International Journal of Policy Studies

PAK-AFGHAN WATER COOPERATION IN KABUL RIVER BASIN: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS IN TALIBAN 2.0

2025-06-30T22:19:37+00:00

This qualitative research examines the prospects of Pak-Afghan cooperation in the Kabul River Basin under Taliban 2.0. Water is a renewable but finite resource. Pakistan, on average, gets 106 MAF of water yearly, most of which comes from the upper riparian states through the Transboundary Rivers of the Indus Basin. The Kabul River supplies 18 MAF (roughly 17% of the water requirements of Pakistan), which is contested between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan, a nation of over 220 million people, is facing an acute water shortage. To make matters worse, it is witnessing exponential population growth and is also one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, facing frequent cycles of droughts and floods. Per-capita water availability has gone below 1000 M³, making the nation water-starved. If this was not enough, in the Republican era (2001-2021), the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, with Indian support, started developing Afghan water resources, thus potentially squeezing water flow into Pakistan and setting off the alarm bells in Islamabad. The 15^th of August, 2021, heralded the start of Taliban 2.0. The International Community did not accept the new regime, India left behind all its stakes in Afghanistan, providing Pakistan with an opportunity to deal afresh with the de facto Taliban government. Taliban have been scrupulously obdurate in their puerile definition of Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially when it comes to water. They believe in the primitive concept of Transboundary Rivers, wherein water is a zero-sum game and the upper riparian claims it in its entirety. The idiosyncrasies and dynamics of the Taliban regime are unconventional, and therefore, uncertainty surrounds their actions. To explore the possibility of Pak-Afghan cooperation on shared water resources during Taliban 2.0, a number of interviews were conducted, various articles from peer-reviewed journals were reviewed, and data from official sources were compiled. The study also looked into various options under the International Water Law and briefly compared the Kabul River Basin with the best internal practices. In the end, some tailor-made options creating a win-win situation for the two sides against the historically envisaged zero-sum game are suggested.

GENDER IDENTITY AND HEGEMONIC STRUCTURES IN PAKISTAN

2025-07-02T15:05:30+00:00

Gender identity is an expression of one’s self articulated on a spectrum of expressions and behaviours, which gets translated into opinions and expectations that a society at large has regarding groups of people. It is a major factor that serves as a basis of perception that is formed by a group within itself, and by others who try to relate to them through the lens of their own set of values. Gender based violence and discrimination often get overlooked in Pakistan. Having less priority in the face of other political and economic issues. The purpose of this report is to look into the different reasons that are at play in the perception of gender identity in Pakistan. To consider the political structure of Pakistan and try to observe if the system has the political capacity to implement gender based laws. The approach adopted in this regard is mainly analytical, based on the review of literature, other research articles and news. Rather than explicitly mentioning the infinitesimal occurrence of gender based violence, this work tries to conceptually analyze the formation of perception regarding gender performativity and identity. Looking into idealized social norms and their relevance in influencing society and politics.

Role of Social Media in Promoting Welfare Activities Analyzing JDC Foundation’s (Pakistan) Digital Engagement and Public Perception

2025-06-30T13:08:24+00:00

The study investigates how social media affects promotional methods and public relations at the JDC Foundation Pakistan which operates through welfare activities. The study explores how the foundation implements social media platforms to advance welfare initiatives via promotion and awareness building and positive image creation while examining social media reception from the public perspective. A structured survey went to users from various social media backgrounds who engage with JDC foundation Pakistan content on their platforms. The foundation’s survey asked participants for information about their opinions about social media content and the way these communications shaped their views regarding the foundation. Most survey participants recognized that the JDC Foundation Pakistan successfully connects with people through social media because its content presents clear messages and emotional and visual appeal. Public confidence grew because the foundation remained clear about its communication messaging structure. Yet the study points out that the organization should produce engaging interactive content for audiences to enhance their commitment levels. This research expands the understanding of how nonprofit organizations should use social media to maximize their outreach capabilities and implement public image improvements. Through this research, the JDC Foundation Pakistan and other organizations in the same field can improve their digital communication strategies by using the research findings to drive greater involvement and philanthropic outcomes.

EVOLUTION OF ISRAELI WARFARE TACTICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

2025-07-10T19:34:30+00:00

The State of Israel has historically experimented with a vast range of military tactics to strengthen its position in the Middle East. This study highlights the relationship between military innovation, geopolitical changes, and strategic recalibrations as it critically analyses the development of Israeli warfare tactics in the Middle East from the state's establishment to the present. This study, which is based on the Defensive Realism theoretical framework, shows how Israel's early conventional warfare—which was intended to help the country survive in the face of hostile neighbours—gradually gave way to asymmetric and hybrid tactics meant to preserve regional supremacy. The paper examines how Israel has responded to changing threats from both state and non-state actors by thoroughly examining significant military operations and technological advancements, such as targeted assassinations, cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence (AI) in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and the incorporation of unmanned aerial systems. From the fundamentals of Israeli deterrence and the "security dilemma" to the tactical change towards precision attacks and preemptive operations against organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, the debates take place throughout five subject areas. Particular focus is placed on how Israeli warfare has changed in the twenty-first century thanks to ISR systems, AI-powered decision-making, and cyber operations—tools that have had a big impact on battlefield results in Gaza, Lebanon, and other places. The ethical, legal, and strategic ramifications of these approaches are also examined in the article, especially in light of current humanitarian situations and changing global attitudes.

