Courtesy: europesworld.org
India's inclusion as a full-member will lend credibility to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which until now has been dominated by China. However, until the strong differences between member nations are resolved, it will be a while before the SCO can become a multilateral force to be reckoned with
Courtesy: wikimedia\commons
An Afghan electoral official recently announced that the UN-supervised vote auditing in Afghanistan’s presidential election has been finished. In an election marred by fraud, can a power sharing agreement enabling the formation of a government be reached?
Courtesy: arabia.msn.com
The right to be heard and to dissent is crucial in a democracy but they come with responsibilities. The current anti-government protests are being mobilised by partisan-players with a political stake and could jeopardise Pakistan’s hard-won democracy
Courtesy: Synthesio.com
Many Arab Republics are mired in political discord after the departure of the old tyrannical regimes opened up spaces for new struggles. In Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, attempts to address the turmoil through constitutional reform are facing challenges. Will a democratic federalism be attained when the battles are done?
Courtesy: Joshua Martin
U.S. defence secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit is the third in a flurry of visits by top American officials before the scheduled Modi-Obama meet in September. Hagel’s visit will aim to enhance an already well-established defence-trade partnership and allay fears of the Pentagon’s bias towards Pakistan
Courtesy: Wikimedia\commons
Squabbling over Afghan election results still continues but the collapse of the process has been averted for now. More than 700 international election observers are in Kabul ready to conduct the 100% audit of the Afghan runoff election. India has always supported a peaceful transition but the situation in Kabul remains as unpredictable as ever
Courtesy: Wikipedia\commons
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit all the right notes in his landmark visit to Nepal this week. Modi’s announcement of hydropower being a key area of synergy in the bilateral will help India solve its electricity shortage and also provide the country a renewable energy import from a friendly neighbour
Courtesy: Wikipedia
India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in Nepal this week in line with the government’s commitment to prioritise ties with neighbours. Ties between India and Nepal have not been smooth with Nepal seeking a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed between the two countries
Courtesy: WIkimedia\Commons
Neelam Deo, Director, Gateway House, talks about the implications of the UN tribunal’s recent ruling on the India-Bangladesh maritime boundary dispute. In this interview, she also examines how India can follow up on the decision, what it could mean for our energy imports, and how it will impact global perceptions
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The World Bank report highlighting the need for far-reaching reforms in the power sector underlines the necessity for the centre and state governments to arrive at a political consensus. The model of cooperative federalism advocated by Prime Minister Modi has the potential to transform the electricity scenario