manmohan li Courtesy: Flickr/CreativeCommons
17 May 2013

On the borderline with Beijing

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to India next week is unlikely to fast-track a resolution of the Sino-Indian territorial dispute. Li may suggest confidence-building mechanisms on the border, but these proposals need scrutiny. China’s border agreements with other neighbours are indicators of what India can expect

Bahrain protest1 Courtesy: Al Jazeera English/Flickr
16 May 2013

Policy and Prejudice: Shia Divisionism in Bahrain

Two years ago, during the Arab Spring uprisings in several West Asian nations, youth and pro-democracy movements flared up on the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain. In light of these events, this paper assesses how Bahrain’s policies toward its Shia constituency have affected relations between Sunni and Shia groups.

kayani mullen 2 Courtesy: United States Navy
10 May 2013

Closing remarks: The civil-military equation favours the military

Gateway House’s Ambassador Neelam Deo, in a debate, titled ‘The civil-military equation in Pakistan has begun to tilt in favour of civilians,’ argues in her closing remarks that Pakistan will need sympathy and support as it confronts the complex choices that the democratisation process continually throws up.

kayani pakistan Courtesy: Pakistan97/WikimediaCommons
9 May 2013

Rebuttal: The civil-military equation favours the military

Gateway House’s Ambassador Neelam Deo, in a debate, titled ‘The civil-military equation in Pakistan has begun to tilt in favour of civilians,’ argues in her rebuttal that the changes in Pakistan resemble a one-step-forward-and-two-steps-backwards process rather than a move up to the next level.

pak flag Courtesy: Benchill/WikimediaCommons
8 May 2013

Pakistan elections: Tweedledum & Tweedledee

The national election in Pakistan looks like a game of polarisation, but if democracy is meant to provide some relief and prosperity, all political parties have flopped, bottom up. The field is now wide open, and anything can happen - including a hung parliament.

Asif_Ali_Zardari Courtesy: Eric Draper/WikimediaCommons
6 May 2013

Opening remarks: The civil-military equation favours the civilians

With Pakistan geared for a defining general election scheduled for May 11, Council on Foreign Relations' Daniel Markey, in a debate, titled ‘The civil-military equation in Pakistan has begun to tilt in favour of civilians,’ argues for the motion.