COMMENTARIES
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Afghan Presidential Run-off: Things that Matter
Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy · 30 May, 2014 · #4480 · Commentary
On 15 May, Afghan presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah accepted the poll results and began readying themselves for the run-off according to the Constitution, scheduled for 14 June. The results of the run-off are scheduled t...
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Iran-Pakistan: New Leaders, Old Issues
Ayesha Khanyari · 30 May, 2014 · #4479 · Commentary
“I am here to open a new chapter in Pakistan-Iran relationship,” Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, on a two-day visit to Iran from 11-12 May 2014 – one that took place after a sixteen-year gap.
The visit took p...
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The Sino-Russian Gas Agreement: Political Implications for an Asian Rebalance
Rheanna Mathews · 30 May, 2014 · #4478 · Commentary
The recently concluded Sino-Russian contract has caught the attention of the world and there is no dearth of theories as to what it all means. The foremost questions this show of deepening Sino-Russian friendship raises are: how big a deal is th...
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India and its Neighbourhood
Narendra Modi: Perspectives within Pakistan
Samundeswari Natesan · 30 May, 2014 · #4477 · Commentary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landslide victory in the Indian general elections has made the world focus on India-Pakistan bilateral relations, among other issues. Within Pakistan, opinions on Modi are varied, with with one group of peopl...
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Bangladesh-China: Respective Objectives and Strategies
Dibya Shikha · 30 May, 2014 · #4476 · Commentary
On May 12, Bangladesh and China signed four military treaties, increasing the warmth in the existing bilateral ties between the two countries. What did Bangladesh gain by aligning with China? Why is China interested in Bangladesh? Where is the b...
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IPCS Discussion
China and US in the Indian Ocean
Report · 30 May, 2014 · #4475 · Commentary
Opening Remarks
Prof P R Chari
Visiting Professor, IPCS
Four sets of questions can help set the stage regarding Sino-American relations vis-à-vis the Indian Ocean.
• Is the Sino-American relationship in the Indian Ocean...
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Thailand: Why is History Repeating Itself?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee · 30 May, 2014 · #4474 · Commentary
The Royal Thai Army declared martial law in Thailand on 20 May 2014. The announcement was made at 03:00 AM by the Commander in Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha through the Army-owned television station, Channel 5. Thailand has been undergoing pol...
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Picking Up the Threads
Modi, Sharif and the Cross-LoC Interactions
D Suba Chandran · 29 May, 2014 · #4473 · Commentary
Now the entire region across the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan is discussing the invitation to the SAARC Heads of the State by Narendra Modi as a diplomatic coup, and the positive response by Nawaz S...
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India and its Neighbourhood
Fresh Air of Rapprochement
Shujaat Bukhari · 29 May, 2014 · #4472 · Commentary
Much before he took over as the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi hit the diplomatic ground with a master stroke. He invited all the heads of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to witness his swearing in ceremon...
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China-Vietnam: The Oil Rig Non-diplomacy
Roomana Hukil · 28 May, 2014 · #4471 · Commentary
The recent impasse between China and Vietnam over Beijing’s deployment of oil rigs in the South China Sea (SCS) has generated chaos in the Southeast Asian political arena. The tension between the two states has renewed security challenges ...
