Indian Hegemony Being Questioned

In recent years, the notion of India as an uncontested regional hegemon in South Asia has increasingly come under scrutiny. While New Delhi continues to project itself as a rising global power and the “largest democracy,” regional realities are telling a more complex and less linear story.

At the core of India’s strategic narrative lies the assumption of economic scale, military modernization, and diplomatic outreach translating into unquestioned regional leadership. However, this assumption is being challenged on multiple fronts — from persistent border tensions with neighbours to shifting alignments within South and West Asia.

Countries in the region are no longer willing to align automatically with Indian preferences. Smaller South Asian states are increasingly pursuing multi-vector foreign policies, balancing ties with China, Gulf states, and Western powers rather than remaining within India’s traditional sphere of influence. This reflects a gradual erosion of the old hierarchical regional order.

Militarily, while India continues to invest heavily in defence capabilities, strategic outcomes have not always aligned with expectations of dominance. Prolonged standoffs along contested borders and the inability to decisively translate military superiority into political leverage have exposed structural limits in its regional posture.

Economically, India’s growth story remains impressive, but it has not yet fully translated into regional economic integration on its own terms. Instead, competing connectivity initiatives — particularly those linked to China’s Belt and Road framework — continue to dilute India’s economic centrality in the neighbourhood.

Diplomatically, India’s ambition to lead the Global South and shape multipolar discourse is also facing nuanced responses. Many countries engage with India, but few are willing to defer to it.

This does not signal a decline of India as a major power. Rather, it reflects a transition from assumed hegemony to contested influence. The regional order is becoming increasingly multipolar, fluid, and transactional.

In this evolving landscape, influence will depend less on historical narratives and more on adaptability, restraint, and genuine regional accommodation. The question, therefore, is not whether India is rising — but whether its regional dominance is being fundamentally redefined.

Iran War Unlikely to End on US Terms

The longer the conflict with Iran drags on, the more difficult it becomes to accept Washington's claim that it genuinely seeks peace. Months after the ceasefire announcement, the region continues to witness periodic escalation, suggesting that the United States and Israel are still pursuing objectives that remain unfulfilled.

If the war were truly about eliminating an immediate threat, it should have ended by now. Instead, the persistence of tensions indicates that broader geopolitical ambitions remain at play.

First, despite years of sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and military pressure, Iran's status as a regional power remains largely intact. Far from being marginalized, Tehran continues to exert influence across the Middle East. This outcome falls well short of what United States and Israel had hoped to achieve.

Second, the US has failed in securing a major diplomatic breakthrough by bringing Saudi Arabia fully into the Abraham Accords framework. The ongoing conflict has made such an objective increasingly difficult, exposing the limitations of American diplomacy in the region.

Third, expectations of regime change in Tehran have once again proven unrealistic. Iranian institutions remain functional, and the leadership has survived a campaign designed to weaken its authority and legitimacy.

Fourth, despite repeated military operations, neither Iran's nuclear capabilities nor its missile program appears to have been decisively neutralized. The enormous costs incurred have not delivered the strategic victory that was promised.

Meanwhile, Israel has also struggled to achieve one of its key security objectives: the complete elimination of Hezbollah's military and political influence in Lebanon. The group's continued presence remains a source of concern for Israeli policymakers.

These shortcomings help explain why pressure persists against any settlement that does not fully satisfy American and Israeli demands. Iran is expected to make concessions, yet there is little willingness to discuss lifting decades-old sanctions or compensating Tehran for infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

The reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The war continues because its principal architects have not achieved their desired outcomes. Until Washington and Tel Aviv recognize the limits of military coercion and accept a genuinely negotiated settlement, the ceasefire will remain little more than a pause in a conflict that neither side has truly left behind.

Key Takeaways from Pakistan Economic Survey

Ministry of Finance has released Economic Survey of Pakistan for FY26 and based on that and in line with numbers reported by National Accounts Committee (NAC), Pakistan has provisionally recorded real GDP growth of 3.7% during nine months of FY26 as against 3.18% during the same period of FY25.

The GDP growth of 3.7% for FY26 is 4-year high and is also higher than last 5, 10 and 20-year average growth of 3.09%, 3.41% and 3.44%, respectively. While the initial target set by the government was 4.2%.

