Center for International Strategic Studies

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 | 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲: 𝐀 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

- Iran’s Grand Strategy written by Professor Vali Nasr advances an important argument that Iranian foreign policy behaviour is driven by strategic calculation rooted in historical experience rather than by the ideological imperatives of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He challenges the dominant Western analytical framework, which has consistently attributed Iranian decision-making to theological motivation and revolutionary ideology.

- Nasr contends that this framework has not merely been inadequate, it has actively produced misreadings of Iranian intent that have shaped policy outcomes across multiple US administrations. The book is an attempt to replace that framework with one grounded in observable behaviour, historical record, and strategic logic. The 2026 Iran-US/Israel war, still unfolding as this review is written, provides an important test of Nasr’s analytical framework.

𝐁𝐲: Syed Ali Abbas

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: https://ciss.org.pk/irans-grand-strategy-a-political-history-book-review/
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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟| 𝐗| 𝐢𝐧| 📸| 📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 | 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐦-𝐞-𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐫 — 𝟐𝟖 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟖

On this day in 1998, Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests at Chagai, a decision that fundamentally altered the strategic balance in South Asia and established Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state with a credible deterrence posture.

Youm-e-Takbeer stands as a reminder that Pakistan's nuclear capability is a guarantor of national sovereignty and regional stability.
Twenty-seven years on, Pakistan's commitment to credible deterrence, strategic restraint, and responsible nuclear stewardship remains firm, as reaffirmed most recently through the conduct and outcomes of Operation Marka-e-Haq.

CISS commemorates Youm-e-Takbeer with renewed resolve to contribute to the intellectual and policy discourse that safeguards Pakistan's strategic interests and advances the cause of peace and stability in South Asia.
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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟 | 𝐗 | 𝐢𝐧 | 📸| 📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐄𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐥-𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🌙

The Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) extends warm wishes to all on the blessed occasion of Eid ul-Adha. May this day of devotion, sacrifice, and gratitude bring peace, prosperity, and countless blessings to you, your families, and to humanity at large.
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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟 | 𝐗 | 𝐢𝐧 | 📸| 📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 | 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad, is pleased to announce its Summer Internship Program 2026 — an opportunity for motivated students to gain hands-on experience at one of Pakistan's leading strategic affairs think tanks.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫
The program offers exposure to high-level policy research, mentorship from seasoned experts and scholars, participation in seminars and roundtables, and direct insight into nuclear policy, strategic studies, and regional security dynamics.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲
Graduate students and undergraduate students from 5th semester onwards in:
🌍 International Relations
🛡️ Defence & Strategic Studies
🔐 Security Studies
📚 Related Fields

📍 Location: Islamabad
📅 Application Deadline: 04 June 2026

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://forms.gle/76m95jCA5k5XHJMe7


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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟 | 𝐗 | 𝐢𝐧 | 📸| 📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚–𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

India’s submarine agreement with Germany reflects the widening gap between ambitions for defence self-reliance and the technological realities of advanced undersea warfare.

While New Delhi continues to pursue Atmanirbharta and long-term naval indigenisation, persistent delays in indigenous AIP development, aging submarine fleets, and operational urgency have reinforced dependence on foreign technology partnerships.

The Project-75I program highlights how strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating maritime modernisation, particularly in stealth, endurance, and sea-denial capabilities.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:

💠 India’s naval indigenisation ambitions
💠 The TKMS submarine partnership
💠 Limits of indigenous capability development
💠 Strategic implications in the Indian Ocean
💠 The broader tension between self-reliance and external dependence

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://ciss.org.pk/the-limits-of-indigenisation-behind-india-germany-submarines-deal/


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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟 | 𝐗 | 𝐢𝐧 | 📸|📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 | 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚-𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲

Pakistan Navy’s recent missile tests and capability developments indicate a gradual shift toward a layered sea-denial posture in the northern Arabian Sea.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬:

💠 Taimoor ALCM
💠 P282 SMASH ASBM
💠 LY-80(N) air defense system
💠 Loitering munitions
💠 USVs

Reflect an evolving Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) architecture focused on deterrence by denial rather than numerical parity.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫:

- Increase operational costs for adversary naval forces, complicate blockade scenarios, and strengthen maritime deterrence through long-range precision strike and survivable defensive layers.

- Pakistan’s maritime strategy increasingly emphasizes technological offset, indigenous capability development, and operational flexibility in response to changing regional naval dynamics.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://ciss.org.pk/pakistans-move-towards-a-sea-denial-strategy/


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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟| 𝐗| 𝐢𝐧| 📸| 📱

𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 | 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚–𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

This partnership reflects the growing convergence of science, strategy, and innovation, positioning Pakistan within the emerging global space ecosystem.


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🔗 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐩𝐤
🏛 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬
📘𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐒: 𝐟| 𝐗| 𝐢𝐧| 📸| 📱