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Russia-Pak relations: Beyond Putin's cancelled trip to Islamabad
Oct 03, 2012

Russia-Pak relations: Beyond Putin's cancelled trip to Islamabad

While Russia is aware of Islamabad's role in fomenting international terrorism, it realises that any successful resolution of the problems associated with Afghanistan must involve Pakistan. A cancelled presidential visit cannot change the relevance of this, or of Russia's goal, in enhancing ties with Pakistan.

Russia-Turkey deal and geo-politics of gas
Dec 30, 2014

Russia-Turkey deal and geo-politics of gas

At a time when it is facing Western sanctions and a proxy war on oil prices, Russia sprang a huge surprise early this month by signing a gas deal with Turkey. The deal will enable Russia to pump natural gas into a Turkish hub, near the Turkey-Greece border and from there into the southern EU market.

Russia-US deal puts Syrian rebels back to "minus one"
Sep 21, 2013

Russia-US deal puts Syrian rebels back to "minus one"

The Syrian rebels are not back to square one, but to minus one. They have been outsmarted by the Assad regime, just as the Russians outsmarted the Americans.

Russia-Vietnam cooperation in the Asia Pacific
Aug 02, 2013

Russia-Vietnam cooperation in the Asia Pacific

While Russia has been very careful of not antagonising China, which has emerged as Moscow's second largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific, Beijing is uncomfortable by the nature of Moscow's involvement in Hanoi.

Russian Boost To Kyoto Protocol
Jun 07, 2004

Russian Boost To Kyoto Protocol

Humanity depends heavily on the various benefits that nature provides us. It's impossible to truly estimate its value. However, economists and environmental scientists have estimated in dollars what it would cost us to accomplish the services nature provides. Using multiple databases, they estimate that nature provides $33 trillion dollars worth of services every year¿that's nearly twice the annual Gross National Product (GNP) of all the countri

Russian Far East & opportunities for India
Jan 31, 2014

Russian Far East & opportunities for India

If the Indian government appropriately leverages Russia's goodwill, Russian Far East could turn out to be a growth area for Indian business. Innovatively implemented, India's ties with the Russian Far East could help cement Indo-Russian relations as well as bolster its ties with Central Asia and East Asia.

Russian pipeline
Jul 16, 2014

Russian pipeline

Given its vast coastline, Delhi should devote its attention for now to importing hydrocarbons by sea, investing in equity oil in Russia and other energy-rich countries, and concluding swap arrangements rather than grandiose transregional pipelines.

SAARC 'A Non Starter
Dec 08, 2004

SAARC 'A Non Starter

SAARC conjures up an image of jamborees and no results. The South Asian Association of Regional cooperation with its seven members ( India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh) remains one of the most dysfunctional trade blocs and there is hardly any freedom of movement of goods, services and people. The next (13th) SAARC summit is going to be held in Dhaka in the beginning of January 2005.

SAARC countries need to do much more to fight terrorism
Mar 20, 2012

SAARC countries need to do much more to fight terrorism

India has said that the regional efforts to counter terrorism in South Asia continue to face significant challenges though there are various SAARC frameworks on suppression of terrorism since 1987.

SAARC energy agreement: What should be the next steps?
Dec 08, 2014

SAARC energy agreement: What should be the next steps?

The SAARC energy agreement signed may have given some hope for the realisation of energy cooperation in South Asia. But, it needs to be understood that an overarching agreement has little impact on project-based cooperation, owing to the centrality of India in the South Asian geography.

SAARC should focus on higher education
Jun 23, 2005

SAARC should focus on higher education

Amb M Rasgotra, International Affairs Adviser, Observer Research Foundation, and former Foreign Secretary of India, was invited as Chief Guest at the Convocation of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lnaka, held on June 23, 2005. The complete text of his Convocation Address is reproduced below:

SAARC Summit: Finally, some positive movements
Nov 18, 2011

SAARC Summit: Finally, some positive movements

The 17th SAARC Summit was held at Addu Atoll, Maldives on the 10th and 11th of November 2011. The venue, in the words of the Bhutanese Prime Minister, reflected the vastness of South Asia.

SAARC Summit: Long term opportunities and immediate threats
Nov 24, 2014

SAARC Summit: Long term opportunities and immediate threats

Despite SAARC's failures of the past, the repeated declarations by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the need to reinvigorate ties with neighbouring states have created a renewed interest in the possibilities of multilateral cooperation under SAARC.

SAARC: 'Challenge to do even better'
Nov 18, 2011

SAARC: 'Challenge to do even better'

The 17th SAARC Summit, held on 10-11 November at Addu City in Maldives, will be remembered for three things - for the inspiring speech of the outgoing Chair,

SAARC: Balancing regional realities, global modalities
Dec 06, 2014

SAARC: Balancing regional realities, global modalities

In context of SAARC, the reality of the situation demands that India handles Pakistan separately. India also has to approach the rest of SAARC neighbours with a more accommodative mind-set. Such mind-sets cannot be confined to sharing history and culture, economic prosperity and development-spending.

