COMMENTARIES
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East Asia Compass
Many ‘Pivots to Asia’: What Does It Mean For Regional Stability?
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 03 Aug, 2015 · #4903 · Commentary · Column
The US President Barack Obama announced his new strategy for the Asia-Pacific - ‘pivot to Asia’ - in 2011. It was also called ‘strategic rebalancing’ which emphasised that the US was ‘here to stay’ to and it w...
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Voice from America
The Iran Deal: Is it Hard to Resist?
Amit Gupta · 27 Jul, 2015 · #4902 · Commentary
After much pain and negotiation, the P5+1 and Iran have reached a nuclear deal. Inevitably, the Republicans, along with a set of strange bedfellows consisting of Israel, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and even some Democrats, are questioni...
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Eulogy
PR Chari: Scholar, Gentleman, Institution Builder
Amit Gupta · 26 Jul, 2015 · #4901 · Commentary
Mr. P.R. Chari, who passed away on July 24, 2015, was a rare person in New Delhi’s intellectual circles. Although a career bureaucrat, he successfully transitioned to becoming a first rate scholar and, along with Major General (Retd....
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Looking East
Myanmar Polls: Test for Suu Kyi and Democracy
Wasbir Hussain · 17 Jul, 2015 · #4900 · Commentary · Column
It is time for fresh national elections in Myanmar. The much-hyped polls to the 664-member Parliament - finally fixed for 8 November 2015 - will be a test for both democracy in the former pariah state ruled by a military dictatorship as well as ...
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The Strategist
The Blight of Ambiguity
Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar · 14 Jul, 2015 · #4899 · Commentary · Column
Is ambiguity in Pakistan’s nuclear policy a deliberate drama being played out by a strutting military to legitimise its vision of the Pakistani nation?
A prevalent position in the Pakistani military establishment, particularly amongst...
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Spotlight West Asia
A Potential Indian Role in West Asia?
Ranjit Gupta · 14 Jul, 2015 · #4898 · Commentary · Column
Since the beginning of 2011, a blood-soaked West Asia has been constantly enveloped by increasing deaths, destruction, devastation and displacement. The region is going through the worst ever period in its history with little prospects of any im...
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East Asia Compass
On the 10th Anniversary of the East Asian Summit
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 08 Jul, 2015 · #4897 · Commentary · Column
In November 2015, the tenth anniversary of the East Asian Summit (EAS) will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The last ten years of the EAS has been less than satisfactory in bringing together the 18 member countries on important issues of regi...
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Dateline Colombo
Sri Lanka: Toward a Diaspora Re-Engagement Plan
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera · 06 Jul, 2015 · #4896 · Commentary · Column
“There is an unofficial leader of the opposition. What we have is confusion; there are MPs of the same party in government as well as in the opposition.”
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, JVP Leader
With the parliament of Sri Lanka in ...
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China's Defence Expenditure: Has the Debate Ended?
Bhartendu Kumar Singh · 03 Jul, 2015 · #4895 · Commentary
China’s defence expenditure has been quite controversial. Conservative figures by Beijing in the past had little takers. Washington has traditionally alleged that China’s actual defence expenditure is at least three times its officia...
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Afghanistan
What is the Afghan Taliban Up To?
Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy · 25 Jun, 2015 · #4894 · Commentary
On 22 June 2015, the Afghan Taliban claimed a suicide bombing attack by seven militants on the Afghan parliament that killed two and injured several. The attack, dramatic even for Afghanistan standards, took place as the Wolesi Jirga was about t...
