Articles by Bashir Ali Abbas
Eye on the Middle East | The India-Iran bilateral and a test of patience
Given the prolonged efforts in Chabahar and a positive political relationship, the India-Iran bilateral relationship is unlikely to be at risk
Published on Sep 23, 2024 08:00 AM IST
As India-UAE ties wax and wax, a nuclear star on the horizon
While India and UAE (and France) have discussed nuclear energy cooperation before (first in 2022), the ENEC-NPCI deal is unprecedented.
Published on Sep 17, 2024 07:15 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | Israel's mass protests and Netanyahu's far-right gambit
Even as Netanyahu moved into the politics of self-preservation (of power), it is now well known that the October 7 attacks dented his image as ‘Mr Security’
Published on Sep 07, 2024 05:27 PM IST
Eye on the Middle East | A West Bank watershed
Why did Israel open a fresh front in the West Bank?
Published on Sep 01, 2024 09:00 AM IST
A Taliban ambassador in the UAE and a double inflection point
In 2011, UAE actively competed with Qatar to court the Taliban to open an office in their state but lost out to Doha.
Published on Aug 27, 2024 08:15 AM IST
Iran’s revival of strategic patience amid slow-burn ceasefire negotiations
Iran can symbolically retaliate with sufficient elements of escalation control or let the pressure from its rhetoric act as an instrument of coercion
Published on Aug 20, 2024 08:15 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | In the Middle East, Moscow hedges in the shadow of war
Russia’s principal interest lies in restricting the level of regional conflict to manageable levels, rather than ending it.
Published on Aug 08, 2024 09:22 PM IST
Eye on the Middle East | The politics and geopolitics of Ismail Haniyeh’s death
Haniyeh was more than the public face of Hamas, supplementing former political chief Khaled Mishal whose assassination the Mossad infamously botched in 1997.
Published on Aug 01, 2024 04:58 PM IST
Between Israel, Palestine, and US, three divergent views on conflict resolution
Fatah controls parts of the West Bank through the Palestine Authority (PA), and Hamas controls the Gaza Strip unilaterally since 2007.
Published on Jul 29, 2024 11:11 PM IST
Between ICJ verdict, Knesset resolution, world sees two states, Israel sees one
The Israeli Knesset voted overwhelmingly against the establishment of a Palestinian state. This signals a hardening stance on Palestinian sovereignty
Published on Jul 21, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Post Pezeshkian’s win, the said and unsaid of Iran’s future foreign policy
Facing economic turmoil and geopolitical shifts, Masoud Pezeshkian aims to improve relations with Europe while strengthening ties with China and Russia
Published on Jul 14, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Challenges and opportunities in Delhi-Doha ties
While the India-Qatar relationship has seen significant growth, ties between the two countries are marked by complexities and challenges.
Published on Jul 07, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | How China-Saudi defence ties are evolving
With a fresh Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in place between both states since 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is also aligned with China’s BRI.
Published on Jul 02, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | Drones and deterrence in the Israel-Hezbollah dynamic
Hezbollah's unprecedented drone footage over Israel's Haifa Port represents a strategic shift in the use of drones.
Published on Jun 23, 2024 10:00 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | The BRICS has cemented its position on Israel
For a grouping that resisted any addition of full members since South Africa in 2010, the new members can significantly influence the nature of summit outcomes
Published on Jun 16, 2024 11:08 AM IST
Eye on the Middle East | A Damocles’ sword hangs at the Israel-Lebanon border
As the threat of a wider regional war looms, key to understanding the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is the question of where the locus of the present conflict lies
Published on Jun 09, 2024 09:30 AM IST
Under the eyes of two courts, Israel pushes into Rafah as Washington wavers
In its May 24 order, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in Rafah”.
Published on Jun 02, 2024 01:56 AM IST
Why President Raisi's death rattles Iran’s leadership succession plan
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi dies in a helicopter crash, marking a sudden end to his controversial presidency and potential succession as Supreme Leader.
Updated on May 21, 2024 07:11 AM IST
Ebrahim Raisi’s death ends a troubled presidency; rattles Iran’s succession plan
Besides the death of Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Abdollahian’s death takes out another skilled diplomat well-seasoned in engaging key neighbours
Updated on May 20, 2024 11:30 PM IST
On Chabahar and US sanctions, a litmus test for New Delhi and Washington
Chabahar is arguably a litmus test for how well the US recognises India’s value in deterring China and in increasing Iran’s own stakes in regional stability
Published on May 17, 2024 12:41 AM IST
Israel's increasingly unpopular war in Gaza is to Turkey’s delight
Presently, the global flow is against Israel, with a ceasefire as the biggest imperative (which is in fact what Turkey has made trade contingent on)
Published on May 11, 2024 12:58 AM IST
Blinken’s 7th Middle East tour, and the Rafah litmus test
While the US continues to support Egypt and Qatar, it is also focused on a greater role for Saudi Arabia to ensure regional stability and reconstruction in Gaza
Published on May 03, 2024 12:29 AM IST
In Chabahar, the city of four springs, India is stuck in a long winter
The Chabahar port’s development has been impacted by geopolitical tensions. Despite challenges, India remains committed to leveraging Chabahar for connectivity
Published on Apr 25, 2024 11:43 PM IST
The game of deterrence between Iran and Israel has changed
Iran's attack on Israel on April 13, crossed Tel Aviv's red line. Until it reciprocates (if it does), it is Israel that is caught in a commitment trap
Published on Apr 18, 2024 08:10 PM IST
Amidst the Iran-Israel escalation loop, India is not spoilt for choice
While the crew of captured ships have traditionally been released unharmed, the current crisis presents a new frontier for Indian foreign policy
Published on Apr 15, 2024 03:48 PM IST
Saudi-Pakistan joint statement on Kashmir shows Riyadh’s balancing act
The recent joint statement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, calling for dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute, marks a subtle shift in Riyadh's stance.
Published on Apr 11, 2024 11:25 PM IST
Eye on the Middle East | Why did Israel attack the Iranian Consulate in Syria?
The longer and wider Israel’s war, the less sympathy it gets internationally, and the lesser the chances of Arab-Israeli normalisation coming back on track
Updated on Apr 04, 2024 10:17 PM IST
With the end of Ramzan nearing, has the UNSC’s call for a ceasefire helped?
As the death toll in Gaza approaches 33,000, the March 25 resolution has so far failed to create binding obligations on Israel to halt its military campaign
Published on Apr 03, 2024 06:13 PM IST
Eye on the Middle East | The Islamic State Khorasan province is coming of age
While the motivations of the IS behind the deadly bombing of Crocus City Hall in Moscow are still unclear, its historic focus on Russia is illuminating
Published on Mar 26, 2024 07:26 PM IST
The Indian Navy’s anti-piracy operations are geopolitically vital
The northern Indian Ocean has witnessed a burst of activity recently. However, the Navy’s increasing presence in NIO is driven by more than just anti-piracy.
Published on Mar 22, 2024 04:16 PM IST
- 1
- 2
- ...