Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Arhama Siddiqa
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Doha Forum 2023: capturing the cadence
In the unfolding narrative of the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, the pivotal role played by Qatar in brokering the now-unraveled truce between Israel and Hamas stands out, overshadowing the influence of more expected actors such as the US or the EU. Despite the ceasefire’s collapse and the resumption of Israeli...
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BRI: Harbinger of peace and prosperity in the Middle East
On 19 May, 2023, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad attended the Arab League Summit for the first time in over a decade. The re-coalescence of Syria back in the Arab fold is part of a broader regional normalisation process, which was brought about by Chinese facilitation on 10 March, 2023...
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Making Pakistan relevant amidst changing dynamics in the Gulf
In November, India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed to resume talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) largely focusing on technology transfers, food security and energy security. The last round of trade negotiations were in 2008. The GCC is one of the top trading partners for India. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, trade in goods between...
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What will Pakistan-Middle East ties be like under Shehbaz Sharif?
Frenzied political activity in Pakistan this month concluded with Imran Khan being ousted as prime minister and replaced by Shehbaz Sharif on 11 April. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was sworn in as the 23rd prime minister of the country. His new cabinet draws heavily from...
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Pakistan is trying to turn the tide and boost religious tourism
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on 14 October last year that it was going to operate direct flights to Syria and Iraq twice a week. When a PIA aircraft landed in Damascus in September it ended a 22-year hiatus; this was clear evidence that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s...
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Pakistan and the Gulf security architecture
On 30 January, Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a two-day visit to Qatar where he met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, along with other military officials. General Bajwa and Al-Thani reportedly discussed issues related to defence, security and regional geopolitical...
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Yemen is teetering on the edge of total destruction
Yemen has long been a hotbed of unrest. Years of conflict concurrent with a battle of egos has broken down the most resource rich country in the Middle East into the poorest. The violent playground that Yemen has become breeds conflict involving domestic, regional and international actors. Next year...
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Adapting to the new normal: Covid-19 and Pakistani workers in the Gulf
Nobody can overstate the role that the migrant labour force undertakes in the Gulf. Jobs across the region in construction, transportation and sanitation are predominantly carried out by millions of mostly South Asian migrants. As a consequence of Covid-19, however, countless migrant workers have lost their jobs because of...
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A China-Iran deal could provide Pakistan with windows of opportunity
It is no secret that despite international sanctions, Iran is known for leaving Western powers at a loss, sometimes by making what are considered to be outrageous statements, on other occasions with similarly outrageous actions. In July, the New York Times ran a story on its front page about...
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Pakistan ties with Saudi Arabia suggest a marriage where divorce is not possible
In international relations, statements of mutual appreciation are the norm and as long as mutual interests align, all can be plain sailing. The real test arises when differences arise. Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are a good example. Last year, on a state visit to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s Crown...
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The rise of the Middle Kingdom in the Middle East: China’s Belt and Road Initiative
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) stands as the most prominent example of the pivotal shift in Chinese foreign policy from Deng Xiaoping’s “bide and hide” philosophy to the current ambitious endeavours. The BRI is a titanic project focused on increasing connectivity by opening up avenues for diplomatic and...