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Avoiding a Great Depression
Jul 01, 2015

Avoiding a Great Depression

India need to do more to speed up its own financial sector reforms and make it stronger because the percentage of NPAs has reached a dangerous level of 4.45 per cent and could reach 6 per cent soon. Unless the banking system is strong, India cannot be on a higher trajectory of growth.

Avoiding catastrophe of a war
Jun 19, 2019

Avoiding catastrophe of a war

Approximately 73 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world finds itself in similar straightened circumstances as the US once again puts into motion steps to curb the rise of another Asian power — China.

Awaiting the 'Andhra turmoil'
Dec 30, 2010

Awaiting the 'Andhra turmoil'

When the rest of the nation is looking up to a brighter day in the New Year, Andhra Pradesh, faced with the revived Telangana issue, may be knotting itself in very many complicated ways, and the unknotting could become even more complicated with each such unknotting.

Azadi March in Pakistan - Nawaz Sharif vs Army?
Aug 22, 2014

Azadi March in Pakistan - Nawaz Sharif vs Army?

The synchronised protest marches undertaken by Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and cleric Tahir-ul Qadri, chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), culminated in a combined sit-in outside the Parliament building in Islamabad.

Back to Square One on Kashmir
Sep 18, 2010

Back to Square One on Kashmir

Farooq and Omar Abdullahs are not sufficiently "provincial" to manage a province. They are cosmopolitan men with considerable potential on the national turf - and we are short of such personalities on the national stage.

Back to square one?
Jan 19, 2013

Back to square one?

Since 2010, Pakistan has already violated the ceasefire more than 222 times. In 2012 alone, there were 117 instances, mostly concentrated in the Uri and Krishna Ghati areas.

Back to the era of simultaneous polls?
Jun 24, 2015

Back to the era of simultaneous polls?

The Parliamentary Standing Committee's (on Personnel, Public Grievances, and Law & Order) decision to consider the possibility of recommending 'concurrent' or 'simultaneous' elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies across the country is a suggestion worth serious consideration, like very many other aspects of electoral reforms.

Back to the labyrinth
May 12, 2015

Back to the labyrinth

It is time to pause to remind Prime Minister Modi of his campaign promise "minimum government, maximum governance". It is sad this is one promise being heard less and less of each passing day.

Bad news for Musharraf
Feb 03, 2005

Bad news for Musharraf

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in his five years as the martial law administrator, has never faced challenges of the magnitude he is grappling with now. Internally, Pakistan is faced with a crisis on many fronts. Despite a stable Government for over five years, and scores of promises, there is no sign of democracy.

Badaun gang-rape: Does Uttar Pradesh deserve its women?
Jun 02, 2014

Badaun gang-rape: Does Uttar Pradesh deserve its women?

No other State seems to have treated its women as brutally as Uttar Pradesh routinely does. While UP comes after Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, let us not forget that that these two States are badly riddled with Naxalism which gives another turn to the discussion.

Balancing innovation and employment
Nov 09, 2015

Balancing innovation and employment

India is strategically investing in manufacturing and industrialisation or more accurately reversing what has been called a "premature de-industrialization". However, while precision manufacture will create value, it will not create jobs, certainly not as many as India needs.

Baloch Shadow Over Wen Jiabao's Visit
Apr 19, 2005

Baloch Shadow Over Wen Jiabao's Visit

The decision by the Pakistani and the Chinese authorities to cancel the programme for the formal inauguration of the newly-constructed Gwadar port by the Chinese Prime Minister Mr Wen Jiabao during his recent visit to Pakistan gave a clear indication of the further deterioration in the situation in Balochistan.

Baloch's silent war
Mar 19, 2015

Baloch's silent war

Several thousand Baloch men and women nationalists are known to have gone missing, and, as usual, the authorities have unleashed sectarian terrorists in Balochistan to discredit the nationalists by injecting their reliable hit men from the ASWJ, the successors to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They have repeatedly killed Hazara Shias in Balochistan.

Balochistan : Denials and silences
May 21, 2014

Balochistan : Denials and silences

While there has been considerable commentary in Pakistan about what happened to jounalist Hamid Mir, there is silence about the fast unto death by a young Baloch, Latif Johar who has been seeking the release of Zahid Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch Students' Organisation.

