Ministry of External Affairs, India Courtesy:
25 March 2013

BRICS builds on Africa

The fifth BRICS summit will take place from 26-27 March with South Africa - a late entrant to the grouping - playing host. Although sceptics have questioned the salience of this bloc, the group is essentially a work in progress. Expectations, therefore, must be modest and pragmatic.

Gateway House Courtesy: Gateway House
22 March 2013

“UNHRC resolution is uncalled for”

With India backing the United Nations resolution against Sri Lanka, New Delhi-Colombo relations appear to be in a tense phase. Gateway House interviews Prasad Kariyawasam, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, to discuss the implications of the UNHRC vote and the future of India-Sri Lanka relations.

enr Courtesy: Sugeesh/WikimediaCommons
21 March 2013

India-Italy: resolving the rumpus

Bilateral relations between India and Italy grew increasingly tense following Italy’s refusal to return two of their Marines – who are accused of killing two Indian fishermen. Given how both countries otherwise enjoy warm relations, how should New Delhi address this diplomatic debacle?

Slick-O-Bot/Wikimedia Commons Courtesy: Slick-O-Bot/Wikimedia Commons
21 March 2013

China to India: New president, old policy

The five-point formula put forth by newly-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping to bolster bilateral relations with India signifies once again that Beijing is increasingly going for a semblance of stability in relations with its largest neighbour, without making any strategic concessions on contentious issues.

WikimediaCommons Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
20 March 2013

Vote on Sri Lanka: Vote on UPA

New Delhi has taken some opportunistic actions, such as its vote against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council, to pacify internal political demands. But these extract a price in the international arena. Should we anticipate a further decline in India’s regional and international credibility?

National Assembly Of Pakistan Courtesy: National Assembly Of Pakistan
19 March 2013

Pakistan: Civil-military rebalancing?

Although the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan became the first ever to complete its full term, on March 17, the period was also marked by severe sectarian violence, foreign policy shifts and other internal issues. How have these dynamics played out in defining Pakistan’s polity and economy in the recent years?

Gateway House Courtesy:
15 March 2013

Shyam Saran: BRICS must deliver a Development Bank

The establishment of a BRICS Development Bank will be among the prime topics of discussion at the BRICS Summit on March 26. Gateway House’s Akshay Mathur interviews former Indian Ambassador and Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, on the prospects and viability of alternate financial architectures.

Gandhi jappalang wikicommons Courtesy: jappalang/WikimediaCommons
14 March 2013

The relevance of Gandhi in China today

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Gandhian philosophy and values among Chinese citizens. Can the Mahatma’s philosophy of non-violence, social harmony, and environmental protection be applied to address issues facing present-day China?

Furmeyer/WikimediaCommons Courtesy: Furmeyer/WikimediaCommons
13 March 2013

Historical Perspectives on Piracy: The British Empire in the Persian Gulf

Maritime piracy is one of the several grave security issues faced by today’s world. This problem, however, isn’t a new phenomenon, and nations have long-battled this issue. How did piracy manifest itself in the Indian Ocean in the 19th century, and what was the nature of counter-piracy efforts during that period?