Stories by Sikander Ahmed Shah

The Houthi blockade

The conventional legal position is that naval blockade is a belligerent right associated with international armed conflict (IAC).

Updated 27 Sep, 2026 08:17am

The Middle East’s Nato?

The new trilateral security agreement raises questions about its costs for Pakistan.

Updated 15 Aug, 2026 08:44am

Charging for Hormuz

Iran’s newly formalised Persian Gulf Strait Authority requires vessels to obtain transit authorisation, submit cargo details and pay fees before entering the Strait of Hormuz.

Updated 27 Jul, 2026 08:18am

International law & Indus wars

India’s interference in the flow of the Chenab constitutes an internationally wrongful act.

Updated 17 May, 2025 05:40pm

Politics of self-defence

Iran’s retaliatory strikes were an attempt to not appear weak in the eyes of the Iranian polity.

Published 20 Apr, 2024 06:10am

Binding Israel

It is not the ‘silver bullet’ Palestine and its supporters are hoping for.

Updated 29 Mar, 2024 09:27am

WHAT DOES THE ICJ RULING ON GAZA MEAN?

Israel is ordered to “take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of [the Genocide] Convention.”

Updated 11 Feb, 2024 10:53am

Hazardous childhoods

A significant proportion of Pakistani children are engaged in some form of domestic labour.

Published 22 Jul, 2023 07:33am

International blame game

Who is to blame for this senseless loss of life at sea?

Updated 25 Jun, 2023 09:27am

Military courts

Military courts are meant to dispense justice for crimes committed during an armed conflict, whether an IAC or a NIAC.

Updated 01 Jun, 2023 09:16am

Enforced disappearances

Gradual expansion of the security apparatus has contributed to an atmosphere of impunity.

Published 26 Feb, 2023 07:27am

Citizen refugees

Pakistan must develop a system to distinguish between the various kinds of migrants and assimilate them.

Updated 24 Dec, 2022 08:55am

Trade with Iran

While the threat of international sanctions remains a key concern for Pakistan, it doesn't preclude Pak-Iran economic cooperation.

Updated 01 Jul, 2022 09:13am

Trade with Russia

None of Pakistan’s international law obligations preclude the country from purchasing essentials from Russia.

Updated 17 Jun, 2022 08:38am

Non-intervention & the law

Western powers have developed novel ways to justify intervention and bring about regime change.

Updated 06 Apr, 2022 08:33pm

Joining forces

Public-private cooperation on the vaccine can address many issues.

Published 15 Feb, 2021 07:00am

Sponsoring terrorism

The dossier’s contents are a damning indictment of India’s role.

Published 18 Nov, 2020 07:43am

Refugees’ rights

Pakistan cannot afford to neglect its refugee population.

Published 19 Apr, 2020 06:17am

Between two fires

There are serious questions regarding India’s naval incursion.

Published 10 Mar, 2019 06:54am

The battle of narratives

Even while suppressing Kashmiris, India has projected their struggle as an ‘extremist’ phenomenon.

Published 23 Feb, 2019 07:14am