ISSRA

The Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis is located within the premises of National Defence University, Islamabad. ISSRA is recognized domestically as well as globally as one of the credible think tank in the domain of National Security.

🟢Insight: “I2U2: Economic Partnership or Strategic Alignment” 🔗Read here: issra.pk/insight/2026/i…

🟢Insight: “Australia’s Strategic Repositioning in The Great Power Competition” 🔗 Read here: issra.pk/insight/2026/a…

The Legal Order Still Holds In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ahmer Bilal Soofi argues that despite repeated violations of Article 2(4), international law continues to sustain global order through a vast legal framework, making perceptions of the legal order’s irrelevance misplaced. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/Xagu7BjjLZU?si…

India’s Isolation and the Costs of Legal Disregard In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ahmer Bilal Soofi contrasts Pakistan and India’s approaches toward international law, arguing that while Pakistan adhered to the legal framework, India’s recent actions have contributed to perceptions of unreliability, leading to growing diplomatic isolation. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/Xagu7BjjLZU?si…

International Law Beyond US Policy Shifts In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ahmer Bilal Soofi argues that recent disruptions in the legal order are tied to the policies of a small group within the US administration and should not be mistaken for a worldwide collapse of the international legal system. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/Xagu7BjjLZU?si…

Enforcement in Crisis, Not International Law In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ahmer Bilal Soofi argues that institutional paralysis and weak enforcement do not signify the collapse of international legal norms or the end of the international legal order. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/Xagu7BjjLZU?si…

Views and Reviews - International Webinar: “Americas within the Transforming Global Order & Trends”

Highlights: The Future of International Law: Between Norms and Power Politics In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ahmer Bilal Soofi and Rehman Azher examine the contemporary crisis of international law across the geopolitical flashpoints of Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and India-Pakistan. The discussion explores selective enforcement, the erosion of collective security, and the future of the rules-based order, while ultimately offering a hopeful perspective on the resilience and continuity of the international legal framework amid growing geopolitical turbulence. Watch full podcast here: youtu.be/Xagu7BjjLZU?si…

Iran’s Escalation Calculus in the Gulf Region and Beyond* In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ambassador Asif Durrani explains Iran’s rationale for disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. He further argues that Tehran’s perception of Gulf-based installations supporting US and Israeli operations leads it to view them as legitimate targets. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/yU4WS5PuXE4?si…

Iran War: The Limits of External Protection in the Gulf In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ambassador Asif Durrani explains how the US-Iran-Israeli conflict is pushing Gulf states to reassess reliance on external security guarantees, highlighting a shift toward stronger regional cooperation as a more reliable path to security. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/yU4WS5PuXE4?si…

🔵 International Webinar – “Americas within the Transforming Global Order & Trends” 📅: 30th April 2026 📍: ISSRA, NDU #InternationalWebinar #GlobalOrder #PolicyDialogue #ISSRA

Regime Change and State Resilience in Iran* In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ambassador Asif Durrani challenges the US “regime change” narrative on Iran, arguing that with the clergy still in power, real change cannot be imposed from outside, and must come from within. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here youtu.be/yU4WS5PuXE4?si…

Israel’s Hidden Role in the Iran Conflict In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ambassador Asif Durrani breaks down the core drivers of the US–Iran–Israel conflict. He highlights Israel’s role in escalating tensions, linking it to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial that has seen repeated delays amid the ongoing conflict. 🎙️ Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/yU4WS5PuXE4?si…

Highlights: ⁠US–Israel War Against Iran: Power Politics in the Middle East & Beyond In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Ambassador Asif Durrani discusses with Maria Malik, the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran and its implications for the Middle East and beyond. The dialogue examines the trajectory of the conflict, from military escalation to diplomacy, and what lies ahead for the region and the world. It explores Iran’s resilience under pressure, narratives of regime change, and Pakistan’s evolving role as a mediator. As tensions persist, the episode reflects on the competing pathways of war and mediation, and what they signal for the future of global stability. Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/yU4WS5PuXE4?si…

🟢Insight: Afghanistan’s Water Issues with Neighbouring Countries: The Case for Comprehensive Regional Water Accords 🔗Read here: issra.pk/insight/2026/a…

🟢Insight: China is in the Frame 🔗Read here: issra.pk/insight/2026/c…

Arms Trade, Dependence & US Interests in the Middle East In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Rear Admiral (R) Faisal Ali Shah explains how the Middle East has historically been a major driver of the US defense industry as a key arms buyer, only recently overtaken by Europe after the Russia–Ukraine war, and uses this shift to contextualise why the region remains central to US strategic interests. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/k64EX_uSnBU?si…

Disruption as Status Quo Strategy in the Global Order In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Rear Admiral (R) Faisal Ali Shah explains how status quo powers like the US have historically relied on strategies of disruption to maintain dominance, using this lens to better contextualise current global affairs and shifting power dynamics. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/k64EX_uSnBU?si…

US in the Middle East: Strategy, Energy, Rivals In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Rear Admiral (R) Faisal Ali Shah explains the latest US National Security Strategy, focusing on securing Middle Eastern oil, gas, and waterways from unnamed adversaries, and links it to developments in Venezuela to outline the broader strategic logic behind continued US involvement in the region. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/k64EX_uSnBU?si…

US–Iran War and the Future of International Law In this episode of Conversations @ Foothills, Rear Admiral (R) Faisal Ali Shah discusses the US–Iran war as a turning point for international law, warning that the global community must now decide whether to preserve the existing legal order or risk a world where it no longer applies. 🔗 Watch the full podcast here: youtu.be/k64EX_uSnBU?si…