IMF and World Bank estimates FY26 GDP growth of Pakistan at 3.6% and 3.0%, respectively. Topline Securities maintains its GDP estimates for FY26 in range of 3.5 to 4.0%.

Services sector growth has posted provisional growth of 4.09% in FY26 as compared to 3.14% in FY25, making it the largest contributor to overall economic growth. Within services, Public Administration & Social Security and Information and Communication saw strong momentum with a growth of 8.54% and 7.52% respectively, while Financial and Insurance Activities posted a modest increase of 0.32%.

Industrial sector has posted provisional growth of 3.51% in FY26. Within this, manufacturing, construction and Mining and Quarrying drove the recovery to growth by 6.61%, 5.73%, and 0.38% respectively. Further small, large-scale manufacturing and Slaughtering see a huge growth of 8.50%, 6.11% and 6.19% respectively. These gains are partly offset by a sharp decline of 10.63% in Electricity, Gas and Water Supply.

Agri sector is expected to record a growth of 2.89% recovering from second lowest FY25 growth of 1.53% growth in 9 years, which is second lowest growth in last 9 years. Important Crops and Cotton rebounded from last year's steep contractions of 13.49% and 19.03%, respectively, to contribution of 0.65% and 0.07% to overall agricultural growth. Meanwhile, Livestock, Forestry, and Fishing are estimated to grow by 3.75%, 2.02%, and 1.66%, respectively, providing stability to the sector.

The Whole World Is Losing, Except the US

My point is clear, the United States must acknowledge defeat, ensure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, lift economic sanctions on Iran, and compensate for the losses incurred during this war. Enough time has passed, and there is no justification for portraying defeat as victory.

The ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran are increasingly becoming a rhetorical exercise rather than a strategic achievement. The ambitious campaign launched in coordination with Israel to curb Iran’s regional influence and nuclear development has failed to accomplish its stated objectives.

It would not be incorrect to say that Iran’s regional significance has increased, its negotiating posture has become more assertive, and its capacity to withstand economic pressure has proven far stronger than anticipated. After weeks of diplomacy, fundamental differences remain unresolved due to US intransigence, leaving the talks far from any meaningful breakthrough.

The situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz underscores US miscalculations and Iran’s leverage, while exposing the vulnerability of oil-exporting countries that rely heavily on American security guarantees. The US blockade of the Strait has reduced the daily movement of approximately 140 vessels to only a handful of oil and LNG carriers.

The consequences have been staggering. Oil-exporting Arab states are facing uncertain revenues, while energy-importing economies are grappling with inflationary pressures and severe supply disruptions.

Despite these grim realities, Washington’s rhetoric continues to speak of progress and opportunity. Such claims stand in stark contrast to the facts and appear to be an attempt to reframe strategic underperformance as diplomatic success. This only reinforces the perception of a policy being pursued without clear goals, direction, or achievable objectives.

The central point is now unmistakable - the longer the truth is denied, the greater the price the rest of the world will be forced to pay.

 

Lebanon: Israel’s Last Strategic Frontier?

Lebanon continues to occupy a central place in Israel’s strategic calculus, not merely as a neighboring state but as the remaining unresolved frontier in its northern security doctrine. From this perspective, Israel’s sustained pressure on Lebanon is shaped by a mix of historical experience, security anxieties, and regional power competition.

At the core lies the belief in parts of Israeli strategic thinking that Lebanon represents the last major obstacle to achieving uncontested dominance along its northern arc. Unlike other Arab theatres where state structures have either been weakened or neutralized through normalization or conflict, Lebanon remains structurally resistant.

Secondly, Israel views Hezbollah as the most capable and disciplined non-state military actor on its borders. With its missile arsenal and battlefield experience, Hezbollah is seen not just as a border threat but as a strategic deterrent that constrains Israeli freedom of action.

Thirdly, the northern border security buffer remains a persistent concern. Israel’s strategic doctrine has long emphasized preventing hostile entrenchment along its immediate frontier, and southern Lebanon is viewed as an area where such entrenchment has already occurred.

Fourthly, the eastern Mediterranean energy equation adds another layer. Maritime boundaries, offshore gas fields, and economic corridors have turned Lebanon from a peripheral concern into a contested strategic space where economic and security interests increasingly overlap.

Finally, Lebanon is viewed through the wider prism of Iran’s regional influence. Israel’s strategic planners often interpret Hezbollah’s presence as part of a broader deterrence network linked to Tehran, making Lebanon not just a bilateral issue but a node in a wider regional rivalry.

