South Asia Journal

By Michael Kugelman on Feb 28, 2015

Three Ways on How ISIS Can Make Inroads in South Asia

Recent weeks have brought a bevy of news headlines attesting to the rising profile of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in South Asia. The group’s literature has circulated in Pakistan, and its flags have been spotted in Kashmir. Several Pakistani militant commanders expressed their allegiance to ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Alleged ISIS recruiters were arrested in Pakistani and Indian...

By Amit Bhandari on Feb 3, 2015

Flashpoints from Indo-US Nuclear Deal for Business

The India-U.S. nuclear agreement represents a $17 billion opportunity for Indian business. It will also help India secure fuel for its indigenous reactors, and contribute to cheap and plentiful energy. But a major concern remains—will these projects be efficiently executed? With the U.S.-India nuclear agreement clearing two major hurdles on 25 January—civil nuclear liability and administrative...

By Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre on Jan 27, 2015

Bangladesh: Comprehensive Response Required to Complex Displacement Crisis

Executive summary During the 20th century, millions of people were forced to flee their homes in what is now Bangladesh. They were displaced both within the territory and to neighbouring areas by different triggers. As of January 2015, IDMC estimates that at least 431,000 people were displaced in the country as a result of conflict and violence. Information on their number and situation is limited,...

By Atul Singh and Russell Stamets on Jan 25, 2015

What Obama Wants From India

After George W. Bush, Barack Obama becomes the second US president to bet big on India. He may be the first who won’t be disappointed. Presidents of the United States do not generally change the date of their State of the Unionaddress. This year, US President Barack Obama did so because he will be the chief guest atIndia’s Republic Day celebrations. This is the first time a US president will be...

By Michael Kugelman on Jan 24, 2015

Optimistic, But also Realistic about U.S.-India Relations

It pays to be optimistic about U.S.-India relations, but also realistic. One year ago, the Devyani Khobragade affair plunged the U.S.-India relationship into deep crisis. Then, several months later, Indians elected a new national leader who had effectively been banned from visiting the United States in years past. Given these troubles, the progress in bilateral relations made in recent months has been...

By Ram Puniyani on Jan 16, 2015

Religion, Politics and Violence: Paris, Across the World to South Asia

Massacre of hundreds of children in Peshawar by Pakistani Taliban, the atrocities: murders-kidnappings by Boko Haram, an Islamist group and the attack on Paris cartoon magazine Charlie Hadbo killing 16, have occurred in a short span of few months. The popular perception of relationship between violence and Islam got a further boost. The phrase ‘Islamic Terrorism’, which was created by US media in the...

By Nilantha Ilangamuwa on Jan 12, 2015

Sri Lanka: Will Rajapaksa Return?

It was hopped that the Madamulana Reich had fallen and that a new leader had come to power as I predicted moment after the announcement was made by a then minister, now the President, of his willingness to be the Common Candidate. Defeating the Rajapaksa administration, or Madamulana ‘Reich’ was the result of collective responsibility. There was a time where only few people had the courage to talk...

By Utkarsh Agarwal on Jan 11, 2015

India’s Journey of Emissions Reduction in 2015

The Policy Outlook Indian policymakers have long used India’s poverty as an excuse to not take concrete action on climate change. Limiting carbon emissions is a costly proposition, they argue, and these costs will impede development and push the common man further into poverty. As a result, unlike the developed countries of the west, India cannot afford such adventurism. However any economist worth his...