Afghanistan has long held a pivotal place in regional geopolitics, its strategic location making it a prize and a battleground for competing powers. From the 19th-century “Great Game” between Britain and Russia to the Cold War proxy wars of the 20th century, external influence has continuously shaped its trajectory. Following independence in 1919, successive governments sought to modernise while balancing tribal, religious, and regional interests. Yet instability persisted, deepened by ideological divides and foreign interventions. The 1970s marked a turning point, from ending King Zahir Shah’s monarchy in 1973, to the Soviet invasion in 1979. What followed was a decade-long conflict that drew in the United States, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, leaving the country fractured after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. In this first part of our three-part series on Afghanistan, we trace the country’s transformation from a buffer state to a theatre of global rivalries, and examine how decades of intervention and internal division have shaped the nation it is today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran today stands at a crossroads, acting as both a stabilising and destabilising force in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Its influence extends through a network of allies and proxies, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, while its diplomatic and strategic moves continue to draw global attention. In this second part of our two-part series on Iran, we examine the country’s foreign relations and regional strategy. We look at Tehran’s rapprochement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, its growing partnerships with China and Russia, and the ongoing tensions with the United States following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. We also explore how India navigates its ties with Iran, balancing economic engagement with broader regional considerations. This episode unpacks how Tehran’s alliances, rivalries, and strategic calculations shape West Asia and beyond, asking critical questions about the sustainability of its partnerships and the long-term implications for regional and global stability. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Video: Shivaraj S Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran has been a key force in East Asian politics for decades, influencing regional conflicts, global diplomacy, and international security. From the 1953 coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh to the transformative 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s history has shaped a political system that blends elected institutions with the authority of a Supreme Leader. In this first part of our two-part series on Iran, we explore the country’s regional ambitions, its backing of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and the long-standing pursuit of a nuclear program that has triggered international sanctions and scrutiny. We also delve into the Iran-Saudi rivalry, often seen as sectarian, but deeply rooted in geopolitical strategy and power dynamics. This episode unpacks how Iran’s history, politics, and regional strategies continue to influence East Asia and keep the country at the center of global attention. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Video: Shivaraj S Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first two episodes of this three-part series, we traced the roots of the Israel–Palestine question - from the legacies of colonialism and partition in 1948 to the cycles of displacement, violence, and negotiations that followed. In this third and final episode, we shift the lens to the present, asking how the rest of the world is responding to a crisis that refuses to fade.  While the United States continues to offer unwavering support to Israel, parts of Europe have moved towards recognizing Palestinian as a state. India has attempted to walk a fine line, balancing its historic solidarity with Palestine and its growing strategic ties with Israel.   Through these faultlines, one theme emerges clearly: the Israel–Palestine question is no longer confined to the region. It has become a test of international order, reshaping diplomacy, alliances, and public opinion across the world.  Expert: Stanly Johny  Video: Shivaraj S  Research and production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the previous episode, we revisited the history of the Israel Palestine conflict, until the creation of Israel in 1948. However, 1948 was not the end, but the beginning of a turbulent new chapter in the region. In the decades that followed, the region was repeatedly reshaped by wars, occupations, and resistance. Borders shifted, cities changed hands, and generations came of age knowing little beyond conflict.  In this episode, we examine the major wars that followed 1948, asking difficult but necessary questions: What triggered them? What was each side trying to protect — or to gain? And why did every ceasefire feel less like a resolution, and more like an interlude in a continuing struggle?    Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian and Shivaraj S  Camera: Shivaraj S 

Why does the Israel–Palestine conflict remain one of the most intractable crises of our time? To understand today’s headlines, we need to go back to where it all began. In the launch episode of Global Faultlines, we trace the roots of the conflict up to the creation of Israel in 1948. The discussion unpacks the competing nationalisms, religious significance of the land, colonial interventions, and the promises made — and broken — along the way. This historical lens reveals why the choices made decades ago continue to cast a long shadow over the present. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Anchor: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Shivaraj S, Johan Sathya Das Jai Produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian and Shivaraj S