The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf, except Iraq, focused on regional stability and integration.
Which strategic framework is defined by the objective of preventing the expansion of a rival power's geopolitical influence through the formation of collective security alliances?
Containment is a foundational international security doctrine designed to check the expansionist tendencies of a rival state through strategic encirclement and the establishment of mutual defense pacts.
Which geopolitical doctrine primarily advocates for regional allies to assume primary responsibility for their own conventional defense while maintaining a nuclear umbrella provided by a superpower?
The Nixon Doctrine, articulated in 1969, shifted the burden of regional security to allies, emphasizing that the United States would provide nuclear deterrence but expect regional partners to manage conventional defense requirements.
Consider the following statements about the water situation on the Chenab River as of 2026-07-24:
1. The rise in water levels is attributed to rainfall in the upper catchment areas.
2. The government has compared current water levels with historical data from 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2025.
3. The Chenab River has the capacity to generate extreme flooding independently without external rainfall.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as per the Commissioner's testimony. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Commissioner specifically noted that the river does not have the capacity to generate extreme flooding independently. [Source: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40431517/senate-panel-told-govt-unaware-of-indias-chenab-water-release, 24 Jul 2026]
305
Arrange the following reported security and diplomatic developments in their correct chronological sequence:
I. US and Saudi forces conduct retaliatory strikes against Iran-aligned militants.
II. US delegation exits UN Security Council session during French Ambassador's address.
III. Police Constable martyred in Swat's Matta Tehsil.
IV. Pakistan and Kuwait ratify the 2023 Defence Cooperation Agreement.
The order reflects the development of tactical security incidents in the local region (III), followed by the formalization of international defence agreements (IV), the escalation of regional Middle Eastern hostilities (I), and the culminating display of diplomatic friction at the United Nations (II). [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2019223/cop-martyred-4-terrorists-killed-as-operation-continues-in-swats-matta-security-sources]
306
Which of the following states holds full member status within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?
The Islamic Republic of Iran was formally admitted as a full member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2023, aligning with the organization's regional security and geopolitical framework.
Consider the following statements about the EU-Pakistan GSP+ status:
1. It was initially granted to Pakistan in 2014.
2. It allows Pakistan to enjoy duty-free or minimum duty on exports to the EU.
3. The European Parliament voted to extend the status until 2027 in October 2023.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
All three statements are factually accurate: the status was granted in 2014, it provides significant tariff concessions, and the extension until 2027 was confirmed by the European Parliament in October 2023. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2003965/eus-top-diplomat-kallas-to-visit-islamabad-on-june-1-for-strategic-dialogue, 30 May 2026]
308
Consider the following statements about the situation in the West Bank as of July 2026:
1. The United Nations has reported a sharp increase in violence attributed to Israeli settlers since October 2023.
2. The total number of settlements established under Bezalel Smotrich's four-year tenure is planned to reach 103.
3. International conventions generally view the construction of settlements in occupied territories as illegal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
All three statements are factually accurate based on the provided report. The UN has documented rising settler violence, the settlement expansion plan is linked to Smotrich's tenure, and the international legal consensus classifies these settlements as illegal. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2016519/palestinian-teen-footballer-dies-after-being-shot-during-settler-attack-in-occupied-west-bank, 18 Jul 2026]
309
Which mechanism is central to the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) role in global food security governance?
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) serves as the foremost inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all.
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is a foundational component of which international governance framework?
The TRIPS Agreement is one of the multilateral agreements on trade in goods and services that constitutes the legal framework of the World Trade Organization established by the Marrakesh Agreement.
