The collapse of the Islamabad talks after 21 hours of negotiations does not, on its own, determine whether the war will resume. What it does is confirm that the two-week ceasefire, expiring around 22 April, was never a diplomatic instrument designed to produce peace but rather a tactical pause in which both sides repositioned for the next phase of coercion. Illustration by Geopolitics Next Washington’s core demand, a binding Iranian commitment to abandon its nuclear weapons c

Yet another potential source of disruption to the global energy market, and perhaps one less tied to the Russia–Ukraine war, has arisen in the Middle East. As Iran blocks traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint  through which nearly 20 million barrels per day (mb/d), one-fifth of the world's oil supply, passes, raising the likelihood of yet another global energy crisis. Recent escalations involving Iran, Israel, and U.S. naval deployments in 2025–26 have a

When people think about the Strait of Hormuz, they usually think about oil. They picture giant tankers slowly moving through a narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman, carrying fuel to power cars, factories, and cities around the world. But for India, this thin stretch of water that is only 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point  is far more than an oil route. It is a critical lifeline that touches almost every part of the Indian economy.  Illustration by The Geostrata

The geopolitics of energy is historically associated with the supply security concerns of oil-importing states. The urgency of climate action, the long-term downward trend of the cost of renewable energy generation technologies, and the rapid technological advancements are all signs that demand a more analytical framework. Illustration by The Geostrata The field of energy geopolitics has grown to include not just the conventional fossil-fuel complexes, but also a wider array

The most recent round of military hostilities in the India-Pakistan conflict indicates a pattern of enduring hostility, suggesting that the focus remains on confrontation rather than attempting to reconcile past disagreements. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT ) remains one of the major flashpoints in their tenuous history.  Illustration by The Geostrata Signed in 1960  to mediate disputes over the use of the Indus River System, the Treaty allocates limited non-consumptive rights

The combined US-Israel operations - Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, followed by Iran's retaliatory attacks under Operation Truthful Promise 4, once again plunged West Asia into crisis. The ongoing war is projected to last for 4-5 weeks or longer, potentially exerting a significant impact on the global economy and supply chain resilience. The key motive behind the sudden escalation amid mediation talks under  Oman  remains unclear. Illustration by The Geostrata

India's Maoist insurgency once controlled 200 districts across ten states, with varying degrees of fear or allegiance. It now has control of only seven. Over 12,000 people died in Naxal-related violence between 2000 and 2019. In 2024, that number was 290, which is still significant, but a fraction of what it was before. Reports  indicate that no new cadres have been recruited since 2019.  Illustration by The Geostrata To truly grasp the reality of a Naxal cleanup, one must g

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) operates a highly calibrated strategic signalling apparatus. Recent showcases of solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and tactical delivery systems are not propaganda; they are calculated manoeuvres to fracture the US-South Korea security architecture. Despite comprehensive Western sanctions, Pyongyang bypasses isolation through a robust strategic axis with Moscow and Beijing to accelerate the transfer of dual

The events in early February 2026, specifically the synchronicity between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s   irredentist declaration on February 5th and the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT)  operational threat on February 6th, are not coincidental, but they are coordinated. To view Sharif’s claim that “Kashmir will become part of Pakistan” as mere political rhetoric for the Muzaffarabad gallery is a dangerous simplification. Illustration by The Geostrata When viewed through the lens o

“Our lives don’t matter,” a Hindu farmer said in a reported account. "The situation is horrific," added a Hindu community leader, "we are not receiving any support from anywhere." Innumerable testimonies  like these, along with chilling images that surfaced across Bangladesh of Hindu men beaten and set on fire by rabid mobs, have laid bare how a brutal, systematic persecution  of religious minorities  is taking place under the country’s current political dispensation.  Illust

The Sahel is a thin stretch of dry land that cuts across Africa. It sits between the Sahara and the savannas. The resources are scarce, and power is in a vacuum; these pressures pit groups against each other,  making the Sahel account for 51 per cent of all terrorism deaths in 2024 . Ethnic tensions run deep. In central Mali and parts of Burkina Faso, the clashes between herders and farmers are now more frequent . These fights didn’t just start recently - instead, they’ve wor

Sudan's devastating civil war erupted in   April 2023  between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hemedti. Sudan faces a challenge not to cease the ongoing violence but to prioritise the discussion on “rebuilding approach” in the aftermath of the civil war. Illustration by The Geostrata In the absence of tangible plans to rebuild infrastructure, revitalise the supply chain, and ensure access to necess

The pattern is all too familiar. A jihadi group operating from Pakistani soil, with state backing, carries out a terror attack on India. If the assault is particularly atrocious, India suspends diplomatic engagement while mulling more punitive responses, including strikes on terror safe havens inside Pakistan and adopting more proactive security doctrines aiming to inflict high costs on state-sponsors of terrorism.  Illustration by The Geostrata Pakistan, fearing its deterren

Techniques of warfare have evolved and are no longer confined to battlefields and the use of military force. The landscape has shifted to incorporate cybersecurity, the media (including contemporary and social media), and narrative building , along with other major global threats, such as environmental and economic threats. Information and the manipulation of human behaviour hold crucial importance in contemporary warfare. Illustration by The Geostrata With the increasing int

There is a monument in Geneva that depicts a giant broken chair, and it stands just across the street from the world's premier organ for international law and cooperation- The United Nations. Originally meant to symbolise the devastation caused by landmines, the chair’s broken leg today serves as a powerful metaphor for the UN itself, as its principal pillars are broken and just one push away from total collapse. Illustration by The Geostrata The Vision was noble, born from

It has been over 1,200 days, and yet, the war between Russia and Ukraine is still ongoing. The world watched the lines of battle shift, peace talks struggle, and hopes for a ceasefire fade, but the fundamental issues fueling the conflict remain unchanged. Both the guns and diplomacy persist in a costly deadlock despite the stakes and efforts of the global leaders, leaving the future of Europe uncertain. Illustration by The Geostrata One such effort unfolded on 15th August, at

In February 2022, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine. And as a response, the West implemented extensive aviation sanctions through the governments and aircraft OEMs ( Original Equipment Manufacturers ) Boeing, Airbus, etc, by shutting down leases. Illustration by The Geostrata Russia responded by re-registering foreign aircraft in Russia. The re-registration effectively nationalised the aircraft, and termination and immediate cessation of support from maintenance to spare pa

In international relations, a "sphere of influence" (SOI) refers to a spatial region or concept division where a state or organisation has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity or predominant control. It remains one of the most pervasive phenomena in the practice and history of international relations, yet only rarely have they been taken up analytically. This concept had gained its base mostly in the post-World War II era, which is also known as t

The land of unfulfilled promises and contested identities-Balochistan- stands as one of South Asia’s most complex and misunderstood...

India has a unique neighbourhood, with terrorism spilling over borders, political unrest shaking its periphery, and instability brewing...