20230309265L Courtesy: The Hindu
28 March 2024

All eyes on the Indian Ocean region

Intensifying India-China strategic contestation and trade disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on international shipping have made the western and northern Indian Ocean active geographies. As Indian policy focus shifts to the Indian Ocean region, India must convey to its strategic partners that while it is conscious of responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific, it prioritises dangers closer to home in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood.

No Winner in Pakistan Election Courtesy: Gateway House
8 February 2024

No winners in Pakistani elections

As Pakistan heads to the polls, debt restructuring and economic recovery are on the ballot. The winner of the contest will inherit a weak economy while wielding little authority to implement reform, and will eventually shoulder the blame for the inevitable crisis.

Screenshot 2023-11-29 at 6.07.50 PM Courtesy: The Indian Express
29 November 2023

Hamas’ ideology minus trust

Hamas faces an existential crisis in Gaza now that the Israeli army has captured its military headquarters and operating tunnels in northern Gaza. So far Israel has successfully ignored international pressure to limit its ground operation. In between are the Gazans, caught within an ideology they don’t trust.

dhaka tribune Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune
18 May 2023

Dhaka on the Move

Dhaka recently hosted the Indian Ocean Conference 2023, a multi-country event featuring speakers and participants from the Indian Ocean countries. In recent years, Bangladesh has gone from a ‘basket-case’ to a case study in progress, and across Dhaka are signs of a city undergoing dramatic change.

Elon Musk Courtesy: Reuters
8 December 2022

Cautious optimism at the B20 at Bali

The author participated in the B20 Summit in Bali and saw in it a reflection of Indonesia’s culture and hospitality, but also its attraction for investors despite geopolitical stresses. Indian business can take a cue from Indonesia, and use India’s B20 engagement to push for ease of doing business and improved quality of life indicators – an additional condition for India’s G20 Presidency’s success.

FILE PHOTO: A worker walks past the logo of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) inside its office in New Delhi, India July 8, 2019. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Courtesy: Reuters
14 July 2022

The rupee as regional currency

The Reserve Bank’s move to enable international trade in INR is a step towards regaining Indian primacy in the Indian Ocean region that the Indian Rupee once enjoyed. It is also an essential financial dimension that will add heft to India’s strategic SAGAR policy.

tt Courtesy: Telegraph India
1 July 2022

Tax Gold, Drive Smuggling

India has raised import duty on gold yet again. This will drive gold smuggling, whose nearly 16% return on investment therefrom will make hedge funds envious. Apart from loss of revenue, smuggling also means greater cash flows for the underworld, and potential terror finance.

thumbnail_IMG_1596 Courtesy: The Print
14 April 2022

AAP, ISI, Khalistan and the counter spin

Pro-Khalistan organisations have collaborated with the ISI to disseminate anti-India narratives and influence the Indian diaspora. While this has little traction within the country, there is a need for India to extend support to those expatriate Indian communities which are actively countering the misinformation spread by these organisations and Pakistan-sponsored fringe groups.