US-Iran talks: Calibrated sanctions relief could boost regional stability
As the fragile ceasefire holds in the wake of the 40-day Iran-US/Israel conflict, negotiators meeting in Islamabad, alongside parallel exchanges through Swiss and other intermediary channels, are once again confronting a central...
A state without allies is far more vulnerable
Is the most successful and powerful military alliance in history now a busted flush? This has to be a serious consideration given the bevy of statements from US President Donald Trump and...
Seven ways America can win the ceasefire and end the war
Trump needs to take decisive action to secure regional peace and a win in the midterm elections.
It was too much to ask of United...
Global economy creaking despite Middle East ceasefire
Most of the world has welcomed the easing of tensions between the US, Israel and Iran. However, geopolitical and economic shock waves will continue to ripple from the crisis, even in the...
Zero sum: How the Iran war failed everyone
The ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran is facing serious challenges, just hours after it was concluded early on Wednesday morning. As both Washington and Tehran claimed victory in the 39-day...
All eyes on Islamabad
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Pakistan pulled the proverbial rabbit out of a hat when it achieved a ceasefire less than 90 minutes before the deadline set by...
A Gulf-Iran deal can end the war for good
The Iran war will likely end in global disaster. Unfortunately, we have crossed the point where a deal on the nuclear file alone can stop the war. Iran has declared that it...
Trump’s ‘new, reasonable’ Iran is neither new nor reasonable, and he knows it
We won, okay,’ the US president declared. Not so long as the regime retains power, its nuclear ambitions undimmed * Also, Netanyahu’s empathy deficit
Pakistan’s growing role as a diplomatic power in the Middle East
Amid the intensifying US-Israeli conflict with Iran and the ongoing strikes between the two sides, alongside the broader volatility in the Gulf, Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic player. Islamabad has...
Breaking point as US allies look beyond Trump era
US President Donald Trump’s first term of office strained relationships with much of the world, especially Europe. However, the shockwaves from his second presidency since 2025 may now mean that even more...