commentary, the study establishes that despite an unprecedented capital outlay over Rs. 1.07 lakh crore on national highways alone between 2014 and 2024, with the Sela Tunnel, the Bairabi-Sairang railway, and the proposed underwater Brahmaputra tunnel as flagship deliverables the asymmetry vis-a-vis China remains material. The paper concludes that strategic robustness for the Northeast requires a paradigm shift from project-centric construction to an integrated, redundancy-oriented connectivity doctrine that fuses civilian logistics with military deterrence and diplomatic statecraft. Read More

India–South Korea Cooperation in Energy Transition

The transition of energy from fossil fuel-based systems to low-carbon global energy systems has enhanced the need for strategic bilateral partnerships. It mixes technological capability with resource security and addresses the challenge of decarbonising economies. In this changing scenario, the India-South Korea partnership has become an important centre of cooperation, especially in the areas of green hydrogen, renewable energy, and critical mineral supply chains. India’s growing renewable energy base, huge domestic market, and cost benefits go well with South Korea’s technological know-how, financial power, and industrial abilities. This article looks closely at India-South Korea joint efforts in clean energy, focusing on hydrogen cooperation, renewable energy scaling, critical mineral security, industrial decarbonisation, and the new areas that include energy finance and innovation ecosystems. Besides, the article discusses the political and economic consequences of this partnership under the Indo-Pacific framework, especially in terms of supply chain resilience, strategic autonomy, and energy diplomacy. Finally, it points out major structural and policy issues such as regulatory hurdles, the patronage of high technological costs, and escalating global rivalry for resources and proposes measures to enhance collaboration. Read More

Ending Illegal Migration from Neighbouring Countries to India – Case Study of Assam

Illegal migration into India from neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh, presents multidimensional challenge impacting national security, socio-economic stability, and demographic composition. This paper examines drivers of such migration and critiques India’s institutional response across legislative, administrative, and judicial domains. Special attention is given to Assam, state historically burdened by demographic shifts due to large-scale influxes of undocumented migrants. The study examines legislative interventions like IMDT Act, Section 6A of Citizenship Act, introduced under Assam Accord, highlighting their limited efficacy due to administrative lapses, political inertia, and legal ambiguities. The research underscores need for coordinated border management strategy leveraging technology, community participation, and diplomatic engagement for effective deportation and deterrence. It also advocates for judicial streamlining, centralized immigration databases, and humane detention practices. The paper explores socio-political consequences, including strain on welfare resources, risks of radicalization, and erosion of indigenous cultural identity in Assam. Concluding with call for pragmatic, legally sound and humane policy reforms, the study offers roadmap for balancing India’s constitutional obligations with imperative to preserve national sovereignty and internal harmony. Read More