About IRS
The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) is an independent, non-profit research centre devoted to the study of the region around Pakistan: South Asia, Southwest Asia (Iran, Afghanistan and the Gulf), China, Central Asia as well as the Indian Ocean region. It also studies and analyses policies of major power centers towards South Asia. The Institute was set up in March 1982. It is considered one of Pakistan's leading think tanks. The Institute covers a wide spectrum of research in foreign and internal affairs, economy and industry, science and technology.
Read More
Recent Events
Round Table DiscussionA roundtable discussion on ‘Pakistan-India Relations’, chaired by Dr. Rukhsana Qamber, President IRS, was held at IRS on June 1, 2018. The roundtable featured a power point presentation prepared by Mr. Aarish U. Khan, Editor, into which other IRS scholars had also provided input. The presentation highlighted salient aspects of Pak-India relations including recent developments in Indian foreign relations, situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, latest developments in Pak-India relations, chances of resumption of bilateral peace process, and the upcoming 2019 general elections in India.
Read More
ARCHITECTURE OF CYBERSPACE AS AN EVOLVING SECURITY PARADIGM IN SOUTH ASIA: PAKISTAN-INDIA CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY
MUHAMMAD BAQIR MALIKThis paper aims to develop a preliminary hypothesis for the South Asian region to identify the relationship between technology and national security. The paper studies the evolving trends of technology that have changed the security paradigm. To manage the security risk in a complex and dynamic digital environment, a new set of strategy and thinking is needed both in Pakistan and India to complement the traditional security approaches. Cybernetics realism is the proposed theoretical model for national security in South Asia in the age of cyber technology. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the theoretical framework of this evolving security paradigm, which examines the working mechanism of cybernetics realism in South Asia as a strategic power ..
Read More
PAK-RUSSIA RELATIONS: A RESET IN THE MAKING?
SARFRAZ KHAN & NOOR-UL-AMINAlthough Pakistan and the Russian Federation did not directly have antagonistic relations, they were unable to develop mutually beneficial political, economic, and trade links ever since diplomatic ties were established. Despite an unenviable past marred by lost opportunities and misplaced and unrealistic expectations, there exists a vast potential in the development of Pak-Russia bilateral cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, trade, energy, science, technology, mining, curbing drug trafficking, extremism, and terrorism ..
Read More
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS UNDER CPEC: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
MEHMOOD HUSSAIN & SUMARA MEHMOODChina introduced the policy of ‘go global’ (Zou Chuqu), in the 1990s to explore the overseas markets for building global brands. The strategic purpose for the establishment of industrial and trade zones abroad was to increase demand for Chinese manufactured machinery, boost export-oriented growth, restructure domestic value chain, and work overseas in joint ventures and transfer of the successful Chinese Special Economic Zones (SEZs) model. In 2006, the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) unveiled its intentions to build more than fifty SEZs across the globe. Consequently, by 2010 more than 200 Chinese companies invested $700 million in the development of 16 SEZs and generated $2.5 billion dollars in revenue ..
Read More
INDO-US RELATIONS UNDER MODI: FROM CONVERGENCE OF INTERESTS TO EMBRACE
MARYAM MASTOORThis paper aims to highlight a promising change in the relationship between the US and India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He appears to be a harbinger of change for Indian foreign policy which was restrained and hesitant in the past. India and the US came closer due to a variety of factors. The mutual economic benefits are playing an important role in keeping the coalition ..
Read More
A fortnightly publication comprising selected clippings from the regional newspapers and periodicals, arranged subject-wise under five main heads.
Regional Studies is quarterly journal published by the Institute of Regional Studies. It is also Higher Education Commission . .
SOUTH ASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA: BUILDING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL LINKAGES
GLOBAL TERRORISM: GENESIS, IMPLICATIONS, REMEDIAL & COUNTERMEASURES
AFGHANISTAN: UNABATED TURMOIL
