Author: PremAnand Mishra
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Ambiguity as strategy: The Saudi-Pakistan defence deal causes a stir
On 17 September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formalised a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh, under which aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries will be developed to strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression, and that aggression against one party would be deemed as aggression against both. In doing so, Riyadh and Islamabad sent a strategic…
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The Anatomy of Saudi-Pakistan Defense Agreement: The Timing, the Message and the Noise
In an argument on what collective security really means, the influential realist thinker Hans Morgenthau remarked, it means “One for all and all for one”. This opens a Pandora’s box; the limitation and the nature of such agreements when it comes to operationalization? The recent Saudi-Pak comprehensive defense agreement has two significant points: (a) Any aggression…
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Clientelism in India’s Strategic Thinking: Peace Politics over Hegemony Can Be a Regional Game Changer
Summary: The article argues that India should reimagine clientelism not as a tool of hegemonic control but as a framework for mutual respect, peace politics, and long-term regional stability. By embedding this positive clientelism into its strategic doctrine, India can distinguish itself from China’s coercive diplomacy and rebuild trust in its neighbourhood. Such a recalibrated…
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India’s Outreach to GCC: Deepening Ties for the Multi-aligned World Order
Diplomacy is often perceived as restrictive to the pursuit of national interests. However, the disruption in the global order has raised alarm bells for diplomatic ties and strategic autonomy. The shifting dynamics of geopolitics are churning new realities, necessitating fresh roadmaps and visionary approaches to diplomacy. Amidst these structural crises, Indian diplomatic interventions are forging…