mehsud Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
11 November 2013

What Mehsud’s death means

Earlier in November, U.S. drone strikes killed Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a militant outfit in Pakistan. What does this mean for the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, and more importantly, what are its implications for Pakistan’s domestic security situation?

biden MEA 2 Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
31 July 2013

The importance of Biden’s visit

Although the office of the U.S. vice president seldom plays a role in defining the country’s foreign policy, the recently concluded visit of Vice President Joe Biden to India – the first such visit in nearly three decades – has thrown open several questions, answers to which hold upshots for India and her neighbours. Chintamani Mahapatra blogs

John Kerry 2 Courtesy: Center for American Progress/ Flickr
21 June 2013

India-U.S. revive lingering ties

The upcoming India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue offers an appropriate platform to move past complaints both sides have against each other in the trade and economic spheres. The stage can be used to re-apply emphasis on strategic relations and reach levels of goodwill established during the time of former U.S. President George W. Bush and Manmohan Singh

Obama 210x140 Courtesy: Shotgun Spratling/ Flickr
20 June 2013

Giving up GWOT

U. S. President Barack Obama has strongly indicated a move away from the ‘Global War on Terrorism,’ – a term famously coined by his predecessor George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Given that a common definition of a ‘terrorist’ hasn’t yet been found, was the war on terrorism ever practical?

Gateway House Courtesy:
1 March 2013

Karl Eikenberry: “The Afghans can achieve their ambition…”

The military withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2014 is likely impact both South and Central Asia. Gateway House interviews former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, who also served as a military officer in Afghanistan, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in post-2014 Afghanistan.

foreign affairs july_2_0 Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
1 July 2012

The Right Way Out of Afghanistan

To leave behind a stable government in Afghanistan in 2014, the U.S. needs to work towards electoral reforms, negotiations with the Taliban, and a regional settlement involving Pakistan.

U.S.-Afghanistan agreement: A welcome start Courtesy: U.S. Department of Defense
27 April 2012

U.S.-Afghanistan agreement: A welcome start

An important take-away from the preliminary pact reached by Kabul and Washington is that unlike the 1990s, the Americans are not just packing their bags and leaving. This is good news in terms of regional stability, and the upcoming NATO summit may answer some questions this draft agreement raises.