COMMENTARIES
  • The 'Vision Thing'
    Firdaus Ahmed    ·   11 Aug, 2009    ·    #2939    ·    Commentary    
    Leadership vision is what propels nations to greatness. Across the world, Roosevelt, Churchill, Deng, Mandela and Obama are considered examples of leaders with vision. Ashoka’s peace offensive, Akbar’s inclusivism, Nehru’s develo...
  • Balochistan: Are the Balochis ready for external support?
    D Suba Chandran    ·   11 Aug, 2009    ·    #2938    ·    Commentary    
    Ever since the joint Indo-Pak statement was announced last month, there have been numerous discussions on India’s role in Balochistan in both countries. Pakistanis have been accusing India for interfering in Balochistan for a long time; th...
  • Underdevelopment and the Naxal Movement
    Rajat Kumar Kujur    ·   11 Aug, 2009    ·    #2937    ·    Commentary    
    Although regularly discussed in informal forums, it is only recently that Home Minister P Chidambaram confirmed that a substantial portion of the developmental fund lands were in the hands of extremists. In the context of Naxalism this revelatio...
  • Clinton’s visit to Southeast Asia: Implications for India
    Tuli Sinha    ·   10 Aug, 2009    ·    #2936    ·    Commentary    
    Hillary Clinton’s declaration, made on arrival in Bangkok during her visit to the Asian partners last week, that "the United States [was] back," stressed America’s intent to engage in an all-around interaction and develop f...
  • Talks As Strategy
    Ali Ahmed    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2935    ·    Commentary    
    India has engaged Pakistan through dialogue in the six rounds of talks in 1963-64, in the seven rounds of talks in 1990-1994, in initiating the Composite Dialogue process in 1997 and in five rounds since its resumption in 2004. The aim has been ...
  • The "Malacca" Mileage
    Sandeep Anand    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2934    ·    Commentary    
    The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water between West Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is effectively a 'short-cut' linking the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean and is therefore a vital sea lane of communicati...
  • Negotiating with China
    Bhartendu Kumar Singh    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2933    ·    Commentary    
    It is almost three decades since China and India initiated their border talks. While the levels of dialogue were raised, an agreement is still not in sight. So, when the Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries meet for the 13th round ...
  • The Business of Being the Taliban
    Kate Swanson    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2932    ·    Commentary    
    The Afghan Taliban, under the leadership of Mullah Omar, has issued a comprehensive book outlining a code of conduct for Taliban members. The book, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Rules for Mujahideen" is comprised of 13 chapters a...
  • Nepal: Caught in the Chinese Headlights?
    Kimberley Layton    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2931    ·    Commentary    
    On 1 August, Nepal and China celebrated the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them. China is eager to celebrate the relationship, which it claims is cemented by a foundation based on its Five Principles of Pea...
  • Terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia: The likelihood of a global jihadi connection
    Anna Louise Strachan    ·   07 Aug, 2009    ·    #2930    ·    Commentary    
    Southeast Asia has been the setting for a number of terrorist attacks over the last month. The incidents ranged from low-profile attacks in southern Thailand and the southern Philippines to the headline grabbing bombings of the JW Marriott and Rit...
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