Covering Policy Issues from South Asia
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Chinese and Indian Investment in South and Central Asia is Good for Washington0
- Commentary
- April 24, 2015
The United States is increasingly on the outside looking in as China — and India — invest across South and Central Asia. And that’s a good thing for Washington. On April 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping received a hero’s welcome in Islamabad. It’s easy to understand why. He was in town to announce a bonanza
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Pascal’s wager in real time0
- Commentary
- April 12, 2015
The gamble in the Middle East and the gamble in Bangladesh Readers will understand that I am exercising heroic self-restraint by limiting my remarks on the recently-completed Nuclear Framework Agreement to two paragraphs. It is, to quote London’s Financial Times (FT) a “singular” achievement, and in my view another possible inflection point in the modern
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What Iran Nuclear Deal Means for India1
- Commentary
- April 7, 2015
Lausanne witnessed a historic moment on April 2, when Iran and the P5 + 1 (United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany) announced the interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme. The agreement is currently in progress and the final deal is scheduled to be signed on June 30 (fingers crossed). If the agreement
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Delicate Modernization in the Last Shangri-La0
- Commentary
- April 6, 2015
Bhutan is widely romanticized as the last Shangri-La meaning the “hidden paradise”. It would not be an exaggeration to state that this Shangri-la is a country known for its traditions, culture and identity. The importance of its traditions can be felt from the words of Harald Nestroy that the “early history of Bhutan is not
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Playing with Peace in Myanmar0
- Commentary
- April 2, 2015
International aid and “statebuilding” exercises risk exacerbating ethnic conflicts in Myanmar. Here’s a more realistic approach. As ceasefires in Myanmar enter their third fragile year, international aid commitments geared towards “peacebuilding” have proliferated, particularly from the West and Japan. Although aid remains one of the few tools available to these governments, and there are countless
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Geo-economic Significance of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank0
- Commentary
- April 2, 2015
Since the dawn of civilization, except for the last 250 years, Asia had half the world’s wealth and two centres of gravity – China and India. With Asia estimated to possess two-thirds of global GPD in 2050, because of favourable demographics India has the potential to overtake the United States and once again become the
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Pakistan’s Promises Will Remain Unfulfilled0
- Commentary
- March 28, 2015
Pakistan remains unwilling to change the substance of its policy on terrorism even as it tries to reassure the international community that it is ready for a drastic transformation. Several recent developments affirm the Pakistani military’s belief that cosmetic changes or words alone will suffice to convince others, especially the U.S., that Pakistan is serious
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Three Ways on How ISIS Can Make Inroads in South Asia0
- Commentary, Issues
- February 28, 2015
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
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Flashpoints from Indo-US Nuclear Deal for Business0
- Commentary, Issues
- February 3, 2015
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
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Bangladesh: Comprehensive Response Required to Complex Displacement Crisis0
- Commentary, Issues
- January 27, 2015
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
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What Obama Wants From India0
- Commentary, Issues
- January 25, 2015
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
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Optimistic, But also Realistic about U.S.-India Relations0
- Commentary, Issues
- January 24, 2015
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
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Religion, Politics and Violence: Paris, Across the World to South Asia0
- Commentary, Issues
- January 16, 2015
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
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Sri Lanka: Will Rajapaksa Return?0
- Commentary
- January 12, 2015
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
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