Balochistan Continues to Haunt Musharraf
Dec 29, 2004

Balochistan Continues to Haunt Musharraf

As already pointed out in our earlier articles on this subject, the unrest is, inter alia, due to anger over the suppression of the nationalist aspirations of the Balochs by the Government in Islamabad,

Balochistan: Behind an Iron Curtain
Aug 04, 2010

Balochistan: Behind an Iron Curtain

Awake my Punjab, Pakistan is ebbing away, Baloch poet, philosopher and Left Wing activist lawyer, Habib Jalib wrote, "Our Dreams have faded now, Pakistan is ebbing away, / Sindh, Baluchistan, have been weeping for ages.

Baluchistan on the boil
Jan 04, 2006

Baluchistan on the boil

Pakistan¿s largest province, Baluchistan, is again on the boil. Two rocket firing incidents took place in early December, 2005. The first incident involved firing on a helicopter carrying the Inspector-General of the Frontier Corps. In the second, a rocket was fired at a public meeting addressed by Gen Pervez Musharraf at Kohlu. These incidents appear to have provided an immediate provocation to launch an operation by the Pakistan Army and the F

Bangla MPs hope Modi Govt will take bilateral relations to a different level
Nov 22, 2014

Bangla MPs hope Modi Govt will take bilateral relations to a different level

A delegation of visiting Members of Parliament from Bangladesh, taking part in an interaction with academics, media-persons and ORF faculty, hoped that the new government in India would take the relations between the two countries to a different level.

Bangladesh after elections
Feb 20, 2009

Bangladesh after elections

It would be useful if India adopted a more generous approach towards resolving some of the contentious issues which have hindered a stronger bilateral relationship

Bangladesh FM calls for Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin Regime
Jul 25, 2013

Bangladesh FM calls for Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin Regime

Delivering the 4th RK Mishra Memorial Lecture, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Dr Dipu Moni, called for a Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin Regime, going beyond the boundaries of Bangladesh and India, to address the common realities of our region.

Bangladesh immigration: Modi needs to be careful
May 27, 2014

Bangladesh immigration: Modi needs to be careful

Rather than rushing to deport people, the new Modi government needs to carefully weigh a solution that will benefit all stakeholders. After all, friendly relations with its neighbors is in India's interests.

Bangladesh is changing; but not enough
May 17, 2012

Bangladesh is changing; but not enough

Bangladesh have witnessed changes in the last eight years, but they were not enough, according to speakers at a conference on India's relationship with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh still struggling to establish fully functional democracy
Nov 12, 2014

Bangladesh still struggling to establish fully functional democracy

Bangladesh's journey of democracy did not have a healthy start and it is still struggling with establishing a fully functioning democracy as is seen by the presence of confrontational politics and the dysfunctional parliament, according to former Bangladesh Major General Muniruzzaman.

Bangladesh's fight against militancy continues
Dec 31, 2010

Bangladesh's fight against militancy continues

Bangladesh needs to be commended for its efforts in fighting the rightwing militancy. The anti-militancy drive initiated by the Awami League Government in 2009 was further intensified in 2010

Bangladesh's web of Jihadi terror
Jun 24, 2015

Bangladesh's web of Jihadi terror

Though the Hasina Government is pursuing an active counter-terrorism programme and has succeeded in controlling the activities of various radical organisations in the real world, it has failed to curb their activities in the virtual world.

Bangladesh, India ties: A new neighbourhood model
Oct 30, 2019

Bangladesh, India ties: A new neighbourhood model

Sheikh Hasina has guided her country’s policy wisely and adroitly, making Bangladesh the best performing economy in Asia.

Bangladesh-Russia Nuclear Deal
Jun 14, 2010

Bangladesh-Russia Nuclear Deal

Securing Bangladesh's energy supply in the face of its growing needs has been the primary motivation for the country to sign the recent agreement with Russia for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Bangladesh: A Seeming Crack-Down
Mar 02, 2005

Bangladesh: A Seeming Crack-Down

The so-called crack-down on religious extremist elements ordered by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh has been selective.

Bangladesh: Chinese port building picking up?
May 30, 2014

Bangladesh: Chinese port building picking up?

