Advancing Stability Through Developmental Research

Independent insights and policy recommendations for sustainable development

April 26, 2026

West Asia's Fragile Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread Asif Haroon Raja Trump had imposed a war on Iran on February 28 with no congressional authorization, or clearance from the UN,…

12 Min Read

The Suspension of US Aid to Pakistan: Implications and Impact

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has paused new funding for programs in Pakistan following…

Will Israel Achieve the Objective of Greater Israel?

The Middle East (ME) has remained engulfed in conflict since the Six-Day War of 1967. Any hope…

A Continuum of Empire Clash—The Middle East

The Middle East remains a theater of imperial clashes, where the echoes of history reverberate in contemporary…

Key Takeaways from Pakistan’s International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities

The international conference titled “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities” held in Islamabad from January…

Pakistan-Oman Historic Ties: Strategic Brotherhood and Future Horizons

The relationship between Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman stands as a pillar of stability and trust…

Crisis, conflict, and the rising cost of fuel

By Nuzhat Nazar Energy prices do not rise in isolation. Wars, geopolitical tensions, and supply disruptions push…

Seminar Held in Rawalakot Honoring “The Iron Lady of Jammu & Kashmir”

A seminar titled “The Iron Lady of Jammu & Kashmir”…

Pakistan Policy Towards Afghanistan: Opportunities and Challenges Webinar

Conducted by the Centre for Development and Stability (CDS) Date:22/2/2026…

PRESS RELEASE

CDS Hosted Roundtable Discussion on “Pakistan-Oman Bilateral Ties: A Cornerstone…

Editor's Pick

President Xi Jinping’s New Year Address Highlights Vision for China and the World

On the eve of the New Year, President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping delivered a speech…

5 Min Read

Escalation Without Resolution

With a naval blockade tightening in the Gulf and missile batteries shifting across Iran, the US–Iran standoff is no longer…

9 Min Read

Will Israel Achieve the Objective of Greater Israel?

The Middle East (ME) has remained engulfed in conflict since the Six-Day War of 1967. Any hope for peace in…

11 Min Read

Winning Sympathy Through Fake News

India and Pakistan are archrivals. The former refuses to reconcile with Pakistan's existence and keeps hatching conspiracies to unravel it.…

15 Min Read

Bangladesh at a Strategic Inflection Point (2026)

Election Outcome, Incoming Power Structure, and Regional Recalibration By: Nuzhat Nazar and Maimona Saleem Bangladesh’s 2026 Election: A Political Reset,…

By Fajar
10 Min Read
Strategic Neutrality in Action: Pakistan’s Emerging Role in Middle Eastern Peace Diplomacy

Pakistan’s recent Foreign Office active engagement is not routine diplomacy. It represents…

10 Min Read
Pakistan’s New E-Visa Policy: A Gateway to Enhanced Economic and Diplomatic Engagement

Starting today, Pakistan has officially launched its new e-visa policy, a strategic…

8 Min Read

For you

Deep Mistrust and a Cycle of Hostility: Why the US–Iran Conflict Cannot End

Given the back-to-back wars in June 2025 and February 2026, and the unresolved core disputes, it is highly doubtful that…

12 Min Read

April 26, 2026

West Asia's Fragile Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread Asif Haroon Raja Trump had imposed a war on Iran on February…

12 Min Read

April 26, 2026

When Time Becomes Iran’s Advantage and America’s Constraint (By: Nuzhat Nazar) The approaching end of the 60-day window under the…

4 Min Read

When Strategy Replaces Diplomacy in Islamabad

(By: Nuzhat Nazar) With Abbas Araghchi now in Islamabad, and American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arriving in parallel,…

4 Min Read

April 25, 2026

Ceasefire Extension, Hormuz Tensions, and the Emerging Strategic Deadlock Asif Haroon Raja Background Full-scale war broke out on February 28,…

America Can Fight This War. Can It Sustain It?

By: Nuzhat Nazar The question is not whether the United States can fight a war with Iran. It clearly can.…

6 Min Read

West Asia’s Fragile Diplomacy, Controlled Escalation to Peace

Asif Haroon Raja Current Strategic Landscape Tensions between the United States and Iran have once again approached a critical inflection…

Rebalancing Power: Why America Must Align Strategy with Economic Reality

By: Nuzhat Nazar For much of the post Cold War era, the United States did not have to choose between…

6 Min Read

Pakistan in the Global Spotlight: From Strategic Constraint to Diplomatic Centrality

Pakistan has, once again, stepped into the global spotlight—this time not as a peripheral actor, but as a pivotal intermediary…

11 Min Read

COAS is in Tehran

The current mission of Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, to Tehran is a move born out…

6 Min Read

Escalation Without Resolution

With a naval blockade tightening in the Gulf and missile batteries shifting across Iran, the US–Iran standoff is no longer…

9 Min Read

Can Pakistan Afford Neutrality in the US–Iran Conflict?

This "active neutrality" requires Islamabad to serve as a high-stakes courier, translating the rigid security requirements of Washington into a…

7 Min Read

How Pakistan is Becoming the Operating Channel in Iran–US Talks

(By: Nuzhat Nazar) What we are witnessing around Pakistan’s role in the Iran–US talks is no longer just occasional mediation.…

5 Min Read

Fragile Diplomacy and Strategic Coercion: The Unfinished US–Iran Dialogue in Islamabad

Asif Haroon Raja The atmosphere in both Pakistan and Iran was initially one of cautious optimism when Pakistan successfully brokered…

US–Iran Fragile Pause: A Ceasefire on the Brink

Asif Haroon Raja The confrontation between the United States and Iran entered a critical phase in early April, when Donald…