20843 results found
With the importance of space access growing, there is a clear recognition that both the public and private sector are critical to advancement.
While much focus is given to North India’s air pollution crisis, Mumbai must now wait till there is a health emergency to act on its rising air poll
By declaring that his talks with Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri would produce nothing dramatic or drastic, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh might have robbed the event of the avoidable media hype, the like of which had attended on the ¿Agra summit¿ earlier. At the end of it, the two-day ministerial meeting in New Delhi was a cup that was not half-full. Nor was it half-empty. In turn, this indicated that the two Gover
The ORF conference stressed that the Sri Lankan state must be very sensitive towards creating the right perceptions about its policy of inclusiveness towards the Tamil minority
Turkey, which had invested heavily in the success of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, was obviously agitated by the circumstances in which the Egyptian President had to go. The Turkish government had given them aid, advise and even garbage cans as a step towards improving the quality of governance.
Despite former President Musharraf's departure, neither the ISI nor the Army, could disengage itself from its dream - strategic depth in Afghanistan.
Two years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, the debates around whether the group remains intact or has become divided have surfaced once again. In the immediate aftermath of the fall of Kabul in August 2021, there were speculations that the country could be going into a civil war or the Taliban would eventually come to a split. This brief analyses the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s resurgence in Kabul and weighs in o
This alliance is still capable of recruiting, training, and executing largescale, coordinated attacks. Hence, a need to see an end to this alliance is
By all accounts, the new Taliban is more aggressive, well armed and trained, in collaboration with Al Qaeda and other terrorist elements, determined to take over, to begin with, southern Afghanistan, despite the presence of coalition forces.
The situation for most Afghans remains critical
Increased insurgent violence in Afghanistan since the start of the Taliban's 'spring offensive' in May has further deteriorated the country's state of security.
There are increasing signs of Talibanisation striking roots in some of the districts of Punjab, the political and military centre of Pakistan, said Prof. Kalim Bahadur, well-known expert on Pakistan, during a discussion organised at Observer Research Foundation on September 12 in New Delhi.
The Taliban walks a tightrope as it tries to balance India and Pakistan.
As Pakistan grapples with an existential polycrisis of the state, the response of the TTP and Afghan Taliban across the border raise additional concer
In the midst of the chaotic withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban swept back to power in Kabul on 15 August 2021. Since then, the Taliban have repeatedly attempted to project a more moderate brand of governance. However, the Taliban leaders have yet to enunciate clear policies on issues such as women’s and girls’ access to education, employment, and political participation. Early indications nonetheless suggest that th
With the Taliban grappling with both internal and external challenges, the need of the hour is to help it develop a joint security system.
Afghan female journalists have no choice but to give up their profession as the Taliban increases pressure.
As the Obama administration debates the speed of its military withdrawal from Afghanistan between now and 2014, there is mounting pressure on all parties to find negotiated solutions.
The Centre cannot be seen as taking tentative steps if and when the talks commenced, and get enmeshed in complications from the Law and Order (a State subject) to issues of tribal welfare, industrial investments, development, etc.
Any realistic assessment would suggest that the Taliban holds the key to the Afghan peace process. An Indian engagement with the Taliban does not mean a political endorsement of its ideology or worldview. Finding a way to talk to the Taliban must necessarily be a part of Delhi's Afghan policy mix.
Pakistan has not given up its dream of controlling Afghanistan. It gives Rawalpindi an incredible reach and influence in the region and a legitimacy at home which has been under severe strain since the Abbottabad raid. The Taliban office in Doha is the first step towards such a goal. In that sense, the Doha office is a breakthrough for Rawalpindi more than any one else.
India has maintained that there is no such thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Taliban, and that it views the group under a single umbrella. While dipl
The release of seven Afghan prisoners by Pakistan over the weekend has raised hopes, once again, for a formal dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban leaders under the protection of Pakistan.
Don't provoke China has been the mantra behind New Delhi's recent "go slow" strategy with Japan. At the very moment when many Asian countries are frightened by the prospect of China's non-peaceful rise and are looking to Indian leadership in constructing a stable Asian balance of power, Delhi seems trapped in strategic hesitation.
It is obvious that the Kashmir problem has to be resolved only through negotiations between the two Prime Ministers. With the recent election results from the four States going against the UPA, it is likely that Pakistan may not make an effective push towards a solution of the issue till the next parliamentary elections are over.
The Indo-Afghanistan strategic partnership is also an important backup for the region because of uncertainties on account of the run upto the US Presidential elections in November 2012.
As part of the 'Maritime Security Programme (MSP) which was launched by the then Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash on 19th May 2006 at ORF Chennai, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), ORF Chennai Chapter conducted a day long seminar on "Tamil Nadu Coastal Development and Security: Challenges and Responses" on 5th May 2007.
Sadly, legislation, in democracies, is strongly influenced by political economy which dilutes technical good sense
To what extent will Biden’s priorities impact China?
BRICS was complicated from its inception, India must focus on its own priorities
The apparent hydrological paradox is natural, but its impact is man-made.
The TAPI pipeline is not merely about economics. Geo-political concerns have played a crucial role in pushing the project, especially the deteriorating US-Iran relationship, amongst others. Two US companies have evinced also keen interest.
The quad -- India, Australia, Japan, and the United States -- should take care to prevent the possible dangers in China's rise from becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It should use the wide menu of options for quadrilateral cooperation to bargain for diplomatic resolution of China's disputes with its neighbours.
Although, plentiful has been written about China’s inaction during the early days of the outbreak of this pandemic, there is scant mention of WHO be
Terrorism is rapidly striking deep roots in India, propelled in no less measure by external forces, namely Pakistan, and a few other countries that are willing to provide material support to agencies and forces inimical to India.
Ten years on, the two obvious questions we continue to ponder are first, why Mumbai? And more importantly, can it happen again, and if so, is Mumbai p
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission¿s latest tariff order for the year 2004-05 has once again increased average power tariffs by almost 10% and hit the poor the hardest even as private utilities have virtually failed to control billing losses and power thefts.
The lack of technical details and progress of the peace talks amid ongoing land and air incursions in the borderlands has drawn criticism that the neg
Readers will recall the short history of corporate tax reductions under Modi 1.0.
It is clear that the reform that began by addressing tax challenges from digitalisation is now one of taxing MNEs better
Why the international community must stall European Parliament’s decision to include shipping in its emissions trading system
Taxing someone who is earning in crores at a much higher rate than 30 per cent is quite justifiable in terms of equity and it is in accordance with the principle of progressive taxation.
Joint statements from both the visits emphasised the critical importance of the US–ROK–Japan alliance to the regional security order.
Modi has got rid of underachievers and brought in the best of the talent at his disposal to mind infrastructure, agriculture, energy and railways, apa
Counter-proliferation, counterterrorism, maritime security, maritime domain awareness and HADR are some of the potential areas for JAI to work togethe
As we enter the new decade, it is critical that nations and communities be able to realise the transformative potential of emerging technologies, in a
Given the rapid advances made by authoritarian regimes in the tech space, democracies must work together to promote collective technology leadership.
