Indian role in Afghan peace process
Tokyo summer Olympics got off to somewhat hesitant start, under the looming shadow of obstinate pandemic. Media attention, however, is divided, focused on another round in the never-ending great game, unfolding in the killing fields of Afghanistan. It also brings back fading memories of Moscow Olympics of July 1980, ironically boycotted by United States of […]
Recalibrating South Asian alliances
China recently launched China Poverty Alleviation and Cooperation Development Centre (CPAC-DC), as part of CCP centenary celebrations. It managed to incorporate diplomatic representatives, of all South Asian nations, except India, Bhutan and Maldives. It was another attempt, to tap latent angst against India, for keeping South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), in a state […]
Seeking clarity on Taliban 2.0 and Afghan-Pakistan situation
Great game is an addictive affliction, having engineered ignominious defeat of most external forces, except Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In Higher Command (2001-02), my dissertation was ‘Containment of Jihadi Fundamentalism in Afghanistan’. Prescriptive initiatives included forging strategic linkages with Iran and (central Asian regions) CAR, backed up with connectivities. Chabahar, rail/road links, air bases in CAR […]
Afghanistan is turning into a horror show
The recent 21st Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting in Dushanbe has once again brought to the fore the unresolved imbroglio in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his short but focused virtual address flagged challenges of terrorism and the need for theological correctives to promote moderate and inclusive regime. Notwithstanding these very relevant concerns, the […]
Lopsided public discourse in social media era
India has recorded phenomenal mushrooming of think tanks, with a 120% increase in their numbers in the last three years. According to global rating agency, India currently has 507 think tanks, narrowly surpassing China. USA with 1,871, tops the list. Notwithstanding the quantitative growth, we lag in qualitative terms, particularly regulatory frameworks for discussion and […]
Regaining a sense of relevance in Afghanistan maelstrom
Afghanistan is reeling under ever worsening humanitarian maelstrom with harsh winter, pandemic and famine. The disaster is compounded by inept Taliban government, struggling to find even basic international acceptance. The stark reality festers, in form of plight of significant number of refugees in the western and the gulf countries. It has also triggered in Europe […]
Pakistan stands at crossroads
The geostrategic environment around India has indeed become very murky and chaotic. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan are embroiled in flux and turbulence. Lankan imbroglio has geoeconomics dimension with China being the main catalyst for fiscal abyss and looming humanitarian crisis. Kathmandu is headed for elections under court-mandated caretaker government. Naypyidaw is still grappling […]