Covering Policy Issues from South Asia
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Nepal keen to turn ties with Bangladesh into ‘economic partnership’0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
UNB . Kathmandu | Prothom Alo Nov 12, 2019 Nepal is keen to turn the existing relationship with Bangladesh into ‘economic partnership’, said its foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Tuesday. He said this with the remarks when he met Bangladesh president Abdul Hamid at hotel Marriott Kathmandu. President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed newsmen
Ground Zero : Ayodhya wants to move on0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
by Valay Singh 12 November 2019 Livemint With restraint and acceptance, Ayodhya’s citizens seem to have made their peace with the Supreme Court verdict There’s no word on a review petition yet, but a section of Muslims feel let down. Friction is expected between the two main Hindu camps over constitution of the trust to
Sinophobia simmers across Central Asia0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
In the ‘Stans, BRI debt traps, broken promises, corruption and Xinjiang persecution generate resentment and violence By Alexander Kruglov Asiatimes 12 November 2019 It is just a tiny grocery store in a decrepit, Khruschev-era five-story apartment block in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan – but it is flooded with shoppers, 24 hours a day. Located just
India cozying up to Saudi may not be wise0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
By Shafeeq Rahman 12 November 2019 Asiatimes The Middle East is a pivotal region for Indian diplomacy because of India’s dependency on petroleum, huge commercial ties and a large diaspora in the region. The Middle East’s share of India’s overall trade was 21% and accounted for 62% of its crude-oil imports during January-August 2019. Non-resident Indians
Why Iran Declines to Renegotiate0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
Donald Trump pulled the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran’s nuclear program in May 2018, insisting the agreement was not tough enough. He then reinstated sanctions and urged Iranian leaders to renegotiate another deal. But Iran is in no mood to negotiate and takes steps to annoy Trump: detaining cargo
China’s Quest for Stability: Images and Realities0
- Blog
- November 12, 2019
By P. S. Suryanarayana 12 November 2019 SYNOPSIS In pursuing proactive defence diplomacy, China has resorted to political messaging and pragmatic signalling. However, China can enhance this exercise by addressing some external security concerns about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). COMMENTARY DEFENCE DIPLOMACY is a fine art that requires close coordination between the military
Commentary
SC Verdict: What if Ram temple was demolished in 1992 instead of Babri Masjid?0
- Commentary
- November 11, 2019
By Abhay Kumar, The Milli Gazette Online Nov 11, 2019 What if the Ram temple were demolished on December 6, 1992 instead of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya? Do you think the Supreme Court judgement would have been the same? Do you think the demolished structure would have been given to the party that was
Religious profile of today’s Pakistani Sindh Province0
- Commentary
- November 11, 2019
by Rajkumar Singh 11 November 2019 Sindh is one of the four main provinces of modern Pakistan having an area of 140,914 km and 47,886,051 population according to the census held in 2017. Others alike, it is a state of the federal parliamentary republic, more or less at a similar system of government with a
Securing South Asia Through Regional Economic Integration0
- Commentary
- November 9, 2019
Afghanistan is pushing for the vision of SAARC to become reality at long last. By M. Ashraf Haidari November 09, 2019 The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a conference on “Regional Economic Integration: A Catalyst for Socioeconomic Prosperity in South Asia.” I welcomed this timely forum. Afghanistan, a
Scheduled caste: Revisiting the Old Friend: Reservation Policy in 20190
- Commentary
- November 9, 2019
“Brothers and Sisters, You cannot build anything on the foundation of caste. You cannot build up a nation; you cannot build up a morality. Anything you will build on the foundation of caste will crack and will never be a whole.” ( 2002 publication of Annihilation of Caste, page 202. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and
The Islamic State Will Outlive Baghdadi. Afghanistan Shows How.0
- Commentary
- November 8, 2019
The Islamic State-Khorasan offers a powerful case study of the militant group’s ability to create autonomous affiliates that flourish and endure. BY MICHAEL KUGELMAN | NOVEMBER 8, 2019 Acouple of years ago, a conspiracy theory emerged alleging that the United States was backing the Islamic State in Afghanistan. It had a curious mix of propagators: former Afghan President
Why the European Parliament Group’s Kashmir Visit Backfired on India0
- Commentary
- November 8, 2019
The curated visit of far-right European politicians to Kashmir was a dangerous gamble for India’s foreign policy. By Angshuman Choudhury and Prannv Dhawan November 8, 2019 On October 29, the Indian government ushered 27 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) into the Kashmir Valley, which has been in a state of lockdown since its constitutionally-guaranteed partial
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Featured
India’s Narendra Modi has had a free pass from the west for too long
Threats to minority rights and democratic norms are ignored to preserve a comforting illusion Gideon Rachman November 11 2019 The Financial Times The world’s democracies are desperate to believe in India. From Washington to Tokyo, and from Canberra to London, the country is viewed as an indispensable counterbalance to China. The two Asian giants are
Gowher Rizvi’s 1976 Article, “The Killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – Perspectives on Recent Bangladesh History”: A Review*
By Taj Hashmi 3 November 2019 Gowher Rizvi, the author of the article, “The Killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – Perspectives on Recent Bangladesh History” This is a review of an academic article by Ali Gowher (aka Gowher Rizvi), who is the current International Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. The article