AMERICAN POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PARIS AGREEMENT

2025-07-17T17:05:45+00:00

This article provides a comparative analysis of the U.S policy on climate change and the Paris Agreement during the administrations of Obama and Trump. The Obama administration (2009-2017) focused on climate change and took important legislative initiatives. On the other hand, there were many hurdles in implementing policies on climate change. The Trump administration (2017-2021) didn’t focus on climate change policy. After pulling out from the Paris Agreement, it supported the fossil fuel sector, which caused stress on diplomatic interactions and concerns about climate change progress. The Obama administration received extensive attention from the media, which portrayed climate change as an important environmental issue, appreciating his policies. However, Trump's propaganda campaigns declined climate change concerns and prioritized energy dominance, dividing public opinion and suppressing confrontation. The Trump administration's skeptical approach and decision to pull out from the Paris Accord jeopardized international cooperation and progress toward global climate goals. Here, the study has raised the question of what ways the approaches and commitments to climate change under the Obama and Trump administrations were different, and what key factors drove these differences? Reviewing the existing literature, the stud has hypothesized that the Obama administration's resolve to address climate change policy enhanced technology transfers, and harmonization of environmental policy with global cooperation, while Trump administration's strategy blocked harmonization of environmental policy and advancements, which escalated climate-related geopolitical conflicts in the real world as this policy was based on the prioritization of national interests. To examine these aspects, the study had adopted a descriptive and analytical approach, as climate change is not merely an ecological issue but a big challenge to the worldwide community that requires necessary collaboration and innovative solutions to a more sustainable future.

AFGHANISTAN AND THE U.S.-CHINA RIVALRY: 2021-2024

2025-07-21T16:41:41+00:00

This paper is an attempt to understand where Afghanistan stands in the United States-China rivalry after 2021, when the Taliban came to power. It is well understood that both China and the United States have been engaged in “competition” since at least the last decade. The Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021, and they have not yet decided in clear terms where they stand in the rivalry between the two major powers. This paper focuses around the question of their “position” between China and the United States. The study properly investigates and examines the statements of the Taliban’s foreign ministry and the spokesperson about the United States and China. The geographic location of Afghanistan has always attracted great powers’ competition in the region. Today, as the world is faced with another great power's struggle for domination, it is important to understand where the Afghan government stands. This study argues that the initial stance of each of these states decided the future journey with the Taliban. The United States has been pursuing a policy to keep the Taliban in control over the two main leverages, the economy and recognition. Their policy has been all about keeping them engaged, yet not doing what the Taliban need. China, in initial times, responded in a more receptive manner and remains the only major state to actively engage the Taliban and help them in the economy and diplomatic outreach. The Taliban, though, takes a neutral stance. They continuously talk about their “legitimate” relations with all. They want and pursue the policy to remain as neutral as possible if Afghanistan want to become prey to another, “New Cold War”.

REVISITING THE HR PRACTICES IN SECURITY GUARD AGENCIES IN PAKISTAN

2025-10-03T18:47:33+00:00

Security has always been a problem for the less developed countries of the world. Poverty, unemployment, and political instability give rise to criminal activities, hence the need for security guard agencies. Pakistan is also among those countries having severe law and order situations, especially in Karachi (Rao,2023; Rehman et al., 2022). There is a dire need for security guards everywhere. (Khan, 2025). However, those entrusted with the security should be selected very carefully, else they become a security threat themselves. Human Resources plays a pivotal role in the success of organizations; therefore, its management is of crucial importance. The HRM department is not only responsible for providing human resources to the organization, but also for ensuring the right person for the job. Its functions include strategy related to recruitment, selection, compensation and benefits, training and development, performance appraisal, etc. The purpose of every strategy is to ensure achievement of above-mentioned objective and provision of right candidate that contributes to the growth of organization. Failure to do so may lead to disaster for the organization (Hamza et.al 2021) (Gupta & Shaw 2014). In Pakistan, multiple cases have been reported in the last decade where the security guards were involved in the crimes, indicating several loopholes in the HR practices of their respective agencies. The paper aims to identify the right HR practices required for the security guard agencies that ensure the provision of safety to the customers without compromising it, following the qualitative review analysis.