Media in Bangladesh recently reported that China is all set to win the contract of the coveted deep-sea port in Sonadia, a small town of 9 sqkm offshore of Cox's Bazaar in Chittagong division.

Bangladesh: Election-2014, an assessment
Jan 24, 2014

Bangladesh: Election-2014, an assessment

On 5 January, parliamentary elections were held in Bangladesh. They were boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18 party alliance, allowing the Awami League to win the election with two thirds majority and with very little opposition.

Bangladesh: End of energy politics in the Bay of Bengal
Aug 01, 2014

Bangladesh: End of energy politics in the Bay of Bengal

The settlement of the maritime dispute between India and Bangladesh has ended the energy politics in the Bay of Bengal region. The verdict from The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has removed obstacle for Bangladesh to exploit the rich hydro-carbon reserves in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh: Huji, Al-Qaeda nexus cause for concern
Jul 17, 2015

Bangladesh: Huji, Al-Qaeda nexus cause for concern

Recently security agencies arrested 12 activists of the banned militant organisation Harkatul Jihad in Bangladesh. These arrests revealed that the group was preparing merger with the South Asia chapter of the international militant organisation Al-Qaeda.

Bangladesh: India's Foreign Secretary's visit: An assessment
Jun 17, 2011

Bangladesh: India's Foreign Secretary's visit: An assessment

India-Bangladesh relations got a major boost with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's three-day visit to Bangladesh in June this year. This has also brightened the prospects of visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmonhan Singh to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: Indian angle in internal politics
Apr 20, 2013

Bangladesh: Indian angle in internal politics

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran had a narrow escape as his car was attacked in Khulna. Initial investigation showed that the bombs were of low intensity.

Bangladesh: Is political violence reviving instability?
Dec 14, 2012

Bangladesh: Is political violence reviving instability?

Bangladesh witnessed the worst kind of political violence in the past few weeks following a series of protests called by the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

Bangladesh: Political implications of 'upazila' elections
Mar 28, 2014

Bangladesh: Political implications of 'upazila' elections

The ongoing upazila elections in Bangladesh are a move to deepen democracy at the grassroots. Since the election came just after the parliamentary polls that took place in January and was boycotted by main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP),

Bangladesh: Political violence on the rise again
Sep 23, 2011

Bangladesh: Political violence on the rise again

The violent incident on the streets of Dhaka involvingJamaat-e-Islami (JI) activists on September 19 has ignited fear among the people of Bangladesh that the country might again slip into a reign of chaos and unrest.

Bangladesh: Politics of hartal is back
Feb 06, 2015

Bangladesh: Politics of hartal is back

After a year of comparative stability in 2014, politics of hartal (street agitation) is back in Bangladesh. The country is almost paralysed for almost a month following strings of hartal staged by opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its campaign to oust Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government.

Bangladesh: Testing time still ahead
Apr 17, 2015

Bangladesh: Testing time still ahead

Last week Bangladesh celebrated the Bengali New Year, the biggest festival of the country with much fanfare. Celebration of Bengali New Year has special significance for the country as it marks the values for which Bangladesh fought for -- its culture and the liberal values.

Bangladesh: War crimes tribunal - Better late than never
Feb 15, 2013

Bangladesh: War crimes tribunal - Better late than never

In a rare move, the Bangladesh government has taken up the task of correcting the history by trying the 'war criminals' of the 1971 Independence War. In the nine-month-long freedom movement, 2.5-3 million people had died.

Bangladesh: Warming up to the US on all fronts
Jun 08, 2012

Bangladesh: Warming up to the US on all fronts

Bangladesh, once described as 'basket case' by veteran US strategist Henry Kissinger, has gathered new prominence in US' South Asia policy. The visit of US Secretary of State by Hillary Clinton in May this year that resulted in signing of a joint statement

Bangladesh: Warring Begums
Jan 12, 2015

Bangladesh: Warring Begums

The political situation in Bangladesh is reverting to the bad old days of hartals and blockades. Major countries which could influence the Sheikh Hasina government, including India, seem reluctant to pressurise her. India has been clearly backing her for the time being, knowing that the alternative could be worse.

Bangladesh: What city corporation elections indicate
May 01, 2015

Bangladesh: What city corporation elections indicate

The recently-concluded elections to three city corporations of Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong put forward some interesting trend about the present political situation in the country.