Advancing Stability Through Developmental Research

Independent insights and policy recommendations for sustainable development

USA–Iran Confrontation: Rigid Positions, Renewed War or a Diplomatic Breakthrough?

Asif Haroon Raja A Dangerous Stalemate and the Prospect of Renewed Hostilities The US–Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has entered a dangerous…

31 Min Read

Yemen: The Makkah Accord Turns the Tables on the Houthis

Asif Haroon Raja A Strategic Turning Point at Bab Al-Mandab The strategic situation in Yemen appears to…

Bangladesh in Crisis: Protests Over Civil Service Quotas Turn Deadly

Bangladesh faces a major political crisis as student protests erupt over a government quota system, reserving a…

Dialogue: The Safeguard Against China-U.S. Strategic Miscalculation

By Zhao Yunfei China and the U.S. share a responsibility to leverage dialogue as a safeguard against…

Qatar Welcomes U.S. Executive Order: A Power Shift in Washington’s Middle East Strategy

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed a new executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump,…

Pakistan-Turkiye Strengthen Ties: 24 Agreements Signed to Boost Bilateral Relations

In a landmark development, Pakistan and Turkiye signed 24 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at…

Pakistan’s Stands at a Defining Moment

Until the first decade of May 2025, the national atmosphere was weighed down by uncertainty and apprehension.…

Pakistan Policy Towards Afghanistan: Opportunities and Challenges Webinar

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

Omani Parliamentary delegation calls on NA Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah

  National Assembly SecretariatDirectorate General of Media Omani Parliamentary delegation…

Editor's Pick

The Third Gulf War

Asif Haroon Raja The war in the Persian Gulf began with U.S. strikes on 28 February, justified on what increasingly…

A Response to Scepticism Over the Makkah Accord

Asif Haroon Raja Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with highly trained, battle-hardened and combat-experienced armed forces. For the past 25…

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 a dinner to welcome, Amr Abdullah Baabood, Chief Executive Officer…

4 Min Read

Pakistan’s Internal Response to the US–Israel Strikes on Iran

By: Nuzhat Nazar The US and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered a sharp and emotionally charged reaction across Pakistan,…

8 Min Read

Foreign Profit Repatriation Signals Renewed Investor Confidence in Pakistan

Foreign profit repatriation should be viewed as a positive indicator of Pakistan’s improving investment climate rather than a sign of…

6 Min Read
Implications of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Strategic Defence Pact

The recently concluded strategic defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signed…

7 Min Read

For you

USA–Iran Confrontation: Rigid Positions, Renewed War or a Diplomatic Breakthrough?

Asif Haroon Raja A Dangerous Stalemate and the Prospect of Renewed Hostilities The US–Iran war, which began on 28 February…

31 Min Read

USA- Iran Conundrum: Current Picture: Future Possibilities

Asif Haroon Raja The Iran-USA war that started 28 Feb 2026 is now in a dangerous stalemate after an 8-month…

When AI Breaks the Rules, Is Pakistan Ready to Take Control?

Nuzhat Nazar What happens when artificial intelligence begins breaking the very rules it was designed to follow? A recent cybersecurity…

6 Min Read

Climate Security Is No Longer a Future Problem: From El Niño to Conflict and Displacement

Rimsha Saleem An evidence-based assessment of how extreme ecological shocks act as threat of multipliers, worsening resource competition, internal migration,…

6 Min Read

The Return of Hard Power: Is the Post-Cold War Security Order Giving Way to Regional Militarisation?

Rimsha Saleem A theoretical geopolitical analysis investigating the global resurgence of hard power, military deterrence, and mini-lateral defense alliances amid…

7 Min Read

Afghanistan’s Geography Is Changing: Is Pakistan Losing Its Transit Advantage?

Rimsha Saleem An evaluation of Afghanistan's commercial pivot toward Iranian ports and Central Asian trade routes in response to recurring…

6 Min Read

When War Becomes Inflation: The New Geopolitics of Energy and Global Borrowing

Rimsha Saleem A economic analysis exploring how Middle Eastern conflict-driven energy shocks directly transmit into higher bond yields, inflation, and…

5 Min Read

The US–China Thaw That Isn’t a Thaw: What the 2026 Trade Deal Really Changes

Rimsha Saleem An assessment of the $30 billion reciprocal tariff agreement as a tactical economic pause rather than a resolution…

6 Min Read

The Red Sea–Hormuz Nexus: When Maritime Chokepoints Become Global Economic Weapons

Rimsha Saleem An investigation into how asymmetric threats along vital Middle Eastern straits weaponize global supply chains, inflating energy, freight,…

6 Min Read

Pakistan–Afghanistan: From Strategic Partnership to Security Dilemma

Rimsha Saleem An analysis of the sharp deterioration in Islamabad-Kabul relations as cross-border counter terrorism strikes and sovereignty disputes dismantle…

7 Min Read

A Major Corruption Scandal in the History of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Asif Haroon Raja PTI supporters are not, in essence, politically mature workers. Many lack a proper understanding of politics and…

14 Min Read

From Makkah to a New Regional Security Architecture: Can Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Redefine Middle Eastern Security?

• An examination of how the trilateral Makkah pact marks a shift toward regional collective deterrence and defense-industrial self-reliance amid…

8 Min Read

The Crisis of Multilateralism: Can the United Nations Still Manage a Fragmented World?

Rimsha Saleem An analysis of the growing gap between United Nations ambitions and operational capacity, highlighting the rise of regional…

6 Min Read

The Humanitarian Spillover Nobody Sees: How Middle Eastern Conflict Is Becoming a Global Food Crisis

Rimsha Saleem A human security study illustrating how maritime disruptions, rising fertilizer expenses, and shifting donor funding threaten food security…

6 Min Read

Beyond Handshakes: Pakistan’s Changing Diplomatic Playbook

Nuzhat Nazar In a world of shifting alliances and competing interests, Pakistan's diplomatic challenge is no longer simply about building…

10 Min Read