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The Stuck Afghan Turnstile
Sep 13, 2010

The Stuck Afghan Turnstile

Ever since I returned from Kabul, I am frequently asked by friends: when are the Americans leaving? When I say, "I don't know", I am dismissed like someone who has wasted his time in Afghanistan and returned without finding an answer to a universal query.

The Suu Kyi factor in China's Myanmar policy
Jun 12, 2015

The Suu Kyi factor in China's Myanmar policy

As Myanmar's general elections draws nearer and at a time when China's relations with Myanmar's military-backed government comes under increasing strains in recent months, Beijing seems to be stepping up its multiple-engagement strategy with key political actors to prepare itself for any eventuality post-elections.

The Taliban turns its attention on India
Nov 28, 2005

The Taliban turns its attention on India

Politicians and diplomats usually move on when an infinitely sad event eventually settles in the private domain. But that should not happen in the case of the tragic death of Maniappan Raman Kutty near Kandahar in Afghanistan last week at the hands of the Taliban.

The Telangana trouble
Aug 14, 2013

The Telangana trouble

With newer forms of identities taking over the older ones and parochialism and regional chauvinism becoming the new lingo of identity in the age of Twitter and Facebook, time is now ripe for a serious debate on reorganisation of States in India. The country can no longer afford to postpone this serious public policy issue.

The threat and opportunity of data in cyber sphere
Nov 02, 2015

The threat and opportunity of data in cyber sphere

Participants at a panel discussion on "The Changing Face of National Security Work - The Threat and Opportunity of Data" reiterated the importance of striking a balance: between civil liberties and national security, between sovereignty and international cooperation and between individual convenience and protection.

The Three B's of Brahmaputra
Oct 01, 2011

The Three B's of Brahmaputra

The three B's of Brahmaputra, reverberating the essential constituents of this River system, needs to be evaluated to understand the intricacy of the emerging situations.

The Three Theatres of the Arab World
Apr 25, 2011

The Three Theatres of the Arab World

In the short term, it appears Libya will be divided between East and West. The world, including the Arab public and 20 million Muslims in Europe, will see the partitioning of the country for what it is: not to stop the "slaughter" of the innocents but for Libya's light crude for which European refineries are specially geared.

The Tiger and the Stripes
Nov 29, 2003

The Tiger and the Stripes

The ¿injured innocence¿ in Prabhakaran¿s annual ¿Heroes¿ Day¿ address notwithstanding, the first major LTTE reaction to the ¿southern developments¿ following its counter-proposals to the Sri Lankan peace process has been on expected lines. While swearing by the peace process, Prabhakaran has once again hinted at the possibility of the LTTE going on the separatist route, and to war, if left with no other choice.

The time to counter Trojan horses
Dec 30, 2014

The time to counter Trojan horses

The Mehdi Masroor Biswas case has exposed our intelligence preparedness to fight cyber terrorism. Our intelligence agencies were not able to identify the owner of @shamiwitness Twitter account because of a spoofed IP address. Laughable, if it were not a matter of national security.

The tinderbox of North East Asia
Jan 02, 2013

The tinderbox of North East Asia

Given that Pakistan has close ties with North Korea, it may not be difficult to visualise that the North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile technology may well find its way into Pakistan. Such an introduction would seriously affect the delicate strategic balance of South Asia and start another round of arms/ missile race.

The Tragedy of Tucson
Jan 21, 2011

The Tragedy of Tucson

While "guns are as American as covered wagons and the infield-fly rule", unless there are sensible gun control measures, the tragedy of Tucson won't be the last of its kind.

The Trans -Atlantic Defence Dilemma
Dec 11, 2003

The Trans -Atlantic Defence Dilemma

More than ever before, the United States needs the continued support of the European Union (EU) in defence and security matters, especially in the war against terrorism. A draft security strategy prepared in June 2003 by Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for the Common Security and Foreign Policy (CFSP) delineated the threats to security in Europe; international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and failed states.

The tricky path to a global climate agreement
Dec 01, 2014

The tricky path to a global climate agreement

In Lima and Paris, the global community must ensure that obsession with the legal nature of the post-Kyoto agreement does not detract from achieving what is eminently possible. The next year will in any case determine whether or not climate multilateralism will work.

The truth is out there
May 22, 2012

The truth is out there

Is the R&AW or any other intelligence service infallible? The answer is no. Is the R&AW competent? The answer is yes. Does it need continuous reform and upgrading? Of course, yes.

The Tsunami & the LTTE
Jan 11, 2005

The Tsunami & the LTTE

Sri Lanka has suffered the most human fatalities (30,000 plus) and infrastructure and other property damage after Indonesia in the catastrophic Tsunami disaster of December, 26, 2004.

The Tsunami - Some Security Aspects
Jan 04, 2005

The Tsunami - Some Security Aspects

Some security aspects of the widespread tragedy caused by the Tsunami of December 26, 2004, have not received the attention they deserve.

