Website articles  (85) Courtesy: FB / @The Statesman
30 April 2026

Legacy and new issues with India-Sri Lanka

India’s Vice President C. Radhakrishnan visited Sri Lanka from April 19-20, reaffirming Colombo’s importance in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and MAHASAGAR vision. While ties remain stable, legacy issues persist: Tamil demands for devolution, illegal fishing disputes, and the stalled Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement. The hope is for these to be resolved within Sri Lanka; till then, the unresolved challenges will continue to test the depth and durability of the bilateral.

Website articles  (84) Courtesy: Reuters
23 April 2026

India’s Neighbourhood First policy needs a reboot

Outcomes of the Neighbourhood First policy (NFP) are often mixed, shaped by actions on both sides. Recent engagements with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Nepal suggest an opportune moment to recalibrate NFP, enhance its effectiveness, and bridge perceptions of India as an “elder brother” rather than a “big brother.”

Website articles  (51) Courtesy: Gateway House
4 March 2026

Unfolding Geopolitics Episode 29 |War and uncertainty in Iran today

The assumption that the Iranian public will rise up against its religious and political leadership, seizing the opportunity provided by Israel and U.S. strikes against Iran, may not prove true. Iran’s civilisational structure is resilient, and its educated population may not like being dictated to by the West. Raja Karthikeya, a former international civil servant based in Tehran, examines the escalating U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, its regional and domestic implications and the tenacity of Iran’s political system amid external pressure.

2026-03-02T150438Z-175880517-RC27VJAKA3OX-RTRMADP-3-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN Courtesy: Reuters
8 January 2026

Afghanistan vs. Pakistan = advantage India

The ongoing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad regarding the closure of trade routes could significantly alter the trade landscape in South Asia. This strain can benefit India. The export and import of merchandise goods between India and Afghanistan are expected to experience significant growth, provided New Delhi moves swiftly.

PTI Courtesy: PTI
30 October 2025

India’s Taliban outreach

The visit of Taliban foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to India has resulted in the reopening of the Indian mission in Kabul, and the resumption of stalled projects, mostly in the development sector. India now needs a long-term strategy for Afghanistan – starting with an outreach to the Taliban’s Supreme Leader, the dreaded Haqqani network, even the anti-Taliban groups – to secure its position in that country.

Ivan Courtesy: Gateway House
8 October 2025

Unfolding Geopolitics Episode 23 | India renews engagement with Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit India on October 10, marking the first high-level Taliban visit since the group took over Kabul in 2021. Nayanima Basu discusses the purpose of this visit and the importance of engagement with Afghanistan. She explains the roles of China, which seeks business; Pakistan, which pursues political interests; and the U.S., which has a renewed interest in Bagram Air Base and its return to the country it abandoned.

President of Russia Courtesy: President of Russia
2 October 2025

Valdai frames Russia’s global doctrine

Each autumn, Russia convenes its flagship Annual Summit — a gathering of global leaders, business elites and intellectuals. Often compared in scale to Davos or Shangri-La, what sets Valdai apart is President Vladimir Putin’s extended, unscripted dialogue with the audience. Over the years, India has moved to the centre of this dialogue, reflecting its strategic weight and offering rare insight into Moscow’s evolving worldview.

A community park in Nyingchi Courtesy: Nayanima Basu
4 September 2025

Talk Tibet, with candour

Today’s Lhasa is far from being a forbidden land where oracles are more common than human beings. It is a modern Chinese city, with swish hotels, art galleries and businesses. The transformation – and Sinicisation - of Tibet has accelerated under Chinese President Xi Jinping. The selection of the next Dalai Lama will cement the Chinese hold over that land

X  narendramodi Courtesy: X / Narendra Modi
22 August 2025

India-China risky boundary early harvest

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to India achieved a significant goal: to resolve the bilateral border dispute and ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. It’s not a reaction to the U.S.-India tariff tensions, but a realistic policy compulsion felt by India.

Gateway House Courtesy: Gateway House
3 July 2025

China Plus One and global supply chains

A slowdown of the Chinese economy, and the shift, particularly by MNCs, from China to other more competitive locations has opened up business opportunities for latecomers to supply chains in the developing world. Evidence suggests that Southeast Asia and some South Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, could be beneficiaries of the supply chain shift, particularly in labour-intensive segments.