Pakistan: Challenges before the New Government

Alok Bansal and Manjima Madhuri The elections held in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the 11th of May, 2013 attracted attention from all over the globe.  The second largest Muslim democracy of the world has again attracted attention of experts due to the reemergence of Nawaz Sharif and his party Pakistan Muslim League (N). [...]

China’s overplay and India’s dropped chance

Vinod Saighal It is necessary to preface the article on the recent incursion in Ladakh with a paragraph from the author’s book Restructuring South Asian Security*, with special reference to the chapter Dealing with China in the 21st Century   Whenever writing of India-China relations it is useful to look at the growth patterns adopted by the two countries since regaining [...]

South Punjab: The Key Battle Ground in Pakistan Elections

In the 2013 elections, the real success of Nawaz Sharif led Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) was in conquering South Punjab. In keeping with the trends of 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was expected to do well in the region. PPP had additionally espoused the cause of a separate Siraiki province, whereas PML-N had opposed the creation of new provinces on linguistic basis. It was therefore felt that PML-N will not be able to do well in the region, although, during last elections PML had gained support in Multan, Lodhran, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah and Bahawalpur. Of these, it was most popular in Bahawalpur, as many Punjabi and Mohajir settlers reside there and actively support the Punjabi candidates put up by PML-N.

54 PoWs and the shadow of Nehru

Ravi Shanker Kapoor The murder of Sarabjit Singh has brought the issue of 54 Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) to the fore. They were among the 400-500 PoWs captured in the 1971 India-Pakistan War. While many were allowed to come back, 54 soldiers became victims of the sadism of Pakistani authorities and the neglect of [...]

Pakistan Elections and Taliban

Alok Bansal No elections in Pakistan’s history have been as violent as the elections taking place on 11 May 2013.   A number of election rallies, election offices of the political parties, candidates and their supporters have been targeted and scores have been killed and hundreds have been maimed in attacks by Taliban, which are intended [...]

China…What Next?

While this crisis may have blown over, it serves as the right wake up call to India to shore up its defences with a proactive and pragmatic policy from Himalayas to the Indo Pacific to develop leverage to protect its interests.

Managing the Borders

as long as the territorial dispute is not resolved, China remains India’s foremost military threat. The ministry of external affairs must make all out efforts to seek an early resolution of the dispute and not be lulled by Deng Xiao Ping’s gratuitous advice to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi that it is a dispute left over from history and should be left to future generations to resolve. This strategy of postponing dispute resolution may suit China, but it certainly does not suit India.

Chinese Intrusion in Ladakh: Terrain model exposes Dragons War Preparedness

Chinese perspective of raising tensions in Ladakh is not shaped by any altruistic motives of improving its positions on the border or lay claims to new areas. It is a well planned strategic response aimed at coercion to prevent India from improving its overall strategic posture in the region.

India-China Relations and the Changing Nature of War

While China has ratcheted up its show of assertiveness in the recent years, India has been quietly preparing for a parity to prevent war. Often parity does not have to be equality in numbers. The fear of pain disproportionate to the possible gains, and the ability of the smaller in numbers side to do so in itself confer parity. There is a certain equilibrium in Sino-Indian affairs that make recourse to force extremely improbable. Both modern states are inheritors of age-old traditions and the wisdom of the ages. Both now read their semaphores well and know how much of the sword must be unsheathed to send a message. This ability will ensure the swords remain recessed and for the plowshares to be out at work.

Ladakh and the War Zone Campaign Doctrine of China

Infrastructure, military capabilities and cost of war may preclude military adventurism at the moment but when push comes to shove India can and must look China in the eye diplomatically and militarily. Since the aim of the WZC is a political victory for China, India must signal strong resolve to ensure it retains its moral ascendancy. To begin with, the foreign minister must not go to China.

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