Covering Policy Issues from South Asia
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Pakistan in search of political change0
- Commentary
- July 12, 2015
Across Pakistan concerned political news makers are crying wolf. Nobody can predict future – what is next after Sharif’s demise. The emerging political culture of ‘blame game’ is a no surprise to any rational observers of Pakistan’s modern history. It typifies what can go terribly wrong when the so called politicians turned egoistic authoritarian are
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Is Myanmar South Asia’s Perennial Troublemaker?0
- Commentary
- July 8, 2015
At a time when regional heavyweights China and India are pushing forward with connectivity in South Asia, developments along the Myanmar border as well as inside the country run counter to the region’s common interest, including Myanmar itself. In response to a deadly ambush carried out by the Naga rebel group, the Indian army engaged
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Cultural and economic determinism of affirmative action in India0
- Commentary
- June 24, 2015
“….What is equal is to be treated equally and what is different is to be treated differently, namely proportionately to the factual difference. […] the principle of equality before the law does not mean the absolute equality, […] but it means the relative equality, namely the principle to treat equally what are equal and unequally
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India Israel relations is at a watershed moment for pragmatism3
- Commentary
- June 18, 2015
Since coming to office last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charm offensive to rejuvenate Indian foreign policy, if nothing the perception of it, has taken him to overlooked lands such as Fiji, Seychelles and Mongolia. He will soon travel to Central Asia, the “-stans”. The spree has changed the premise of myriad foreign policy
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Progress through pragmatism in the Indo-Bangla relationship0
- Commentary, Issues
- June 3, 2015
The relationship between India and Bangladesh has long been characterised by contradiction and cooperation. Relations have tended to fluctuate depending on the attitude of the governments in the respective countries. For example, when Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power in 2001-2006 the Indian side alleged that Bangladesh was harboring anti-Indian elements seen to pose
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World’s strangest border between India-Bangla is a result of a chess game?0
- Commentary
- May 26, 2015
Parliament on Wednesday passed the historic Constitution (119th Amendment) bill, which will put in effect a four- decade-old agreement between India and Bangladesh to redraw their shared border. Some people have claimed that the bill will resolve a border dispute between the two countries. This is not so. Unlike its relations with China or Pakistan,
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Bangladesh: Mayoral Elections unable to resolve Political Deadlock0
- Commentary
- May 4, 2015
Confrontational politics is not new in Bangladesh. But it seems to have intensified in the last few months, especially after the unofficial main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), decided to launch protests on the first anniversary of the 2014 parliamentary elections in order to force the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government to step down.
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India’s Influence in Asia0
- Commentary
- April 28, 2015
China’s gradual political, economic and military rise continues to be a primary focus among many decision making bodies throughout Asia and beyond, but often lost in the discussion is India, its strategic objectives, and its political influence in Asia and the world. As India continues to gain its footing on the global stage, it continues
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Should Pakistan be granted an NSG Exemption?0
- Commentary, Issues
- April 27, 2015
For some time now Pakistan has been arguing for an exemption from the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). At the Hague Nuclear Security Summit in 2014, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appealed to the international support to have access to civilian nuclear technology. Pakistan contends that it must be accorded similar rights to engage in
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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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