so15_cover_high_res Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
25 August 2015

An Unworthy Ally

Despite the unwavering support for their South Asian ally for more than 20 years, it time for the United States to bid farewell to Pakistan.

epa04883075 Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) is greeted by his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj prior to their meeting in New Delhi, India, 14 August 2015. Zarif is on a state visit to India to strengthen political ties between the two countries.  EPA/STR Courtesy: East Asia Forum
20 August 2015

Is the Iran deal a plus for South Asia?

The nuclear deal with Iran benefits India and Pakistan in terms of energy security and connectivity. But both countries also face challenges in their prospective engagement with Tehran, and both will have to tread carefully while using the new opportunities.

Mortar_attack_on_Shigal_Tarna_garrison,_Kunar_Province,_87 Courtesy: Erwin Franzen/Wikimedia
14 August 2015

Pakistan’s House of Cards

The August attack in Kabul and the now public disclosure of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar has caused Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to shift in outlook towards Pakistan. The "Pakistan-led" peace process is now tumbling like a house of cards backed implicitly by the United States.

gurdaspur Courtesy: The Indian Express
30 July 2015

Gurdaspur: Advantage Pakistan

The attack in Gurdaspur this week was different from any previous Pakistan-sponsored terrorist hit. India must be wary of the new and improved strikes coming from across the border, and must also plan a robust, long-term policy response

final FINAL COVER.indd Courtesy: Houghton Mifflin
8 July 2015

The fires from 1947 burn on

Nisid Hajari’s Midnight’s Furies provides an insight into the brutal chaos and bloody riots from which India and Pakistan emerged in 1947. It is crucial for present generations from the two countries to understand the past in order to better comprehend the present

Kerry in Pakistan Courtesy: US Embassy in Pakistan
25 June 2015

Beguiling Americans: a guide for Indian diplomats

Pakistan continues to receive succour from its long-time ally, the U.S., despite blundering about in its neighbourhood unabashedly- be it through righteous indignation or through generous courtesies. The external affairs ministry needs to improve its approach towards U.S. officials who are visiting India in order to better its relation with the country.

Indo Pak conflict- Livemint Courtesy: livemint.com
17 June 2015

India-Pakistan: false equivalency

Pakistan's righteous indignation about national sovereignty—over India's Myanmar counterinsurgency program—is out of sync with the country's actions in the past. Experiences from history serve as proof

Sharif-Xi jinping Courtesy:
14 May 2015

OBOR and India’s security concerns

While China will seek India’s cooperation on its ambitious ‘One Belt, One Road’ project during Prime Minister Modi’s visit this week, Indian policy makers must soon articulate a definite stand on this transnational corridor by bridging the country’s security concerns and the benefits of such an engagement with China.

SAARC Courtesy:
2 March 2015

An Indian democracy template for SAARC?

Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar’s visit to SAARC countries from March 1 is an opportunity to examine the political trajectories in the region. While democracy in some countries like Sri Lanka is on an upswing, in others, like Bangladesh, it is in decline. With China’s growing economic influence in South Asia, can Indian democracy be an effective counterpoint?

Jaishnkar Courtesy: Saddahaq.com
26 February 2015

SAARC sojourn: surmounting the entropy

The SAARC Yatra to be undertaken by foreign secretary S. Jaishankar from March 1 is an opportunity for India to improve relations, resurrect stalled projects and create new synergies with its neighbourhood. An initiative like this could hold the key to India shedding the ‘hegemon’ tag and pursuing mutually beneficial policies with its neighbours