Grassroots and governance: the voices of people

  The nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan have fundamentally transformed the nature of conflict in South Asia, creating a paradoxical security environment where the very weapons designed to prevent war have inadvertently enabled a different form of warfare. Rather than leading to complete peace, nuclear deterrence between these two rival nations has facilitated persistent proxy conflicts, particularly evident in Pakistan's sustained support for militant groups operating in Indian-administered Kashmir. This phenomenon illustrates the "stability-instability paradox," where nuclear weapons simultaneously reduce the likelihood of major conventional wars while increasing the probability of low-intensity conflicts and proxy warfare . The Foundation of Nuclear Deterrence in South Asia India's Nuclear Doctrine: Restraint and Retaliation India's nuclear doctrine, formally established in 2003, represents one of the most conservative approaches to nuclear weapons polic...

  A few years ago, both Israel and the United States were optimistic about achieving peace in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords—a series of agreements aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours, most notably Saudi Arabia. The Accords were largely motivated by a shared opposition to Iran, and early progress raised hopes that a broader regional realignment was within reach. There was even cautious optimism that negotiations might withstand the shock of the October 7th attacks. However, Israel’s decision to resume its military campaign in Gaza following a brief ceasefire appears to have derailed these prospects. For Saudi Arabia, this was a decisive moment. Rather than continuing down the path toward normalization with Israel, the kingdom has pivoted toward closer ties with regional players such as Iran and Turkey. Under President Donald Trump, U.S. Middle East policy focused heavily on the Abraham Accords. The idea was to bring peace by forgin...