Sabarmati Summit
Sep 17, 2014

Sabarmati Summit

Hard-nosed realists around the world are impressed with Modi's diplomatic flair seen during his visits to Nepal and Japan. But they ask if Modi can go beyond the atmospherics and bring about a substantial change in the relationship with China. Here again, Modi has the opportunity to introduce change.

Saif Al-'Adl: New Interim al Qaeda chief
May 23, 2011

Saif Al-'Adl: New Interim al Qaeda chief

Within a fortnight of the death of Osama bin Laden, news came of the appointment of a senior al Qaeda leader, Saif Al-'Adl, as the interim chief, indicating clearly an internal tussle for the leadership of the global terrorist group, raising, in the process,

Same same, but different
Mar 27, 2015

Same same, but different

The buzzword across three principal Asian countries � India, China and Japan � is 'reform'. While the test for China is tough enough, the challenge for India is far tougher. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has promised "the most drastic reforms since the end of the Second World War".

Sanctions on Myanmar will not work
Oct 18, 2007

Sanctions on Myanmar will not work

Observer Research Foundation (ORF) organised a brainstorming session on "Possible Approaches for India's policy towards Myanmar" on October 18, 2007. The meeting discussed a gamut of issues including India's Myanmar policy, sanction regime, the China factor, Myanmar's political transition, and international community's response to the recent uprising in Myanmar.

Sanctions only delay nuclear Iran
Mar 04, 2013

Sanctions only delay nuclear Iran

To understand the different aspects of the Iranian nuclear programme and its impact on the region, especially India, Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), organised a workshop on March 4, 2013.

Sanders narrows down the gap with Clinton
Jul 08, 2015

Sanders narrows down the gap with Clinton

Unlike the crowded and competitive Republican presidential nomination field, the Democratic field, for a long time, looked empty with only Hillary Clinton. The strong entry of Sanders in the Democratic nomination has given the American voters a fair choice between Clinton and Sanders' respective brands of politics.

Sankararaman Murder Case: What's happening?
May 05, 2005

Sankararaman Murder Case: What's happening?

In yet another bizarre turn to the Sankararaman murder case, the Tamil Nadu police have arrested Mutt manager Sundaresa Iyer and junior pontiffs brother Raghu under the anti-drugs law. They have now been charged with conspiring to murder construction contractor Ravi Subramaniam, who has turned approver in the Sankararaman murder case,

Sauce for the goose but not for the gander
Mar 02, 2010

Sauce for the goose but not for the gander

Showing images of attacks on US soldiers in Iraq is a crime? In what category do we then place the complete destruction of what was once Mesopotamia, one of the world's earliest civilizations?

Saudi Arabia steps up anti-terror fight
Mar 11, 2014

Saudi Arabia steps up anti-terror fight

Over the last few years, Delhi has found Riyadh more forthcoming in tracking down terrorists of concern to India. As the Kingdom enters a more decisive phase in their war against terror, the prospects for security cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia are likely to improve.

Saudi Arabia-Iran: Resilient animosity?
Jun 11, 2014

Saudi Arabia-Iran: Resilient animosity?

Even as the 'Arab Spring' confrontations develop a sectarian character, the Saudi-Iranian relationship cannot be perceived through the dichotomous lens of sectarianism or of pragmatism. The evolving relationship between the two states incorporates both elements

Saudi Arabia: A nation in turmoil
Jul 16, 2004

Saudi Arabia: A nation in turmoil

¿Unlike in Egypt, Algeria and Yemen, no well¿defined group engaged in sustained terrorism has emerged in Saudi Arabia¿i. A lot has been said and written about Saudi Arabia¿s role in the largely defunct ¿war on terror¿. The ruling family of the House of Saud has been an unabashed US ally in the campaign to hunt out terrorists.

Saudi succession
Jan 07, 2015

Saudi succession

The NDA government has not devoted sufficient attention to the Middle East in 2014. As New Delhi turns to the Gulf in 2015 and tends to its high stakes in the region, an intensive engagement with Saudi Arabia must be at the top of PM Narendra Modi's diplomatic priorities.

Saudis in Pakistan
Jan 10, 2014

Saudis in Pakistan

Amidst the growing distrust of the US and the absence of domestic capabilities to confront a rising Iran, the Saudis are determined to strengthen their regional alliances, especially the historic partnership with Pakistan.

Saving fish, fishing and fisheries
Dec 31, 2013

Saving fish, fishing and fisheries

In seeking 'Scheduled Castes' identity, fishers across India, including those in southern Tamil Nadu coast, need to acknowledge the double-edged weapon that court orders have been in conferring 'tribal rights' on land-based SC communities.

Science & Technology Challenges for India
Jul 05, 2005

Science & Technology Challenges for India

Recongnising the pivotal role of technology in ensuring India?s emergence as a global player, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi, has launched a ?Technology Initiative?. As the first event, a one-day workshop on ?Science & Technology Challenges for India? is being hosted on May 7, 2005. The workshop brings together renowned professionals to evolve collective, cohesive thinking on issues of significance to India?s S&T performance and as

SCO vs NATO
Jun 07, 2012

SCO vs NATO

For Indian Foreign Policy radicals, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, whose leaders are meeting this week in Beijing, is about an undying dream from the past - building an eastern bloc against the West.

