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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.
Relations between India and the Central Asia Republics (CARs) have matured over the past three decades, primarily in the areas of military technology, defence, counterterrorism, and economy, and culture. Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and the resultant security, geostrategic, and geoeconomic challenges, India and the CARs must aim to strengthen their ties. This brief assesses the evolving situation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan and India enjoyed a “romantic relationship,” with close cultural ties.
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.
The Nawaz Sharif government's offer of the olive branch to TTP seems more like an act of desperation than a serious attempt to bring about stability in the country. As the previous deals with militants have shown, the outcomes have favoured militants more than the governments.
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.
Reconciliation with the Taliban is critical to the US transition plan for Afghanistan. Although there have been secret and persistent talks with some key elements of the Taliban leadership during the last two years, a tangible outcome has yet to emerge from these negotiations.
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.
Curbing drunken driving requires that drivers, a small fraction of all travellers, be targeted. Most travellers are passengers.
While Open Building holds positive emancipatory potential for urban governance, the adverse impact of technology in an urban space must be kept in min
The Lebanese fear that a minor incident could get out of hand and cause war, and tumult the country into complete chaos.
Through initiatives like Project Meridian, central banks could move towards more efficient, secure, and accessible financial systems that benefit indi
The recently-held CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in India indicates the keenness to enhance the Indo-Africa ties via trade and entrepreneurial initiatives.
The border between India and Bangladesh—highly crucial to their bilateral relationship—has always been difficult to manage given, for one, its sheer length. The most important bilateral initiative between Bangladesh and India may yet be the attempt to resolve the longstanding border dispute that arose after the Partition of 1947, by means of the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and the exchange of enclaves (chhitmahals) and adverse possessi
There are concerns about how well the newly merged cantonments will be governed under the ULBs
Little is known and even less understood about the 2,00,000-strong Bangladesh Army's corporate interests. The importance of the subject owes itself to the fact that the army has been a veritable power of stability in a country that has been dogged by decades of unending political turmoil. The fact that the Army had to step in to keep the country from slipping into a political abyss in 2006 underlines the criticality of its role in providing stabi
The Biden administration’s decision to bar DAB’s access to forex reserves has caused tremendous hardships to the Afghan people. Creating new susta
India already ranks very high among countries in terms of disaster events with urban floods now being added to the list
President Biden has been left in charge of responsibly withdrawing from Afghanistan, while holding the Taliban accountable and not leaving the Afghan
Despite concerted efforts to improve urban public transport, the use of personal vehicles has increased across India. City administrations must consider promoting the use of paratransit vehicles, such as bike-taxis, that can provide ridership to more commuters than a private vehicle. While bike-taxis are prevalent in some Indian cities, their use is curtailed elsewhere in the country by state policy and statutes. Amid growing city congest
Chittagong Port is a step towards strengthening India-Bangladesh bilateral ties and is mutually beneficial to both the South-Asian nations.
They shouldn’t have been nationalized 50 years ago. So why is today’s government perpetuating the problem?
The façade of federalism is apparent as none of the government levels want to part with their authority
Taliban 2.0 are working towards ensuring that they are not dependent on external sources of revenue
The BRICS' National Development Bank is not trying to replace the IMF-World Bank. It will play a complementary role, catering to the needs of developing countries.
Bangladesh has witnessed a resurgence in terror activities since 2013, indicating regrouping of the Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.
India is witnessing a phenomenal increase in urbanisation and it is essential that this process is studied and analysed thoroughly to provide for a better quality of life, said Mr. Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institution, while formally releasing ORF Mumbai Vision 2015: Agenda for Urban Renewal, published by Observer Research Foundation in ORF Mumbai on September 20.
Cities of the future must have sustainable mobility baked into the core planning process with the ultimate goal of meeting transport demand in a cost-
The G20 will need to deliver on its collaborative commitment to accelerate the investment momentum in our agri-food systems in order to build sustaina
While the Afghan government has begun the release of Taliban prisoners and the US prepares for a drawdown in troop numbers, the Taliban’s ties to th
Unless a sectoral re-allocation of water resources enforcing adequate demand management is done, the issues of water scarcity might not be resolved.
To control diseases in a more sustainable manner, the health of the inhabitants has to become a key factor of urban development.
Climate change, which has been the global poster agenda for the last two decades, could be used as a strategic area for further cementing a genuine an