The Tsunami and After
Jan 04, 2004

The Tsunami and After

According to the Tsunami Laboratory at Novosibirsk in Siberia, there were 796 tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean region during the last century. Of these, only 117 caused human casualties and property damage. In the case of a majority of them, the human casualties and the property damage were near the source of the tsunami only.

The tussle for the Iranian Presidency
May 13, 2005

The tussle for the Iranian Presidency

Iranians take their soccer seriously. Iran's victory over Bahrain last week in the World Cup qualifier resulted in an outburst of rejoicing rarely seen in Teheran. Men and women (some without head scarves) danced on the streets and tore up posters of candidates in the June 17 presidential elections. The police did not interfere. Credible foreign observers have not confirmed reports of police brutality carried by some opposition news channels in t

The tyranny of technology: Time to change old systems to align with new realities
Dec 10, 2015

The tyranny of technology: Time to change old systems to align with new realities

In order to achieve the SDGs, it is time to re-evaluate the global patents regime. India and other developing countries need to explore policies and practices for creating a culture and system that encourages innovation.

The tyranny of the written word
Nov 19, 2011

The tyranny of the written word

Digital technologies have the potential to annihilate the rich sources of oral history. It is time that we stopped looking at digital technology with rose-tinted glasses

The un-stated major premise
Oct 20, 2005

The un-stated major premise

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to be complimented for her candour. Her press conference in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov unavoidably focussed on Iran's nuclear plans and Mr. Lavrov said Iran had the right under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to the nuclear fuel cycle. Dr. Rice said, "this is not a question of rights but whether or not the fuel cycle can be trusted in Iran."

The UPA seems determined to ignore vital defence reforms
Nov 26, 2013

The UPA seems determined to ignore vital defence reforms

In 2011, the government set up a task force to examine the processes and procedures related to national security in India and come up with recommendations to fix the problems and plug any gaps that emerged. The panel, chaired by former Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra, submitted its report to the Prime Minister. Now the bureaucratic grapevine suggests that the report may soon meet the fate of other similar endeavours: getting shelved.

The upgrading of India's forces is still a long way off
Apr 27, 2015

The upgrading of India's forces is still a long way off

Speaking recently in New Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the Government was committed to modernise the armed forces, but "that there is a need to exercise financial prudence and optimise all available resources".

The Uri aftermath: A game of snakes and ladders
Oct 03, 2016

The Uri aftermath: A game of snakes and ladders

Post-India's surgical strikes in aftermath of Uri attack more questions than answers for Pakistan's ruling establishment?

The US and China's 'new model' of international politics still excludes India
Jun 10, 2013

The US and China's 'new model' of international politics still excludes India

On the surface, the two-day summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama seems to be yet another step signalling that the world is headed towards a bipolar polity dominated by the US and China. But a deeper analysis will show that it is part of a more subtle effort by the US to protect its global dominance, which from the Indian point of view may not be such a bad thing.

The US-Iran Standoff and India
Feb 04, 2012

The US-Iran Standoff and India

While India would be hoping that the reported secret talks between the US and Iran succeeds, avoiding a conflict, New Delhi could take a leaf out of the Chinese and Japanese strategy of reducing its exposure to Iranian oil in return for a waiver from US sanctions.

The velvet glove, yet
Nov 03, 2003

The velvet glove, yet

By the very nature of the two-decades-old ethnic war and the stalled peace process in Sri Lanka, the week-end LTTE proposals falls short of the doomsdayer¿s predictions. Or, so would it seem. For starters, it confines itself to an interim administration, without formally seeking status and powers of a sovereign State, starting with legitimacy for the LTTE¿s military wing,

The Way Ahead in Sri Lanka
Sep 02, 2006

The Way Ahead in Sri Lanka

If the stalemated war produced a truce, the stalemated peace ever since the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers Tamil Elam signed a ceasefire agreement (CFA) in February 2002 has contributed to the revival of violence in the island-nation. The deteriorating ground situation has been accompanied by repeated calls from the Sri Lankan parties for greater Indian involvement in the peace-making efforts. This report is a summary of an inter

The World's First Terrorist Air Force
Jun 03, 2005

The World's First Terrorist Air Force

Speaking at a meeting of the Foreign Correspondents' Association of Sri Lanka at Colombo on May 26,2005, Hagrup Haukland, the chief of the Norwegian-led military mission, which monitors the three-year-old ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), confirmed the allegation of the Sri Lankan Government that the LTTE had constructed an airstrip near Iranamadu in the Wanni area under its control in

The world's last colony
Nov 09, 2002

The world's last colony

In our dealings with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, we have often appeared defensive, occasionally apologetic, leading to a bleeding heart syndrome among some of us. This approach ignores that Pakistan has cynically used violence, and the world has allowed it to do so, as an instrument of foreign policy. This attitude also mixes sympathy and concern for the innocent with that for the terrorist.

