
West Asia correspondent @SCMPNews ex-@McClatchy @TheNationalNews @CNBC @UPI. 39-year career covering South Asia and Middle East. ❤️cricket, Star Trek.
Islamabad, Pakistan
Joined January 2010
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Tom Hussain retweeted
Our Senior Non-Resident Fellow, @Dr_Ulrichsen, was quoted by @tomthehack in @SCMPNews on the implications of regional conflict and volatility for the Gulf's ambitions to become a major sports hub.
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Spoke to @tomthehack about the the likelihood of Iran's withdrawal from the NPT. Along with @Alfoneh and @barbaraslavin1
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
I spoke with South China Morning Post about how the flurry of pipeline and railway deals in #Syria show that leaders and business stakeholders are seeing the country as a serious alternative to #Hormuz. These projects, though, will take years to conduct, and the results won’t be immediate. scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Well researched piece by Tom Hussain (@tomthehack) in the South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) on the grim state of #Iran's economy following the war, featuring comments by me.
"Iran survived 3 months of war. Can it survive the aftermath?" scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Trump's first term had the Abraham Accords. Now we have the Ashura Accords!
📄🇺🇸🇱🇧🇮🇱READ HERE THE FULL TEXT: The Israel-Lebanon framework agreement brokered by the Trump administration:
TRILATERAL FRAMEWORK BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE STATE OF ISRAEL, AND THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON
The Government of Israel and the Government of Lebanon, with the full support of the United States under President Donald J. Trump, affirm their shared goal of achieving lasting peace and security. As reflected in this Trilateral Framework (“Framework”), and through future agreements, the two countries declare their ambition to end conflict between them, ensure the sovereignty and security of both countries, and establish peaceful neighborly relations between the two countries.
1. Israel and Lebanon affirm the right of each state to exist in peace, and their mutual desire to live in security as neighboring sovereign states. Israel and Lebanon hereby declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and to therewith formally conclude any state of war between them. This Framework, reached after multiple rounds of direct negotiations between the parties, builds upon previous successful agreements and understandings, and expresses a determination to make irreversible progress towards the comprehensive resolution of all issues between the two countries. Both countries affirm their intention to resolve these issues as sovereign states through direct bilateral negotiations, with the mediation and support of the United States.
2. The Government of Israel and the Government of Lebanon commit to a reciprocal, sequenced process, with clear conditions, whereby the LAF will restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure, enabling the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory. The components of this process will be detailed in a Security Annex, developed with the full support of the United States, that will complement this Framework. The Framework will set out the requisite measures, security arrangements, and verification mechanisms to advance this process. Successful implementation of this Framework will pave the way for a stable and peaceful relationship between the two countries and will enable the IDF to redeploy out of the Lebanese territory.
3. Pursuant to the Security Annex, and as part of the broader effort toward the Lebanese state’s monopoly of arms and sovereign territorial control, the LAF will gradually assume full and effective security responsibility in pilot zones, which will serve as the mechanism for phased and verified redeployments of the IDF and the deployments of the LAF. Two initial zones have been agreed to by the IDF and the LAF, and future pilot zones will also be agreed upon by mutual consent. Upon the confirmation of successful disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of their infrastructure in these zones, the LAF will assume full and effective security responsibility in these zones, internationally supported reconstruction efforts will begin, and Lebanese civilians will be able to safely return to these areas under the exclusive control of Lebanese state authorities. The United States intends to work closely with both countries to verify and support this process.
4. The Government of Lebanon reaffirms its resolute and irreversible commitment to restoring and exercising full sovereignty over all its territory. The Government of Lebanon will rebuild the State's monopoly on the use of force, achieve the complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensure that such groups will have no military or security role and no armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon. The Government of Lebanon herewith requests the support of international and particularly Arab partners, under the leadership of the United States, to achieve this outcome.
5. The Government of Israel stresses that its military actions in Lebanon are solely a consequence of the attacks, threat posed by, and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hizballah. The Government of Israel underscores that the termination of this threat, through the disarmament and dismantlement of such groups in all of Lebanon and additional security arrangements to be agreed upon between the two countries, will eliminate any future need for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon. Pursuant to the above, the Government of Israel declares that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
6. The Government of Lebanon, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and in exercise of its sovereign authority, reaffirms that its security forces hold exclusive responsibility for Lebanon’s security and defense and that the Government of Lebanon holds the exclusive sovereign authority to make war and peace. The Government of Lebanon rejects the claims of any state or non-state actor to use force on its behalf without its explicit authorization, and reiterates that any claim by any state or non-state actor to exercise a military or security role is illegal per the decisions of the Lebanese Government and contrary to Lebanese national interests.
7. The Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel affirm that nothing in this Framework prevents them from exercising their inherent right to defend themselves, as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations and consistent with applicable international law, reaffirming that no third party may exercise that right on their behalf. Both governments commit to establishing a military coordination group, with U.S. support and participation, to ensure overall implementation of this Framework.
8. The two countries affirm that they share the objective of a secure, rebuilt Lebanon, under full Lebanese state sovereignty, in which no non-state armed group poses a threat to Israel, Lebanon, or citizens of either country. Furthermore, the two countries recognize that the restoration of security in South Lebanon through the deployment of the LAF, the safe return of its civilian population, and the security of Israel’s northern communities, are essential to long-term stability and peace.
