Deterrence relies on military capability, but its effect is psychological. Nuclear weapons, missile defences, alliances and conventional forces shape how an adversary assesses the risks and costs of aggression. Bernard Brodie placed credible retaliation at the centre of nuclear deterrence, arguing that military power in the nuclear age should prevent war rather than win it.
Syed Ali Abbas
Syed Ali Abbas
Syed Ali Abbas is Research Officer & Comm Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. He is also an MPhil scholar in the Department of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University (NDU) Islamabad.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye marks an important shift in regional security cooperation. The three countries have agreed to support one another without defining a permanent threat. Each state will retain its existing alliances, partnerships, and foreign-policy priorities.
The Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has proposed three theatre commands, including a Western Theatre built explicitly around Pakistan and placed under Air Force leadership, with implementation expected to be completed soon.
Missiles have emerged as a central instrument of contemporary asymmetric warfare, particularly for states operating under conditions of conventional inferiority, external pressure, and sustained strategic competition.
On 29 June 2026, outgoing Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi announced the raising of specialised Baaz battalions under the…
The growing integration of dual-use technologies, anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities, and space-based defense systems has undermined the civilian-military distinction, exposing critical shortcomings in the existing legal architecture, particularly the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST).
Bangladesh’s trade with China surged to about $24 billion in 2023, surpassing its trade volume with India, which stood at $18 billion. China’s extensive infrastructure investments in Bangladesh, including the Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail, and the Karnaphuli Tunnel, have significantly improved trade efficiency and strengthened Bangladesh’s position as a regional economic hub.
Abstract The establishment of integrated military theatre commands in India is a significant restructuring of the country’s defence forces, with…
When the United States and Israel launched war against Iran in February 2026, Tehran retaliated without a conventional parity. Iran’s retaliation constituted ballistic and cruise missiles and large numbers of Shahed-series one-way attack drones. In sustained salvos, they targeted American and Israeli key operational nodes such as air defence systems, E-3 AWACS aircraft, and KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers.
Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History Vali Nasr, Princeton University Press, 2024-384 pp. Iran’s Grand Strategy written by Professor Vali…