The year ends, but the chaos may just be beginning
Dec 31, 2014

The year ends, but the chaos may just be beginning

2014 by far has been the most chaotic year in international politics, since the end of the Cold War. The Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East threaten to upturn borders settled for close to a century. Europe is in the throes of an unexpected tussle with Moscow. In the South and East China seas, China's aggressiveness is too clear now to be ignored.

The year of the 'chaiwallah'
Dec 31, 2014

The year of the 'chaiwallah'

Narendra Modi's dilemma is palpable. Emotionally and intellectually, he is very much part of the Sangh Parivar. But as the chief minister of Gujarat he has grown and outgrown the narrow confines of ideology and understands the virtues and compulsions of pragmatism.

There cannot be any talk of a humiliation of Greece, says EU Ambassador
Jul 21, 2015

There cannot be any talk of a humiliation of Greece, says EU Ambassador

Ambassador of the European Union to India, Dr. Joao Cravinho, admits that the current problem is "big" and it is "about the EU project", but he also believes that "the EU has the strength to deal with Greece" and that it has come out stronger after every crisis it has been facing in the past.

There is an absence of a strategic mindset: Ex-NSA
Nov 18, 2015

There is an absence of a strategic mindset: Ex-NSA

India's former National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan thinks that challenges posed by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were far greater, as it directly impinged on India's sovereignty and security. He feels that this is a far graver issue than the India-China border dispute.

There is an insurgency in FATA
Feb 14, 2014

There is an insurgency in FATA

Far too many times, states make the mistake of not recognising that they are confronted with insurgencies. Fearing the supposed legitimising effect of affording 'miscreants' the title of insurgents, they prefer to describe violent movements as law and order problems, situation, the troubles, and of course, terrorism.

There is more to Tamil Nadu apart from 'Sri Lankan issue'
Mar 26, 2013

There is more to Tamil Nadu apart from 'Sri Lankan issue'

In Tamil Nadu, the inspiration and inputs for the protestors come not from Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka, but from their Diaspora groups whose linkages to the LTTE are discernible.

They link power, politics and business
Jan 27, 2015

They link power, politics and business

Much in the manner that the Sino-American dツtente transformed the Asian balance of power in the 1970s, the construction of a strong strategic partnership between India and America is bound to change the Asian geopolitical order and rejig the regional alignments.

Things are looking up for Indo-China ties
Apr 16, 2013

Things are looking up for Indo-China ties

India need not bite the bait, it can use the space created for pushing its own agenda with China which includes resolving our border dispute, getting the Pakistani monkey off our backs and getting better terms of trade from the Chinese. China is unlikely to yield anything easily, but if the emerging Indo-Pacific geopolitics provides an opportunity, New Delhi would be foolish to look the other way.

Third Anniversary of Op Enduring Freedom: International Islamic Front Strikes
Oct 11, 2004

Third Anniversary of Op Enduring Freedom: International Islamic Front Strikes

Coinciding with the third anniversary of the start of the US military strikes in Afghanistan on October 7,2004,code-named Op. Enduring Freedom, terrorist elements, suspected to be from Osama bin Laden's International Islamic Front (IIF), have carried out four co-ordinated terrorist strikes involving explosives on October 7 and 8,2004.

Thoughts for Japan's New Defence Plan
Sep 23, 2010

Thoughts for Japan's New Defence Plan

The security problem of Japan is something of a Gordian Knot. A feeling is spreading among Japanese that they have seen the American forces on their land for too long, for sixty-five years continuously, and the people are fed up with them.

Threat to Indian Cricket Team in Bangladesh
Dec 07, 2004

Threat to Indian Cricket Team in Bangladesh

The Government of India is reported to have advised a short postponement of the departure of the Indian cricket team to Bangladesh to play in some matches against the Bangladesh team at Dhaka and Chittagong following the receipt at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka of a fax message purported to have been signed by an organisation called Harkat-ul-Jihad warning of dire consequences if the team went ahead with the visit.

Threats in The Long Range
Jun 28, 2012

Threats in The Long Range

Tensions between the United States of America and Russia over the deployment of a ballistic missile defence system by the US in eastern Europe are sharpening. Japan is deploying such a system to ward off the North Korean missile threat.

Three days of success
Nov 15, 2010

Three days of success

India should be pleased that US President Barrack Obama acknowledged India as a global player, and an equal partner in dealing with crucial issues not only in Asia, but also in the world.

Three to tango
May 07, 2013

Three to tango

Nepal Maoist leader Prachanda's proposal for trilateral cooperation between Nepal, India and China is his big idea. But his geopolitical epiphany could soon be a forgotten footnote if India and China can?t find ways to ensure peace and tranquility on their long and contested boundary.