Taken together, these factors explain why Lebanon remains a focal point in Israeli strategic thinking — not necessarily as a target for territorial expansion, but as an unresolved security frontier that continues to shape regional dynamics.

War, Fear and Israeli Ballot

As Israelis prepare to vote while military operations continue against Iran and tensions remain high on multiple fronts, the election is being viewed through a simple question: will voters reward or punish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for choosing confrontation over restraint? Several outcomes are conceivable.

One possibility is that Netanyahu's coalition suffers setbacks because many Israelis have grown weary of living under a constant state of emergency. Years of conflict have imposed economic, social and psychological costs. Critics argue that military victories, however significant, have not produced lasting peace. Voters seeking stability may therefore conclude that a different political course is needed.

A second scenario is that Netanyahu emerges stronger. His supporters will contend that Israel has seized a historic opportunity to weaken what it regards as its most formidable adversary. If military operations are widely perceived as successful, many voters may see little reason to replace the leadership that authorized them. In times of conflict, electorates often prioritize continuity over change.

A third possibility is that Netanyahu benefits from his image as the guardian of Israeli security. Elections held during periods of heightened tensions are rarely fought on economic performance alone. Security concerns tend to dominate public discourse, and leaders who project determination frequently gain political advantage. For many voters, the question may not be whether they approve of every government decision, but whether they trust any alternative leadership to manage the threats facing the country.

A fourth scenario is that the electorate embraces candidates advocating de-escalation and diplomacy. Such an outcome would signal a growing belief that military power, while necessary for defense, cannot by itself resolve Israel's long-term security challenges.

Yet the balance of probabilities appears to favor Netanyahu. The election is taking place in an environment where security concerns overshadow almost every other issue. Moreover, significant political, security and ideological constituencies remain committed to a strategy of confronting and weakening Israel's adversaries before pursuing broader regional accommodation.

The decisive factor may not be Netanyahu himself. Rather, it is whether Israeli society continues to believe that greater security can be achieved through military dominance. If that belief remains intact, Netanyahu's path to victory becomes considerably easier. The election, therefore, may be less a verdict on one leader than a reflection of a broader national mood shaped by fear, conflict and the enduring quest for security.

Invisible Hand Behind Iran War

The latest round of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States raises a question that mainstream discourse appears reluctant to confront: if elected leaders are truly in control, why do military actions so often proceed in defiance of political declarations?

President Donald Trump publicly urged restraint and claimed that he "calls all the shots." Yet Israeli strikes followed almost immediately. The episode exposed a contradiction that has become increasingly common in international politics. Governments speak the language of diplomacy while military escalation continues unabated.

Perhaps the real issue is not whether Washington controls Tel Aviv or vice versa. The more important question is whether both are operating within a framework dictated by interests far larger than individual politicians.

For decades, every major crisis in the Middle East has produced the same winners. Defense industries secure larger contracts. Security establishments gain expanded powers. Energy markets remain vulnerable to disruption. Strategic planners find justification for maintaining military footprints across the region. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens pay the price through economic hardship, displacement, and insecurity.

Iran has become the latest target of this entrenched system. Officially, the objective is to halt Tehran's nuclear ambitions and neutralize its missile capabilities. Yet the scope of military pressure suggests broader ambitions. The weakening of the Iranian state, the containment of its regional influence, and perhaps even the eventual collapse of the current political order appears to be equally important goals.

The implications extend beyond the Middle East. Any disruption involving the Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy flows and places additional pressure on emerging economies. China, one of the largest consumers of Iranian energy, stands to lose from prolonged instability. In this context, the conflict increasingly resembles a chapter in a wider geopolitical contest rather than a narrowly defined security operation.

What makes the situation particularly troubling is the growing irrelevance of public accountability. Leaders change, governments come and go, yet the direction of policy remains remarkably consistent. Escalation follows escalation, regardless of electoral promises or diplomatic rhetoric.

One does not need to believe in secret conspiracies to recognize this pattern. A powerful nexus of military, economic, and geopolitical interests has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to shape outcomes. Whether it is called an establishment, a strategic network, or an informal cartel of influence, its fingerprints are visible across the region.

The tragedy is that while nations debate who fired the latest missile, few ask who benefits from a conflict that never seems to end.