Neighbourhood Studies
A Wrong Move on Lanka

Many arguments can be made against our decision to vote against Sri Lanka in the Human Rights Council in Geneva, a decision highly questionable from the foreign policy point of view. Domestic compulsions seem to have outweighed foreign policy conside....

Diplomatic Dilemma: India and UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka

The ghosts of war continue to haunt Sri Lanka in one form or the other. Now it has come as US-sponsored resolution at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The resolution is also backed by France and Norway that once....

An Insider’s Perspective

Riaz Mohammed Khan’s book “Afghanistan and Pakistan” adds to the already numerous books available on the shelves on the linked Afghanistan-Pakistan situation. The Taliban-takeover of Afghanistan, the 9/11 terror attack that provoked US military....

Balochistan on The Boil, Pakistan in Denial

The insurgency mounted by Baloch freedom fighters has been variously described as ‘Pakistan’s Other War’, ‘The Silent War’, ‘The Dirty War’ etc. by the international media. One of the main reasons why this ‘war’ has until now not ma....

PM Manmohan Singh’s Forthcoming Visit to Nepal: The Nepalese Context

Background As per the media report, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to make official visit to Nepal towards the last week of this month in March, 2012. Expectations are that this high level visit to Nepal by the Indian leader ....

Trade with Pakistan – An Unlikely Game-Changer

By all accounts, the misplaced optimism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on normalising relations with Pakistan appears to be rubbing off on some of his cabinet colleagues as well. The latest Indian cabinet minister to suffer from this affliction is ....

Resumption of India Pakistan Back Channel Talks: An Uncalled for Move

It is understood that the India-Pakistan back channel talks have been reactivated and are underway. It may be recalled that this back channel was initiated at the beginning of the UPA regime in 2004 and was in operation all along until its disruption....

Trilateral Summit and The Afghan Endgame

Notwithstanding all the tall talk of closer cooperation between them, the third Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan which was held in Islamabad in the third week of February was for all intents and purposes more an exercise in diploma....

Strategic Connotations: Development of Hambantota Port

Hambantota port is situated approximately 10 nautical miles from one of the busiest shipping lanes, in southern Sri Lanka. About 200 cargo vessels use it every day and it can handle vessels up to 100, 000 DWT. The Sri Lankan government hopes to bene....

India not Alone in Failure to Ensure Friendly Neighbours

It is generally believed that India has not handled its neighbourhood well and that this failure has diminshed its capacity to play a more prominent international role. Yes, India’s soft image, its perceived internal disarray, its inability to guar....

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