Course Scholars

GP Commentaries
The World This Week
Nepal’s New “National Commitment” I Japan’s New Defence Posture
Four Takeaways of the WFP's report on the fallouts of the Middle East crisis
The World This Week #351-351, Vol 8, No 13-14, 26 April 2026

April 2026 | CWA # 2080

Global Politics Team

TWTW Note
Japan’s New Defence Posture:
From Post-War Pacifism to Strategic Recalibration and Autonomy
Increasing tensions with China, North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and Russia have increased Japan’s threat perceptions. Besides, there is a broad perception shift in Japan of US security guarantees.

April 2026 | CWA # 2079

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf, Postgraduate student, Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

TWTW Note
Nepal’s New “National Commitment”
Managing Consensus and Moving ahead towards a New Nepal
The National Commitment document represents an important attempt to align political priorities into a single, comprehensible national roadmap. The draft serves as a guide for the next five years.

April 2026 | CWA # 2078

Mahesh Bhatta | Mr Mahesh Raj Bhatta is a Research Fellow at the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), Kathmandu, Nepal.

TWTW Review
The Middle East Crisis and its Fallouts on Hunger and Global Food Supply Network
Four Takeaways of the WFP's report on the fallouts of the Middle East crisis, April 2026
The impact of the Middle East crisis is not confined to the region; it affects distant economies through price increases, supply disruptions, and trade pressures.

April 2026 | CWA # 2077

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

CW Column: Africa This Week
Three years of War in Sudan, DRC-M23 talks in Switzerland and the collapse of the peace agreement in Tigray
In Ethiopia, the latest developments point to a high risk of the collapse of the 2022 peace agreement and resumption of full-scale violence in Tigray. In Sudan, the war has been prolonged for three years primarily because of the abundant weapon suppl

April 2026 | CWA # 2076

Anu Maria Joseph | Ms Anu Maria Joseph was a NIAS Project Associate and served as Assistant Editor, Conflict Weekly.

Report Review
The US-Iran War Fallouts on the Asia Pacific, Energy Security and Supply Chains
Five Takeaways of the UNDP Report, April 2026
The report draws on 22 UNDP country office impact and needs assessments spanning 36 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and offers a preliminary assessment of shock transmission channels (such as energy, trade, fertilisers).

April 2026 | CWA # 2075

R Preetha | Ms R Preetha is a Research Assistant with the NIAS.

CW Note
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
Asymmetric Terms, Fragile Truce and Israeli Occupation

April 2026 | CWA # 2074

Brighty Ann Sarah | Ms Sarah is a Research Assistant at NIAS and Assistant Editor of NIAS Conflict Weekly.

CW Note
The US-Iran War, Week Eight:
A Fragile Ceasefire, Attempts to Control Hormuz and the Stalled Talks in Islamabad
Despite extensive diplomatic outreach by Pakistan and its allies, along with increased pressure from Trump to come to the negotiating table, Iran continues to reject peace talks, while the US naval blockade continues to remain in place.

April 2026 | CWA # 2073

Akshath Kaimal | Mr Kaimal is a Research Assistant at NIAS. He works on Pakistan and Africa.

Special Commentary
Three Years of War in Sudan
Prolonged Stalemate, Humanitarian Cost, External Interventions and Regional Fallouts
Three years into this deadly power struggle, the endgame is clear. The SAF is adamant to fight until the RSF is eliminated or surrenders. The RSF has not taken a strong stance to eliminate SAF, primarily because of its suspected pursuit of internatio

April 2026 | CWA # 2072

Anu Maria Joseph | Ms Anu Maria Joseph was a NIAS Project Associate and served as Assistant Editor, Conflict Weekly.

Conflict Weekly
Three Years of Civil War in Sudan I The US-Iran War, Week Eight I Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire
Review of the UNDP Report on Military Escalation in the Middle East I Conflict Weekly Column on Africa
Conflict Weekly #328, 24 April 2026, Vol 7, No. 15

April 2026 | CWA # 2071

NIAS Global Politics Team

Conflict Weekly Special Edition
Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
The US-Iran War I Conflicts in Africa I The War in Ukraine I China-Japan Tensions I Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes
Conflict Weekly #327, 17 April 2026, Vol 7, No. 14

April 2026 | CWA # 2070

NIAS Global Politics Team

Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
The War in Ukraine
Expanding Drone Warfare, Russia's Strategic Patience and Ukraine's Diplomatic Outreach
Russia is likely to maintain its position of strategic endurance, supported by energy revenues and external partnerships, while continuing incremental advances. Ukraine, despite its innovation and diplomatic outreach, will remain externally dependent

April 2026 | CWA # 2069

Padmashree Anandhan

Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
China-Japan Tensions
Escalating Defence Posturing and Economic Decoupling
The China-Japan tensions remained high, with distrust on both sides, as reflected in military provocations and incursions during the first quarter. On the economic front, both China and Japan are taking active steps to diversify their supply chains.

April 2026 | CWA # 2068

Femy Francis 

Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
Conflicts in Africa
Continuing Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and DR Congo, Security issues in Nigeria, and Political Instability in Madagascar
While much global attention has shifted to the conflict in the Middle East and its global impact, Africa this quarter saw the continuation of two major violent conflicts: civil war in Sudan and conflict in eastern DRC.

