US President Donald Trump Meets Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Islamabad’s defiance may complicate Trump’s Abraham Accords ambitions: Difficult Strategic Choices for South Asian Nations and Muslim World

Trump’s demand for Pakistan to recognize Israel threatens to trigger serious domestic backlash inside the country. Public sentiment in Pakistan overwhelmingly supports the Palestinian cause, while religious and political groups strongly oppose normalization with Israel without the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Rubio’s India Visit: Chinese Discourse Echoes Concerns About Quad and India's Growing Agency in Indo-Pacific

Chinese social media reactions to Rubio’s visit also reflected a degree of skepticism and criticism towards India. Several commentators focused on developmental and infrastructural contrasts between India and China. Discussions surrounding traffic congestion, pollution, aging infrastructure, and even the extreme summer temperatures in northern India were used by some online voices to project what they described as a “dismal” picture of India. 

 

The Reality Behind Putin-Xi Ties: A No-Limits Relationship has its Limits

The Putin–Xi meeting, therefore, should not be interpreted as the birth of a fixed anti-American alliance. Rather, it reflects a flexible alignment whose cooperation is strongest where grievances overlap, but weakest where ambitions collide. Putin and Xi are united more by pressure than by trust. They are aligned in opposing American dominance, but not necessarily in supporting each other’s long-term rise.

Amid Geopolitical Realignment, Russia's Outreach to Islamic World: Putin Underscores Importance of Islam in Russian Society

Though with a Muslim population much larger than most of the OIC member countries, India has not been given its membership due to Pakistan’s objection and, unlike Russia, has not applied for observer status either. However, organisers of the KazanForum invited local Indian Consul General Jeysundkhar, who is based in Kazan, for the special session "Greater Eurasian Partnership: Development Strategy" 

More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs

India-ASEAN partnership: New Delhi must provide a balance to Beijing

Some foreign policy analysts from Southeast Asia have questioned the lack of performance by India, hinting at a subtle resistance to the concept of “Indo-Pacific” as a replacement to the old “Asia-Pacific,” writes Tunchinmang Langel for South Asia Monitor

Afghan refugees in India: The nowhere people

Given their situation, the only reason most Afghan refugees are staying on in India is to get a chance to go to any European country, writes Khatima Emami for South Asia Monitor

History tells us Pakistan Army will play spoiler

In a tumultuous fortnight, during which many an illusion was shattered at the turn of the year, some home truths emerged in the chronically accident-prone ties between India and Pakistan