COMMENTARIES
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Indo-Bangladesh Relations: PM’s Remarks on the Jamait-e-Islami
Md Jawaid Akhtar · 08 Jul, 2011 · #3421 · Commentary
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ‘off the record’ remarks on Bangladesh during an interaction with a group of print editors, last week, have led to discontent in Bangladesh. Singh was quoted as saying “at least 25 per cent...
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Indonesia: Travails of Migrant Workers
Baladas Ghoshal · 08 Jul, 2011 · #3420 · Commentary
The surprise execution of an Indonesian maid, Ruyati binti Sapubi, without the knowledge of the Indonesian government reflects the abominable state of migrant workers resulting from poverty in South and Southeast Asia. The inability of governmen...
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Seeking Alternatives to Nuclear Deterrence in India
Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dipankar Banerjee · 29 Jun, 2011 · #3419 · Commentary
The March 2011 meltdown of Japanese civil nuclear reactors at Fukushima has again focused our minds on the potential catastrophic consequences of nuclear radiation. We are reminded that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons has actually be...
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Compellence, Deterrence or Defence?: Saxena Task Force and India’s Defence Reforms
Firdaus Ahmed · 27 Jun, 2011 · #3418 · Commentary
Mr Naresh Saxena, former defence secretary, cabinet secretary and ambassador to the US, is to lead a task force on the next steps in defence sector reforms. His team comprising former chiefs, bureaucrats, military technologists and strategists i...
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Red Tourism: A Thriving Economic Industry or a Tool for Ideological Propaganda?
Namrata Hasija · 25 Jun, 2011 · #3417 · Commentary
Red Tourism has gained considerable momentum as a phenomenon in China. The government is encouraging tourism around historic sites. Is it purely an economic move? Is it primarily motivated by the need to strengthen the ideological base for the C...
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China, the Philippines and Vietnam: Conflicting Claims in the South China Sea
Teshu Singh · 24 Jun, 2011 · #3416 · Commentary
In the recent weeks, there have been multiple claims and counter-claims on the South China Sea (SCS) between China, the Philippines and Vietnam. Why are there conflicting claims? And what are the bases of these claims?
The key difference bet...
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Indo-Pak Relations: A Survey of Expert Opinions - II
Saswati Debnath · 23 Jun, 2011 · #3415 · Commentary
This article further explores what kind of diplomatic or military strategies India can adopt while dealing with Pakistan and what are the alternatives available besides the Pakistani military for dialogue.
What are the various political, mil...
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Indo-Pak Relations: A Survey of Expert Opinions - I
Saswati Debnath · 23 Jun, 2011 · #3414 · Commentary
Lot of speculations abound on the future of Indo-Pak relations in the aftermath of Osama Bin Laden’s death. The current survey analyzes opinions from experts in three fields: the Defense personnel, bureaucrats and academicians. Based on in...
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Reforming Qaumi Madrassas in Bangladesh: Hurdles and Alternatives
Md Jawaid Akhtar · 22 Jun, 2011 · #3413 · Commentary
Bangladesh is planning to integrate hundreds of madrassas into the mainstream education system. The overhaul seeks to improve the quality of education offered at madrassas by training Islamic teachers and bringing facilities up to national stand...
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Ilyas Kashmiri: An Analysis of the Pakistani, Indian and American Print Media
Poonam Khatana · 20 Jun, 2011 · #3412 · Commentary
The death of Ilyas Kashmiri raised mixed responses in the Pakistani, Indian and American print media along predictable lines. This article attempts to analyze three important questions that have been raised after his death. Is Kashmiri indeed de...
