India and Pakistan Are Headed Towards a Crisis over Kashmir

India and Pakistan Are Headed Towards a Crisis over Kashmir

In August, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan pledged that he would serve as an “ambassador” for the embattled people of Kashmir, who are besieged by close to a million Indian security forces. And on Friday, he did exactly that, using the world’s largest platform—the United Nations General Assembly— to voice their plight. Khan excoriated Indian…

The US-Iran Silent War Is Transformed into an “Iraq Uprising”

The US-Iran Silent War Is Transformed into an “Iraq Uprising”

The last four days have shown that the ongoing US-Iran war is acutely affecting the whole region. This is now evident in Iraq where more than 105 people have been killed and thousands wounded in the course of demonstrations that engulfed the capital Baghdad and southern Shia cities including Amara, Nasririyeh, Basrah, Najaf and Karbalaa….

Making China Great Again

Making China Great Again

China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.” Napoleon Bonaparte France’s future emperor never saw China, but he was wise enough to understand its immense latent strength and future importance. Two centuries after making this prediction, China has proved the Corsican correct. Last week, China feted…

Running Hot and Cold: Gulf Balances on the Edge of War and Peace

Running Hot and Cold: Gulf Balances on the Edge of War and Peace

With war and peace hanging in the balance, tensions in the Gulf are running hot and cold. Saudi and Iranian leaders are this week walking back from the brink, signalling that they want to avoid outright military confrontation and manage rather than resolve differences. In fact, there is every reason to believe that neither Riyadh…

UK Brexit Crisis: The Next Few Weeks Could Shape Britain for Decades to Come

UK Brexit Crisis: The Next Few Weeks Could Shape Britain for Decades to Come

A man wearing tracksuit bottoms, a hoodie and an untucked shirt slouches into a Tory Party conference. He is tall, balding and in his mid-forties.  His every move is filmed or photographed by a platoon of cameramen as he’s followed by an entourage of loyal retainers. It’s a well-documented contemporary phenomenon that powerful men in…