After being drawn into a direct and damaging confrontation with Israel during the Gaza War, Iran is now in a phase of strategic recovery. Shaken by unexpected blows to its military networks and deterrence, Tehran is expanding its missile reach, debating nuclear weaponisation, and rebuilding its regional proxies to restore its “ring of fire” around Israel. Beneath this defiance lies anxiety and division, as Iran’s leadership struggles to regain credibility, manage internal pressure, and navigate an uncertain path between confrontation and negotiation with the United States.

Religion once forged Pakistan’s identity, but today it threatens to destroy it from within. The same zeal once used to unite is now fuelling division, violence, and decay. This piece exposes how religious extremism, weaponised by the state and exploited by enemies, is now eating the country from the inside out, and why only bold, coordinated reform can stop it.

India’s recent strikes across multiple Pakistani cities, including Lahore and Rawalpindi, marked the first deep incursion since 1971. Pakistan responded by claiming to have downed several Indian jets, including a Rafale, raising questions about India’s tactical capabilities. Meanwhile, China is using the conflict to test its advanced weaponry against India’s Western defence systems, while the US closely monitors the S-400’s performance in active combat.