Other Writing

A strategic analysis of how the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran has evolved into a Gulf-wide crisis, exposing GCC states to direct risk and reshaping regional and global dynamics.

An analytical exploration of Iran’s asymmetric military doctrine and the rise of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, examining how decentralised “mosaic defence” and proxy networks have enabled Tehran to offset conventional military disadvantages and sustain long-term conflict strategies.

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https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/the-irgc-doctrine-how-iran-built-a-war-machine-without-a-conventional-army/#google_vignette

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In this article published in Daily Excelsior, B. S. Dara analyzes the geopolitical significance of the Strait of Hormuz and explains why Iran’s geographic position gives it strategic leverage over global energy flows. With about 20% of the world’s oil supply moving through this narrow corridor, any escalation in the Gulf can quickly ripple through global markets and international politics.

You can read the full article “Iran’s Real Leverage in the Strait of Hormuz,” published in Daily...

Daily Excelsior | Foreign Affairs Analysis

This column examines the escalating confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, and its implications for Gulf stability, the Strait of Hormuz, and global energy security. The analysis highlights how a localized military escalation risks evolving into a broader regional crisis affecting global markets and maritime security.

Read the article:

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/the-gulf-in-the-crossfire/

Daily Excelsior | Foreign Affairs Analysis

“The Economic Limits of Pakistan’s Arms Trade,” published in the Daily Excelsior, analyzes Pakistan’s emerging defence export strategy and explains why weapons sales alone cannot resolve the country’s deeper structural economic challenges.

Read the article:

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/the-economic-limits-of-pakistans-arms-trade/

Daily Excelsior | Geopolitical Commentary by B. S. Dara

This column examines how India’s long-standing doctrine of strategic autonomy is evolving under mounting global pressures from the United States, China, Russia, and regional instability in South Asia. It argues that autonomy is no longer an ideological posture but a practical necessity as India balances energy security, defence partnerships, regional diplomacy, and domestic priorities in an increasingly transactional world order.

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Daily Excelsior | Global Affairs Commentary by B. S. Dara

This column examines the geopolitical precedent created by the United States’ unilateral intervention in Venezuela and the detention of a sitting head of state. It analyzes how such actions may reshape global norms around sovereignty, international law, and power politics, potentially encouraging rival powers to challenge the rules-based international order.

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A comparative reflection on leadership cultures shaped by professional experience in European multinationals and Indian corporate environments. The piece contrasts management styles rooted in structure and accountability with those driven by hierarchy and pressure, arguing that leadership behaviour is learned, replicated, and ultimately determines organisational health.

An analysis of how a brief India–Pakistan military confrontation produced disproportionate diplomatic and defence-market outcomes. The article examines how narrative control, perception management, and geopolitical timing allowed Pakistan to extract strategic value despite unresolved economic and political fragility.

A historical and strategic reflection on India’s enduring effort to balance relations between Russia and the United States. The piece traces how trust, memory, and reliability have shaped India’s long-term partnerships, arguing that restraint and balance—rather than alignment—remain central to India’s foreign policy resilience.

An in-depth examination of Bangladesh’s political crisis following the conviction of Sheikh Hasina and its implications for India’s regional diplomacy. The article explores legal, humanitarian, and strategic considerations facing New Delhi as it navigates extradition demands, historical responsibility, and South Asian stability.

A measured assessment of India’s evolving relationship with Israel amid intensifying conflict in West Asia. The piece explains how defence cooperation, technology exchange, and strategic necessity drive New Delhi’s engagement, even as it seeks to preserve balance with Arab partners and uphold humanitarian concerns.

A regional survey of South Asia’s shifting political and security landscape, from Pakistan’s internal instability to Afghanistan’s isolation and China’s expanding influence. The article argues that India’s role as a stabilising power depends on sustained diplomacy, regional engagement, and strategic patience rather than episodic intervention.

A sharp geopolitical analysis examining why Pakistan, despite deep economic weakness and political instability, continues to pose a serious security challenge to India. Tracing the divergent trajectories of India and Pakistan since 1947, this column explores how military dominance, state-sponsored terrorism, and external backing—particularly from China—have allowed a fragile state to remain strategically disruptive. The piece argues that Pakistan’s threat lies not in conventional power but in...

Letters from the Periphery

By: B. S. DARA

In the grey haze of May 2025, war broke out first in ticker tapes and touchscreen war rooms, then not in trenches. India rolled out Operation Sindoor and Pakistan countered with Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos. But what followed wasn’t war in the classical sense, it was theatre. Four days of aerial muscle-flexing, scattered missiles, and scrambled jets spiralled into something far more surreal: a high-definition shadow play where AI-generated dogfights...

Letters from the Periphery

By: B. S. DARA

Imran Khan’s journey from cricket legend to jailed former prime minister reflects the chronic failures of the Pakistani state. It is the story of a state that has never learned to separate power from the military, truth from propaganda, and democracy from managed elections. It is the story of Pakistan.

Letters from the Periphery

By: B. S. DARA

Following the partition of British India in August 1947, two independent nations, India and Pakistan, emerged. Despite their shared historical, cultural, and geographical origins, the paths of these countries have significantly diverged over the past 77 years. This critical analysis evaluates the progress of India and Pakistan since their independence, examining the factors behind India’s relative prosperity and Pakistan’s challenges across various...

Letters from the Periphery

By: B. S. DARA

By: B S DARA

In times of conflict, truth becomes not just a moral necessity but a national obligation. As India witnessed the developments around Military Operation Sindoor, our nation stood at the cusp of a moment that demanded unity, discretion, and deep resolve. Yet, what unfolded on our television screens, YouTube feeds, and social media timelines was not just irresponsible, it was dangerously incendiary. The Indian media, a section of YouTubers, and scores of anonymous social media...

By: B. S. DARA

Why the Israel–Iran Conflict Has Become a Nuclear Time Bomb

The morning of August 6, 1945, began like any other, sunlit, serene, suspended in the hum of post-war fatigue. In Hiroshima, children laughed in schoolyards, bicycles clicked along narrow streets, and homemakers folded their morning linens. Then, at exactly 8:15 AM, the sky split. A single bomb, named Little Boy, detonated above the city. In 43 seconds, Hiroshima ceased to be a place and became a warning etched in...