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| Title | Abstract | Action(s) |
|---|---|---|
| SAUDI ARABIA-IRAN RIVALRY: IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN AND ITS ROLE IN RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT (2015-2020) | This study focuses on the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran and its implications for Pakistan. It has been observed that the rivalry between the two states is rooted in political, historical, ethnic, and religious ideologies. These diverging interests have shaped the behavior of the two states in their interaction with each other and within the Middle Eastern region. Building on the theoretical premises of Neo-Classical Realism, this study has applied qualitative research methodology to get a conceptual clarity of the issue. While employing the historical, descriptive, explanatory, and analytical methods of qualitative research methodology, this study sees the changing dynamics of bilateral relations as shaped by domestic and international factors. Given Pakistan’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran based on religious affiliation and geographic proximity, respectively, it is argued here that the nature of the Saudi-Iran bilateral relationships, as well as their foreign policy approaches, have directly or indirectly affected Pakistan. Through the prism of the Balance of Interest theory, Pakistan’s foreign policy is to balance its relations with two rivals and simultaneously work on strategies to mitigate the tension between the two. However, due to the sectarian divide and race of hegemony in the region between the two states, Pakistan has been struggling to settle the internal challenges linked with sectarianism, extremism, and economic snags. Key Words: Saudi Arabia, Rivalry, Iran, Pakistan, Middle East. |
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| SAUDI ARABIA-IRAN RIVALRY: IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN AND ITS ROLE IN RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT (2015-2020) | This study focuses on the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran and its implications for Pakistan. It has been observed that the rivalry between the two states is rooted in political, historical, ethnic, and religious ideologies. These diverging interests have shaped the behavior of the two states in their interaction with each other and within the Middle Eastern region. Building on the theoretical premises of Neo-Classical Realism, this study has applied qualitative research methodology to get a conceptual clarity of the issue. While employing the historical, descriptive, explanatory, and analytical methods of qualitative research methodology, this study sees the changing dynamics of bilateral relations as shaped by domestic and international factors. Given Pakistan’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran based on religious affiliation and geographic proximity, respectively, it is argued here that the nature of the Saudi-Iran bilateral relationships, as well as their foreign policy approaches, have directly or indirectly affected Pakistan. Through the prism of the Balance of Interest theory, Pakistan’s foreign policy is to balance its relations with two rivals and simultaneously work on strategies to mitigate the tension between the two. However, due to the sectarian divide and race of hegemony in the region between the two states, Pakistan has been struggling to settle the internal challenges linked with sectarianism, extremism, and economic snags. Key Words: Saudi Arabia, Rivalry, Iran, Pakistan, Middle East. |
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| China's Belt and Road Initiative: Analyzing the Geopolitical Influence vis-a-vis Pakistan and Sri Lanka | This thesis examines BRI’s geopolitical significance in relation to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two South Asian countries. The study tries to comprehend the topic via the lens of neorealism. Neo- realism holds that the factors that determine the international system have an impact on states' foreign policies. The study uses a qualitative approach, looking at primary and secondary data through content analysis research methodologies. Both deductive and inductive reasoning are incorporated into its explanatory research approach. The paper makes the case that China's geopolitical influence has grown in several South Asian countries, particularly Pakistan and Sri Lanka, because of its economic rise. In Pakistan's case, China has attracted policy shifts in the economic domains to support its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The study has found mega-uplifting in the economic projects in Pakistan. For China, Pakistan’s acceptance of the BRI has increased its political, security, and economic influence. In the case of Sri Lanka, the study finds that China has impacted the country's decisions to support BRI. Empirical evidence supports the argument that many projects in the country, such as the Hambantota Port project, reveal the Chinese influence in the country. Key Words: China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, CPEC, BRI, geopolitical & geostrategic |
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| Russia-Turkiye Relations in the Black Sea Region from 2014 to 2022: Security and Political Implications for NATO | The geopolitics of the Black Sea Region has been evolving constantly since the Crimean Annexation where Russian aggression in trepidation of NATO’s enlargement, has escalated to full scale Ukraine War. This setup has changed the security and political dynamics of the whole region. Russia’s quest for Crimean Peninsula is centuries old to access Black Sea to execute power in its near abroad. In contrast, NATO has strong presence on the South-Western flank of Black Sea while Ukraine’s aspiration of joining NATO, means north flank will be under the control of NATO which is an existential threat for Russia. In this respect Russia’s assertive behavior and unilateral actions are visible. The only entity which is balancing Russia, is another regional power, Türkiye. While Türkiye is wisely using its exceptional power, the Montreux Convention to deal with the riparian and non-riparian states to stabilize Black Sea. Both Russia and Türkiye with contrast features design the critical geopolitics of the region. In this context, this research describes the events which has happened from 2014 to 2022 with the lens of the critical geopolitics. While its four pillars elucidate the developments which influence the main actors’ policies. Qualitative research design is used which is explanatory in nature. Data is collected by both primary and secondary sources including archives, structured interviews, books, reports, research articles and blogs etc. This research is an attempt to understand the nature of relations between Russia and Türkiye, Türkiye’s engagement with NATO and to find out the factors which impeding NATO’s enlargement in the Black Sea Region. |
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| US-China Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges for ASEAN | Over the past few years, the Indo-Pacific region has undergone drastic changes. The changes largely stem from the ongoing strategic competition between U.S and China. The region where ASEAN has traditionally played an important role has become the epicenter of the ongoing Strategic competition between U.S and China. Undoubtedly, Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) is located at the heart of this strategic competition. Therefore, the competition has entailed novel challenges for ASEAN. This research has profoundly studied the Strategic competition among the great powers to find out the implications for ASEAN. Some have found that the competition can have economic implications for the organization. While others have found that the ongoing Strategic competition can cause a severe blow to the central role of the organization. However, this research has found that the ongoing Strategic competition has far reaching implications beyond political and economic realms. The competition is going to highly overshadow the traditional role of ASEAN in the regional politics. One of the evolving challenges for ASEAN is to maintain strategic balance amid the evolving security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region where US has totally changed its strategic approach toward the region |
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