Advancing Stability Through Developmental Research
Independent insights and policy recommendations for sustainable development
Strait of Hormuz Strategy: Sovereignty, Nuclear Bargaining, and Pakistan’s Strategic Significance in the Geopolitical Limits of US–Iran Negotiations
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is not simply a commercial passageway but a geopolitical-security asset central to sovereignty, regime survival, deterrence, and regional influence
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…
Modi’s War of Words
After “Operation Sindoor” failed to deliver the victory India had hoped for, Modi chose to channel his…
Afghan-Backed Militancy: Pakistan’s Patience Wears Thin After Peshawar Bombing
Today's suicide attack in Peshawar on November 24, 2025, once again exposes a harsh truth Pakistan has…
The Role of AI in Modern Education in Pakistan: Benefits and Challenges
In today’s fast-changing world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a new hope to solve many of…
Who Will Blink First:Trump in QuandaryPart II
Asif Haroon Raja As the war drags on, President Donald Trump faces an increasingly difficult strategic dilemma.…
Strategic Realignments in West and South Asia, & Current US-Iran Standoff
By: Asif Haroon Raja The June Israel–Iran war marked a critical inflection point in regional geopolitics. What…
DG CDS Dr. Irfan Ashraf’s Address at Renmin University of China Closing Ceremony
Respected organizers of the CIPCC Programme, media colleagues from different…
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Assessing the Transformation of Vision into Reality with a Focus on Regional Connectivity, Innovation, and Security in Balochistan
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project under…
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Regional Connectivity, Innovation, and Security in Balochistan
The Centre for Development and Stability (CDS) organized a one-day…
Welcome Dinner in Honor of Mr. Amr Abdullah Baabood, CEO of COMEX, held on November 21, 2024 at Ramada by Wyndham Islamabad
The Centre for Development and Stability (CDS) organized and hosted…
Editor's Pick
Twelve-Day Israel-Iran War
Since 2011, Israel has raised alarms over Iran’s nuclear program, pressuring the U.S. to dismantle it. Under intense Israeli lobbying,…
Evolving Scenario of Iran- US War
Asif Haroon Raja Key Features of the Proposed 14-Point Agreement of Iran: IranImmediate End to the War As soon as…
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…
Maximum pressure, managed Restraint: Decoding Trump’s Iran Strategy and the Meaning of Renewed Talks
Maximum Pressure, Managed Restraint: Decoding Trump’s Iran Strategy and the Meaning of Renewed Talks By: Nuzhat NazarThe renewed engagement between…
Pakistan–Bangladesh Relations in Strategic Transition
With upcoming elections and shifting political cycles, Pakistan–Bangladesh relations are entering a delicate phase where timing, messaging, and optics matter…
For the Naysayers
Amidst the happy tidings, and seeing Pakistan stemming its downslide and climbing…
Pahalgam Attack: Propaganda Reloaded
Deception and betrayal have long been a part of global politics, but…
For you
Strait of Hormuz Strategy: Sovereignty, Nuclear Bargaining, and Pakistan’s Strategic Significance in the Geopolitical Limits of US–Iran Negotiations
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is not simply a commercial passageway but a geopolitical-security asset central to sovereignty, regime…
Is Baluchistan the Next Target: Why Terrorism in Pakistan Doesn’t Terminate?
Asif Haroon Raja On May 24, an explosive laden vehicle suicide bombing was carried out on a railway track…
Pakistan’s Mediation Moment: Peace, Pressure and the Abraham Accords Trap
Nuzhat Nazar There are moments in international politics when the real story is not what is said loudly in public,…
India- Afghanistan Roles in Evolving Regional Environment
Asif Haroon Raja India’s role in the evolving regional environment is likely to remain shaped by three interconnected objectives:…
America Declining Empire, China Rising Power, Pakistan Influential Middle Power
Asif Haroon Raja I am quoting an apparently small incident which took place during the two-day summit between the…
Hydro-Politics in South Asia—The Indus Waters Treaty, Arbitration Verdict and Regional Stability Concerns
A major reason for the lack of development, prosperity, and stability in the South Asian region is India’s arrogant behaviour.…
Pakistan’s Quest for Peace Amid Hostile Strategic Environment
Asif Haroon Raja Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan’s foreign policy has fundamentally rested upon the principles of peace, mutual…
The Moon is Yours.
Islamabad, May 19, 2026 (People's Daily) - The Moon is Yours, a 102-minute documentary directed by veteran filmmaker Vincent Zhou…
The US-Iran Crisis: Proposals and Counter-Proposals
Asif Haroon Raja The Trump administration presented Iran with a fifteen-point framework for peace and normalization. Tehran’s response was…
Pakistan’s 2026 Foreign Policy Reset:
Recharting the Geopolitical Compass For much of the early 2020s, Pakistan’s foreign policy appeared paralyzed by a combination of domestic…
The Hormuz Dilemma:
Middle Eastern Instability and the Vulnerability of Pakistan’s Economic Recovery The maritime corridors of the Persian Gulf have once again…
Pakistan and China Celebrate 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations— A Relationship Shaped by Trust, Solidarity, and Shared Progress
People’s Republic of China and Islamic Republic of Pakistan proudly commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It marks a…
From Strategic Opening to Strategic Management: How Trump’s Beijing Visit Reflects a Changed World Order
(By: Nuzhat Nazar) Donald Trump’s latest visit to Beijing was important not because it transformed US-China relations, but because it…
Decoding Trump’s 2026 Beijing Visit—Strategic Stability or Renewed Engagement
United States President Donald Trump’s state visit and meeting with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, from 13–15 May 2026,…
Pakistan-China at 75: From strategic friendship to shared prosperity
(By: Nuzhat Nazar) As Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations on May 21, 2026, the relationship stands…