Scoring own goals
Oct 16, 2015

Scoring own goals

Normal relations and peace with Pakistan are not possible unless Pakistan stops supporting terrorism and there is verifiable evidence. Even then, what the Shiv Sena goons did to Sudheendra Kulkarni preceding Kasuri's book launch was a national shame. This action does no credit to any Indian.

Scoring self-goals with Pakistan
Feb 18, 2011

Scoring self-goals with Pakistan

We have decided to resume the so-called composite dialogue with Pakistan, without admitting as much. Why not be frank about the change in our position? Why resort to word play to obfuscate?

Sea change of China power
Feb 11, 2014

Sea change of China power

While Australia-Indonesia ties are in limbo, it would make sense to deepen the Australia-India side of the triangle. Here the potential areas for action are maritime domain awareness, naval intelligence sharing, providing access to each other's naval facilities, and working together to improve the capacity of smaller states in the Indian Ocean.

Second Asian Forum on Global Governance in October
Oct 14, 2012

Second Asian Forum on Global Governance in October

After its successful maiden meeting last year, the Asian Forum on Global Governance will be organised again in New Delhi from October 14 - 24 this year. The nomination and application process is going on since March 15. The last date for submission of applications is June 1.

Second Thomas Shoal: The new battleground
May 05, 2014

Second Thomas Shoal: The new battleground

The Second Thomas Shoal is the new flashpoint in the South China Sea. Solving it is vital for the region. The ASEAN definitely has the potential to facilitate dialogue with China. It must seize this opportunity or risk living with the consequences of failing to do so.

Secrecy law and Japan politics
Jan 22, 2014

Secrecy law and Japan politics

Japan has enacted a controversial secrecy law, despite increasing opposition from the public. Under the new law, there are harsher sentences, including prison term of up to 10 years for public servants and others who have access to sensitive information.

Section 66A: The challenge of giving up some freedoms to preserve others remains
Mar 30, 2015

Section 66A: The challenge of giving up some freedoms to preserve others remains

For whatever reason, it seems that Parliament never seriously debated the IT Act and Section 66A now struck down by the Supreme Court. Perhaps all parties wanted the restrictions of Section 66A to be around. It is believed that only three Lok Sabha MPs opposed 66A, the remaining 540 did not.

Secularism in Bangladesh: An Assessment
Oct 22, 2010

Secularism in Bangladesh: An Assessment

Recently, the Dhaka High Court declared Bangladesh as a secular nation. The verdict brought respite to the feeling of guilt among the people for denouncing secularism from the Constitution, one of the core values for which they had fought for during the liberation struggle of 1971.

Securing Afghanistan: India needs to go beyond symbolism
Jan 27, 2014

Securing Afghanistan: India needs to go beyond symbolism

India cannot afford to be a mere bystander to developments in its immediate Neighbourhood. A failure to assist Afghanistan at this crucial juncture would not only undermine India's long term security interests but would reflect poorly on New Delhi's reliance as a friendly partner in troubled times.

Securing digital terrain
Mar 17, 2015

Securing digital terrain

The Sony hack is a textbook example of the fog of cyberwar. The whole incident is a telling manifestation of the many aspects of cybersecurity: the question of state behavior in cyberspace; the threat to business advancing public-private cooperation in combating such attacks; and the question of motive

Securing food delivery
Jan 02, 2012

Securing food delivery

The national food security legislation may be well-intentioned but it can turn out to be a logistical nightmare if its delivery system is not designed optimally. Optimal delivery mechanism is the core element which will make or break this ambitious programme with serious fiscal implications over the longer term.

Securing Sea Lines of Communication in Asia
Nov 21, 2022

Securing Sea Lines of Communication in Asia

The Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) in the Indo-Pacific are a critical enabler of economic development and prosperity in the region but receive little policy attention. In an era of geopolitical contestation, with regional powers reluctant to exert military effort in preserving exclusive access in ‘contested’ spaces, joint military endeavours remain largely confined to non-traditional areas of security. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukr

Securitising climate change will defeat democracy in developing world
Feb 15, 2012

Securitising climate change will defeat democracy in developing world

Experts feel that securitising climate change would defeat democracy in developing parts of the world which already have an overwhelming presence of military. Therefore, a counter narrative for securitising climate change is imperative.

Security challenges remain
Jan 02, 2015

Security challenges remain

With NATO's combat mission in Afghanistan finally coming to an end this past week, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will now be responsible for security throughout the country.

Security in India's Neighborhood: The View from Washington
Mar 14, 2005

Security in India's Neighborhood: The View from Washington

In a talk jointly organized by ORF ORF Chennai and Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Madras on March 14, 2005, at the University of Madras, ORF Chennai,