Course Scholars

Akshath Kaimal

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


GP Commentaries
CW Note
Rising violence in the Lake Chad region: 
Complex Geography, Multiple Insurgencies, and an Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
At the intersection of four countries (Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon), the Lake Chad region has a complex geography, making it easier for insurgents to evade authorities from any single country.

May 2026 | CWA # 2103

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa Studies teams.

CW Note
Escalating Violence in Mali:
Between Ethnic Insurgencies, Jihadist Attacks, and Military Coups
The conflict is driven by three primary actors: the Malian government, the FLA, and JNIM.

May 2026 | CWA # 2082

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and Interntional Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

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.

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

Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Broken ceasefire, Expanding military strikes and Worsening humanitarian situation

March 2026 | CWA # 2035

Akshath Kaimal

Rising Violence in Nigeria
Limited State Capacity, Multiple Actors, and a Complex Security Environment

March 2026 | CWA # 2019

Akshath Kaimal

The “Forgotten” South Sudan Conflict
Instability returns, with a fragile peace agreement, uptick in violence and limited international engagement
Conflict Weekly #322, 06 March 2026

March 2026 | CWA # 2004

Akshath Kaimal

Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes
Another round of cross-border attacks
Conflict Weekly #321, 27 February 2026

February 2026 | CWA # 1996

Akshath Kaimal

Continuing militant attacks in Balochistan
Expanding violence, Security-first response and Missing political dialogue in Pakistan
Conflict Weekly #318, 06 February 2026

February 2026 | CWA # 1987

Akshath Kaimal

India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Five Major Takeaways
The focus on expanded cooperation in defence, technology and critical minerals
The World This Week #342-343, Vol 8, No 04, 08 February 2026

February 2026 | CWA # 1958

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
Pakistan: Continuing internal violence, Rise in fatalities, and State repression
Conflict Weekly #313, 31 December 2025, Vol. 6, No. 52

December 2025 | CWA # 1900

Akshath Kaimal

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
Pakistan and Afghanistan: A Disputed border, TTP attacks and heightened tensions
Conflict Weekly #313, 31 December 2025, Vol. 6, No. 52

December 2025 | CWA # 1898

Akshath Kaimal

CW Note
Thailand-Cambodia: Border disputes, blame game and a fragile ceasefire

December 2025 | CWA # 1876

Akshath Kaimal

CW Note
The UK: The new asylum reform and a shift towards more restrictive policies

November 2025 | CWA # 1850

Akshath Kaimal

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...

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...