Courtesy: Nayanima Basu
The arrival of the sacred Piprahwa relics in Leh in May 2026 was more than a religious event; it was a powerful act of cultural reclamation and civilisational diplomacy. Linked to the Buddha’s Sakya clan, the relics reaffirm India’s place as the birthplace of Buddhism while sending a strong signal to China. As Beijing increasingly politicises Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama’s succession, this heritage carries growing geopolitical significance.
Courtesy: Reuters
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.”
Courtesy: New Spotlight Magazine
Building a robust engagement with India on energy can help offset some of the economic and political crises that most of India’s neighbours are facing. Smaller South Asian neighbours will benefit from cheaper electricity and oil, paving the way for greater regional economic cooperation.
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
The recently concluded BIMSTEC summit is now a regional intergovernmental organization with a formal charter, giving it a clear mission and legality and a destiny linked to South and South East Asia. It is now better equipped to accelerate economic development for the fifth of the world’s population, which contributes only 4% of global GDP.
Courtesy: Twitter/@MaithripalaS
India is subtly adding four new elements in the policy matrix
Courtesy: India Today
The origin of current India-China hostilities in Bhutan harks back to a colonial era agreement framed in 1890 between the British and the Qing empire on issues related to Tibet and Sikkim. The present standoff is an occasion to revisit many aspects of a relationship that has shown perennial strain
Courtesy: Indian Embassy Thimphu
India’s long-term positive relationship with Bhutan is underpinned by hydropower: India helped develop Bhutan’s power projects and we purchase the surplus energy.The India-Bhutan relationship can be a model for improving links with Nepal which is trying to develop at least three projects jointly with India
Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
Narendra Modi has picked Bhutan for his first foreign visit after taking charge, a sign that the neighbourhood is a foreign policy priority for the new government. Bhutan’s economy is closely linked to that of India’s, and despite pressures from powerful countries, Bhutan has always kept Indian interests paramount.