April 2026 | CWA # 2067

Anu Maria Joseph

Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
The Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Recurrent Clashes, Defiant Taliban, Contesting Narratives and Emerging China’s Role
The first quarter of 2026 saw a renewed escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, triggered by a series of terrorist attacks within Pakistan in January and February, which Islamabad

April 2026 | CWA # 2066

Akshath Kaimal

The World This Quarter 
The Middle East (Jan–Mar 2026):
The US-Iran War, Israel-Hamas Conflict and their interconnected fallouts
Though US-Iran war was the most important regional development, during the first quarter, From Gaza to the Gulf, the region witnessed recalibrations of conflict, shifting alliances, and evolving diplomatic strategies and dilemmas.

April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon | Dr Lakshmi Venugopal Menon is an academic and policy researcher specializing in Gulf studies, cultural heritage trafficking, geopolitics, migration, Afghan politics and the Taliban.

The World This Quarter 
Afghanistan (Jan–Mar 2026):
Gender Repression, Leadership Rifts, Regional Realignments and Clashes with Pakistan
Afghanistan today is neither in immediate collapse nor on a credible path to stabilisation. Instead, it occupies an uneasy space defined by tactical resilience and structural fragility.

April 2026 | CWA # 2064

Anwesha Ghosh | Dr Anwesha Ghosh is a Research Fellow at ICWA, New Delhi. She is the author of Identity and Marginality in India (Routledge, 2020) and Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Pasts and Anticipations (KW Publishers, 2026).

The World This Quarter 
Russia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Assertive Military Posture, Attempts for an Economic Turnaround and Search for Partners
During the quarter, Russia pursued a dual diplomatic track - confronting the West while deepening ties with partners in Asia and the Middle East 

April 2026 | CWA # 2063

Ramya B | Ramya B is an Associate Professor at the Department of History, Kristu Jayanti University, Bengaluru

The World This Quarter 
Europe (Jan-Mar 2026)
Trade diversification & FTAs, Increased defence spending, Tightening irregular migration and Economic slowdown
Europe is looking forward to increasing its defence expenditure, diversifying trade and pursuing strategic autonomy

April 2026 | CWA # 2062

Himani Pant | Dr Himani Pant is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi

The World This Quarter 
Africa (Jan-Mar 2026)
Elections, Civil Wars, Militancy and Peace Initiatives
While the civil wars, are moving in a dangerous direction, especially in Sudan, and traditional/non-traditional security threats are equally impacting Africa, the continent is also showing positive signs of economic recovery

April 2026 | CWA # 2061

S Shaji | Dr S Shaji is an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad

GP Insights
The US Supreme Court calls  Trump’s tariffs “illegal”  

March 2026 | GP Insights # 949

China and Africa relations are going strong: Predictable ties in unpredictable times

January 2026 | GP Insights # 948

China’s draft legislation on Antarctica: Legal and institutional clarification and environmental pro

December 2025 | GP Insights # 946

Germany-China Tensions over Chinese EVs: From Procurement to Protectionism

December 2025 | GP Insights # 947

Hong Kong court convicts Jimmy Lai

December 2025 | GP Insights # 945

China’s rare-earth export control exemption for one year

December 2025 | GP Insights # 936

SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military service report: China’s revenue declines by 10 per cent

December 2025 | GP Insights # 945

Ten Takeaways on White Paper

November 2025 | GP Insights # 944

China-India squabble over Arunachal Pradesh: What is it about? What are the claims?

November 2025 | GP Insights # 943

Taiwan: Flailing defence conscriptions

November 2025 | GP Insights # 942

Other Scholars

Abhimanyu Solanki is a Research Intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team, contributing to the PR Daily Brief. He is also a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and PhD scholar in the Department of Political Science at the University...

Akriti Sharma is a doctoral scholar at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, National Institute of Advanced Studies. She has completed her Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. She is also the recipient of...

Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant with NIAS Area Studies-Pakistan, and is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action

Ankit is a Ph.D. scholar at NIAS, his research interests lie South Asia, peace studies and oral history. His research topic is on political economy of external debt in Pakistan (1971-2021).   Research activities In the STIR program, he is currently assisting in preparations of PR evening...

Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) under the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The Conflict Weekly and The World Today, and part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team.   She...

Research Assistant, Area Studies-China, East Asia and the Pacific     External Publications Femy Francis, "Pakistan elections: four provinces, mixed results, one message | Data," The Hindu, 29 February 2024 Femy Francis, "China’s ties with Africa | Explained,"...

Harini Madhusudan is a doctoral scholar with the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Her thesis looks at Militarisation in Outer Space, which draws from a combination of disciplines of International Law, Security Studies, International Relations, and Outer Space as a domain. She is looking...

Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), working with the Area Studies-Pakistan Programme and the NIAS Polar and Ocean Studies initiative. She also serves as an Assistant Editor for The World Today and The World This Week. Her research interests include...

Padmashree Anandhan is currently a project associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. Her research for the NIAS Europe Studies under the Area Studies initiative focuses on protest movements, conflicts, energy, economic, migration...

R. Preetha is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) - Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week and The World Today, and is also part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team. She is currently...

Ms Rohini Reenum is a Doctoral Student at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies. Her areas of interest in terms of research are Maritime Security, Ocean Governance, International Relations Theory,...

Tanvi Thara Harendra Jha is an intern, and is undergraduate student double majoring in BSc Clinical Psychology and BA Political Science at the School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru.

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus, Bengaluru. She is a Research Intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), where she is part of the Pakistan Reader team and contributes analytical...