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CSS International Relations Paper II Past Paper 2026

CSS International Relations Paper II 2026 carries 100 marks over 3 hours. It has 7 questions.

Marks
100
Time
3 hours
Questions
7

Years

How to attempt: Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.

Questions

Question 1 (Part I) is the paper's MCQs, which are not reproduced here.

  1. Q. 2
    Assess the implications of the revival of multipolarity for medium and small powers. How have states such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Pakistan leveraged the shifting structure of global power to pursue strategic autonomy or hedging strategies?
    (20)
  2. Q. 3
    How did Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos illustrate shifts in conventional military posture and nuclear deterrence dynamics between India and Pakistan? Critically evaluate the strategic, operational, and diplomatic success of Pakistan during the May 2025 Four-Day War with reference to escalation control, signaling, and crisis-stability mechanisms.
    (20)
  3. Q. 4
    China currently controls the overwhelming majority of global rare earth mining and processing capacity. Analyze how this near-monopoly shapes the strategic, technological, and defense vulnerabilities of the United States and Europe. Support your discussion with relevant examples of rare earth elements and their critical applications.
    (20)
  4. Q. 5
    Critically evaluate the effectiveness of international counter-terrorism frameworks, focusing on UN Security Council resolutions and FATF measures. Assess their impact in disrupting terrorist networks, citing specific examples of successes and challenges.
    (20)
  5. Q. 6
    Critically analyze the United Nations reform proposals put forward by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, specifically focusing on Model A and Model B for Security Council restructuring. Discuss the key features, differences, and potential implications of each model for the effectiveness, legitimacy, and representativeness of the UN Security Council. In your answer, consider both the challenges and opportunities these reforms might present for global governance.
    (20)
  6. Q. 7
    Provide the key provisions of the 2020 Doha Agreement and critically analyze the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Evaluate whether the Doha framework functioned as a peace settlement, an exit strategy, or a negotiated surrender. Support your discussion with reference to power asymmetries, Afghan state capacity, and regional geopolitical calculations.
    (20)
  7. Q. 8
    How is a trade war defined in contemporary international relations? Assess the economic and strategic consequences of the US-China trade war. Analyze how it has affected global trade flows, investment patterns, and technology transfer. Support your answer with relevant examples and evidence.
    (20)
  1. Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
  2. Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.
  3. All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
  4. Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q.Paper.
  5. No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
  6. Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.