The Shia–Sunni divide: From succession dispute to geopolitical reality

Centuries passed, empires rose and fell, but the divide endured, evolving when political powers began aligning themselves along sectarian lines.

Krishna Balaji Pallapothu•Apr 6, 2026 09:28 AM• 4 views

People gather as rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, in the Jnah area in Beirut, Lebanon, April 5, 2026.

Credit: REUTERS/Stringer

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Krishna Balaji Pallapothu

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Krishna Balaji Pallapothu is a former Deputy General Manager of State Bank of India, with over three years of experience in Iran as Chief Representative overseeing Central Asia operations from Tehran. He currently practices as an Insolvency Professional in Hyderabad and writes on geopolitics and economic policy.

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