9. The Government of Lebanon commits to a rigorous, performance-based program to enable the capacity of the LAF to assert full military and security control within Lebanon in accordance with security arrangements, agreed upon within the framework of negotiations, and to implement the disarmament of all non-state armed groups and exercise effective authority across Lebanon. The Government of Lebanon welcomes the readiness of the United States to support such efforts, recognizing that any new U.S. assistance will be strictly conditioned on verifiable milestones, full transparency, demonstrated results, and ongoing oversight. This effort will enable the safe and orderly re-establishment of Lebanese sovereignty, also contributing to the broader stability and security of the entire Middle East.
10. Separately, and simultaneously, the United States will rally international partners to actively support the Government of Lebanon in rebuilding the country, repairing infrastructure, restoring the economy, and creating opportunities for prosperity. This is expected to include mobilizing substantial reconstruction and humanitarian assistance for Lebanon, economic recovery programs, and investment initiatives so that Lebanon can recover from years of conflict and provide a better future for all its citizens.
11. Lebanon and the United States commit to preventing funds from flowing to any entity, organization, or individual affiliated with non-state armed groups and to take available legal measures to proscribe the activity of any such entity, organization or individual. The Government of Lebanon explicitly commits to prevent reconstruction funds from flowing to non-state armed groups and connected entities.
12. Upon the signing of this Framework, the two countries will work to establish working groups to draft the full comprehensive peace and security agreement. Moreover, to achieve the goals of the Framework, the two governments will immediately establish complementary tracks of ongoing direct engagement, facilitated by the United States. The two governments commit to proceeding in good faith until a full and lasting peace is achieved, bringing security, stability, and prosperity to the people of Israel and Lebanon.
13. In line with their shared goals to establish stable and peaceful relations, Israel and Lebanon commit to take good faith measures that demonstrate positive intent, including the cessation of all hostile or adverse actions in international political or legal fora, and pledge to work towards the search for and return of remains and the release of detainees.
14. The two governments acknowledge the role of the United States in supporting their efforts to end decades of conflict and establish lasting stability and comprehensive peace between the two countries and express their deep appreciation for the vision and leadership of President Donald J. Trump.
Signed at Washington D.C. on the 26th of June, 2026, in three originals, in the English language.
Tom Hussain retweeted
Perhaps the war’s most consequential subplot played out not on the battlefield but in diplomatic backchannels, where the Gulf states – working through Pakistan and Qatar – managed to string together a ceasefire that the belligerents could not.
It was, Krieg argued, the opening duel of a new Middle Eastern cold war that could be chalked up as “a win for the Gulf lobby and a defeat for the Israel lobby”.
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Our Senior Fellow, @DBDesRoches, was quoted by @tomthehack in @SCMPNews on shifting Gulf attitudes toward Iran.
"Iran is seen as a 'would-be hegemon,' and it will take regime change and a generation for this perception to change."
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Quoted in @tomthehack's "Why Trump’s draft peace pact with Iran threatens Netanyahu’s Middle East plans" @SCMPNews (Hong Kong) May 25, 2026. shorturl.at/1msjq
Tom Hussain retweeted
Netanyahu increasingly isolated as Trump pursues Iran peace deal scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
“There is no evidence that any of the viable Israeli parties will differ significantly from the policies of Netanyahu’s current ruling coalition,"
as I told @tomthehack for @SCMPNews on Israel's upcoming elections
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
China confirms it helped Pakistan’s air force during last year’s war with India scmp.com/news/china/military…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Vice President JD Vance and the US delegation will land in Pakistan within hours, President Trump just told me — adding that he was willing to meet with senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough is reached. nypost.com/2026/04/20/us-new…
Tom Hussain retweeted
BREAKING: Qatar’s Ministry of Transport says maritime navigation will resume “for all types of maritime vessels and ships” from 6am-6pm local time (03:00-15:00 GMT) on Sunday.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/85uupi
Tom Hussain retweeted
I told @tomthehack that a major threat to the Gulf in the talks is US & Iran may narrow the focus & scope of the talks to their priorities in a 1st phase while postponing the issues the GCC cares about most to a later phase that might never come @CH_MENAP
scmp.com/week-asia/politics/…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Breaking news :
Pakistan and Afghanistan will resume peace talks in China tomorrow Wednesday.
According to diplomatic sources , after extensive diplomatic efforts by China, Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to begin an important first round of meeting tomorrow in the city of Urumqi, China, mediated and hosted by China.
Sources say China has invited both sides to Urumqi with sincerity and neutrality. In the first phase of the meeting, the background and progress of previous talks held in Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia will be reviewed.
Chinese officials will listen to the positions of both countries and then try to establish a mutually acceptable, verifiable mechanism to address ongoing tensions and key issues between them.
It is expected that the delegations from both countries will include officials from security, defense, and foreign affairs ministries.
China has emphasized its commitment to reducing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan and to finding a neutral and peaceful solution.
RT @Alfoneh: Quoted in @tomthehack's "Trump’s Iran gamble falters as war drags on amid concerns of long-term chaos" @SCMPNews (Hong Kong) M…
Tom Hussain retweeted
I'm looking for a PT Research Associate to work w/me here at @GulfStatesInst on Gulf politics, society, and culture.
The opening is immediate and position is in-person in Washington, DC. Arabic is important, passion for Gulf politics & society a must!
agsi.org/jobs/research-assoc…
Tom Hussain retweeted
Azerbaijan, as a founding member state, supports the goals and objectives of the Board of Peace.
In the future, Azerbaijan may consider participating in investment projects in Gaza through the Board of Peace. However, I would like to clarify one point. Azerbaijan doesn’t envisage to participate in the USD 7 billion financial initiative related to Gaza that was announced during today’s meeting of the Board of Peace.



















