Book review: Handbook of Indian Defence Policy, ed. Harsh V. Pant Through this seminal account, Dr. Harsh Pant brings in a diverse set of scholars who take the understanding of India’s defense policy beyond the conventional understanding which hitherto restricted its focus to the armed forces and took India’s independence as a starting
READ MOREConvening the first Asian Relations Conference in March 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru declared: “It is fitting that India should play her part in this new phase of Asian development…geographically she is so situated as to be the meeting point…” Introduction The geographically contiguous regions of South Asia and Central Asia comprise a number of
READ MOREAfter the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Central Asia Republics (CARs), the countries with their huge economic potential have been less explored foreign policy options of Pakistan. Despite the fact that being located in the same region and exceptionally sharing common characteristics, the geo-political and geo-economic importance of Pakistan and CARs could
READ MOREIntroduction From time to time, Sri Lanka has experienced ethnic tensions between its majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils since 1915. However, the level of violence had escalated in the 1970’s with underground groups composed mostly of Tamil youths drew attention to the separatists movement by their violent acts in the form of robberies and political
READ MOREThe consequences of almost all developmental projects lead to forced displacement of millions from their roots thereby denigrating them from their culture, customs and languages. Hence the process of displacement and rehabilitation ought to be executed as a last resort in a more humanistic way. Introduction Indeed, all developmental or infrastructural projects being carried
READ MORE“What do I want? One more meeting. If he’s alive, just show me… If he’s dead, tell me where his body is…I have been sent from one police camp to another army camp… It’s been years.” (Zara-half-widow- interviewed Srinagar, Kashmir, and November 2014). Introduction Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan
READ MOREIntroduction Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a party created primarily to secure the interests of Sinhala-Buddhists in Sri Lanka and as such has propagated an exclusivist Sinhala-Buddhist narrative over the years, has displayed electoral behavior seemingly inconsistent with its original mandate, especially with its decision to break away from the Rajapkse regime and support the common
READ MOREChina, of late, has been pitching to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through Myanmar. As an emerging maritime power in the Indo-Pacific, China is seeking a legitimate presence in the IOR. However, it faces connectivity dilemma in its approach to the India Ocean, as without a direct connectivity to the IOR,
READ MOREAfter taking part in the recently concluded 1st half of the Budget Session of the Parliament, where the members of the house were subjected to lectures on Nationalism from my esteemed colleagues from the BJP coupled with the diatribe of “In your Face” nationalism as espoused by mainstream news anchors, it suddenly made me ponder,
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