Advancing Stability Through Developmental Research

Independent insights and policy recommendations for sustainable development

The Iran war is reshaping Gulf security and energy politicsfor meta des: After Hormuz: Is the Gulf Entering a New Security Order?

The Strait of Hormuz has long functioned as the narrow, beating artery of global commerce. Handling nearly a fifth of the world’s daily petroleum supply and a vital share of…

7 Min Read

Iran-Israel Escalation: A Crushing Blow, A Dangerous Gamble, and A Foggy Future

On June 13, 2025, the world woke up to a seismic geopolitical shift. In a sweeping and…

Jaffar Express Hijacking: Balochistan Train Attack and Aftermath

On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with over 400 passengers, the…

CPEC and Balochistan’s Future: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a…

Islamophobia: Origins, Instrumentalisation, and the Emergence of an Islamic Defence Bloc

Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the collapse of communism, the United States…

Cataclysmic Changes

Seismic shifts in global and regional dynamics are taking place in the aftermath of the four-day India–Pakistan…

Renewed Hostilities in the Gulf Threatening Regional and Global Security

The renewed Gulf conflict has become a major geopolitical crisis with serious implications for regional and global…

Seminar on “Kashmir Accession Day” held in Rawalakot by Centre for Development and Stability

Under the auspices of the Centre for Development and Stability,…

By Fajar

PRESS RELEASE

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

Disinformation: The Undermining Force Within—Revealing its Structural Threats to Society and National Security

ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Development and Stability (CDS), organized seminar…

Let’s Explore Kashmir Campaign

The Centre for Development and Stability (CDS) organized 3 days…

Editor's Pick

China Versus America

The British Empire was humbled and forced to retreat. The Soviet Union disintegrated and was reduced to the Russian Federation…

Current Situation in Middle East & Ukraine

The genocidal war in Gaza has been raging since Oct 7, 2023 and has claimed the lives of more than…

The Cost of Instability on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border

The cost of instability on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is not abstract. It is measured in lives lost, stagnant economy, and…

4 Min Read

“Lost to China”: Trump’s Remark and the Shifting Geopolitics of South Asia

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”…

12 Min Read

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…

Who Will Blink First – Iran, Israel or the United States?Part I

Asif Haroon Raja The war initiated by the United States and Israel…

7 Min Read
Pakistan: A Case Study of Contradictions

Pakistan presents a unique paradox in the Muslim world. Created in the…

7 Min Read

For you

The Iran war is reshaping Gulf security and energy politicsfor meta des: After Hormuz: Is the Gulf Entering a New Security Order?

The Strait of Hormuz has long functioned as the narrow, beating artery of global commerce. Handling nearly a fifth of…

7 Min Read

The Politics of Propaganda, Wishful Thinking and Confrontation

Asif Haroon Raja PTI’s social-media machinery continues to churn out a steady stream of exaggerated, unverified and, in some cases,…

11 Min Read

Postmortem of Four-Day India – Pakistan War: Lessons for India

Asif Haroon Raja India's Miscalculations and Weakly Planned Pahalgam False Flag Operation India’s strategic miscalculation stemmed from a flawed assessment…

Imran Khan: From Cricketing Hero to Political Confrontation

Asif Haroon Raja Political History of Imran Khan The cricketer Imran Khan earned worldwide fame after leading Pakistan to victory…

21 Min Read

The Shanghai Spirit at 25: A New Model for Multilateral Cooperation

Zhao Yunfei Andijan’s train station sits on the eastern edge of Uzbekistan’s rail network and is gearing up for a…

4 Min Read

A Day of Suspense, Speculation, Political Manoeuvring and Uncertainties

Asif Haroon Raja Circulating Rumours and Suspense Yesterday was a day full of suspense, speculation and political intrigue. All kinds…

14 Min Read

The Makkah Pact and the Erosion of America’s Gulf Hegemony

  The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a potentially historic shift in Gulf security: from an order dominated by American…

9 Min Read

India–Pakistan Antagonism in Historical Perspective

Part Three Asif Haroon Raja Emerging Fault Lines in India–US Relations Pakistan's nuclear programme, its growing strategic relationship with China…

13 Min Read

India–Pakistan Antagonism in Historical Perspective

Part Two Asif Haroon Raja Following Partition in 1947, India and Pakistan emerged as the two principal successor states to…

India–Pakistan Antagonism in Historical Perspective

Part One Asif Haroon Raja India's Expansionist Trajectory and Regional Hegemonic Ambitions Since the end of British rule in 1947,…

Pakistan’s Emerging Role as a Hinge Power in a Fragmenting Regional Order

The geopolitical landscape across the Middle East and South Asia is undergoing a structural shift. As traditional security frameworks fray…

6 Min Read

The Mecca Defence Pact: A New Security Architecture or a Crisis-Driven Coalition?

The signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, marks an unprecedented realignment in the security landscape…

5 Min Read

The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: What It Means for Pakistan’s Economic and Strategic Security

  Exploring how the August 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis impacts Pakistan's energy imports, inflation, and foreign exchange, driving the…

5 Min Read

August 15, 2026

Beyond Border Security: Rethinking Pakistan's Afghanistan Policy in 2026 An evaluation of deteriorating Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, analyzing the TTP factor, Durand…

6 Min Read

August 15, 2026

Gaza and the Crisis of International Order: When Rules Fail to Protect Civilians A study of the ongoing Gaza crisis…

7 Min Read