COMMENTARIES
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Indonesia: Wary of America’s ‘Pivot to Asia’ Policy?
Vibhanshu Shekhar · 12 Jul, 2012 · #3672 · Commentary
Two statements (Obama’s ‘Pivot to Asia’ and the stationing of the American marines at the Australian port of Darwin and Panetta’s ‘rebalancing’ of US strategy - designating the Asia Pacific as main focus) from...
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China’s New Rail Routes: Strategic Importance
Shreya Singh · 10 Jul, 2012 · #3671 · Commentary
China announced the plan on a proposed high speed railway network in 2010 that would pass through Central Asia, most of the mainland ASEAN countries, India and Pakistan from South Asia and then move into Europe. The first leg, which is the Kunmi...
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Nepal: Implications of a Split within the Maoists
Pradeepa Viswanathan · 10 Jul, 2012 · #3670 · Commentary
Despite the efforts of Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, to avert a split in the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) [UCPN (M)], the inevitable happened in June 2012. The hardline faction led by Mohan Baidya ‘Kira...
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Thailand: Street Protests and Fresh Political Turmoil
Panchali Saikia · 09 Jul, 2012 · #3669 · Commentary
In June 2012, Bangkok witnessed protests by thousands of Red Shirts led by the United Front for Democracy, which is likely to have an impact on the larger political environment and economy of the country. What is the reason behind these protests...
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Afghanistan and Foreign Investments: A Bridge Too Far?
J Jeganaathan · 06 Jul, 2012 · #3668 · Commentary
The recently concluded Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan, organised by the Government of India in cooperation with Afghan investment and business organisations, signals India’s new Afghan policy in the post-Osama era. The Delhi Invest...
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Iran: Escalation Guaranteed
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra · 05 Jul, 2012 · #3667 · Commentary
The Moscow talks on Iran’s nuclear programme ended in deadlock – in a sense they had to. What was being offered to Iran in return for its compliance targets the symptoms but not the disease. Ground realities dictate that any ‘s...
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Iran and Nuclear Enrichment: Are the Moscow Talks Just for Engagement?
Shubhra Chaturvedi · 04 Jul, 2012 · #3666 · Commentary
The recent talks between the P5+1 countries and Iran held at Moscow were being looked at as the much needed breakthrough in engagement with Iran. Since the ‘international community’ perceives nuclear Iran as a regional and global thr...
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Indonesia: Democracy, Islam and Modernity
Gautam K Jha · 03 Jul, 2012 · #3665 · Commentary
As the Taliban’s power is gradually eroding in Afghanistan and Pakistan, its influence is increasingly manifesting in Indonesia, where Islamic zealots are mustering support to enact sharia in the Muslim majority regions. Indonesia, once co...
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Reopening the Demchuk-Mansarovar Route: Exploring Possibilities
Zainab Akhter · 02 Jul, 2012 · #3664 · Commentary
There are two routes in Ladakh, which connect India to China: the Karakoram pass in the Nubra Valley and the second through Leh-Demchuk to Kailash Mansarovar. The Leh-Damchuk route runs through the Demchuk village in Leh and further connects Ind...
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Navies and International Diplomacy: The Case of China and India
Kamlesh Kumar Agnihotri · 02 Jul, 2012 · #3663 · Commentary
Two interesting events of maritime significance were reported in the Indian media in May 2012. The first report related to the Chinese Navy’s training vessel Zheng He calling on at India's Kochi Port on 9 May 12 for a four-day good wil...
