South Asia

CJP-led protests, opposition coordination and international attention could broaden the electoral dispute into a sustained political challenge, increasing the risk of disruption to public order and business activity. The ECI’s authority to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and its stated unanimous decisions challenge sweeping accusations of illegitimacy; specific implementation complaints require evidence and resolution.

Geopolitical and security pressures are reshaping aviation's connectivity, competitiveness and commercial resilience. Restricted routes increase fuel consumption and emissions, while lost cargo capacity can push freight prices up well beyond the conflict zone. The attempted terrorist attack aboard flydubai FZ1073 highlights the importance of vetting, screening and intelligence sharing in aviation security.

The sea has always been a space of trade, crime and power. What is changing is the density of threats and the number of actors willing to use vessels as instruments of leverage. Piracy has not disappeared, but it is no longer the whole story. Future maritime risk map will be shaped as much by states, sanctions, militias and militarised law enforcement as by pirates with weapons and ladders.

In February, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated into one of the most serious confrontations between the two countries in years. Cross-border airstrikes, retaliatory attacks, and accusations over militant safe havens have highlighted the fragility of security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier.

The recent string of youth-led protests across Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines highlights a shared sense of frustration at corruption and inequality. The pivotal role played by social media platforms, from offering an outlet for the generation of collective grievances to exposing the brutality of law enforcement’s response, was a notable catalyst.

With growing political will, multiple countries are recognising and developing solutions to the challenges posed by grey zone warfare. However, the matter will require ongoing multilateral cooperation and investment. This will be made harder by actors who continue to refine new methods and technologies to undermine and neutralise countermeasures.

Renewed peacebuilding efforts by the Trump administration are deemed as unlikely to increase regional stability in their targeted areas. · President Trump remains highly motivated by the desire to be perceived as a “dealmaker” by his domestic supporter base, and to secure concessions for his family’s business operations.

For many companies operating in the broader region, the prospect of greater Russian influence will be unwelcome. With terrorism continuing to pose a threat, companies operating in Central Asia face an ongoing threat to their infrastructure. Instability in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s limited ability to contain ISK could easily lead to cross-border attacks or unrest in other Central Asian states. Targeting oil and gas infrastructure could cause significant economic damage and

India has accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, which Pakistan denies. India also threatened a “loud and clear” response to the incident. More than 1,500 people have been arrested by the police across Jammu and Kashmir, and several demonstrations were held in Srinagar over the attack. On 25 April 2025, media reported indicated that both sides exchanged gunfire along the Line of Control, which separates the two countries, but the report did not specify the exact lo

The incident marks the first time that an entire train has been hijacked by militants in Pakistan, though the Jaffar Express has been targeted previously by groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The attack not only highlights the ongoing deterioration of the security situation in Pakistan’s southwest region but also reflects the evolving capabilities and determination of the BLA in their fight for political and economic control over the mineral-rich area. It was