The Roots of Terror

Why doesn’t the government heed the points raised by security experts? Much of what experts recommend is pretty commonsensical; at any rate, it is not rocket science. More CCTVs; better trained, equipped, and motivated cops; police reforms—one need not be a K.P.S. Gill to know the importance of all these things. So, why doesn’t the ruling elite open its eyes and see that Islamic terror is evil? Or is it that its eyes are open and it just doesn’t want to see?

Pakistan on a Genocide Watch?

After the sordid experiences of the genocide leading upto dismemberment of East Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh, Pakistan is keen on balkanising again. It needs to be stopped!

Kashmir – A Way Ahead

All seems to be quiet in Kashmir for the time being and there are political voices emanating from the Home Ministry that a political solution to the imboglio in Kashmir is in sight. The separatists deny any such initiative. It is in these relatively quieter times that India needs to once again revisit the earlier [...]

Pakistan’s Viability – The Bellagio Papers

Pakistan today needs independence from its feudal political structure, economic justice, a secular social contract, a viable education system, communication infrastructure and everything else that a society needs except terror and export of terror. This is a struggle that Pakistan needs to own and define. The future of militancy, sectarian violence and radical extremism will depend much on the government structures being able to define the problems it is up against, and the willingness to change these underlying problems. USA, China and India will remain in their places to guard their own national interests in the long run

China Keeping India Busy or Is It Worried?

In its quest to pursue its global aims, China is keeping India tied to the pole by needling her in a geopolitical bind while maintaining a straight face. The discussions in various posts over the last week brought out Chinese dynamics in Pakistan, Burma and Nepal. This post also brings in the Sri Lankan narrative. Apparently, the two regional heavy weights are busy shadow boxing in South Asia with India kind of getting bitten by a China phobia. In strategic circles, Chindia is a four-letter word.

Af Pak – Come September

Af Pak Events The intensity of war in Af-Pak has picked up considerably in September beginning last week of August. The pattern indicates flexing of muscle by the Punjabi Taliban and TTP across Pakistan. The numbers in Pakistan include 108 civilians, mainly Shia minority, killed and 400 wounded. In Afghanistanthe coalition forces were able to kill 64 “terrorists” of [...]

Balkanising Pakistan

It is time to Balkanise Pakistan, says Michael Hughes.In his article titled Balkanising Pakistan: A collective National Security Strategy the author has articulated the “Why” of his suggestion through a compelling argument. This has serious ramifications for the region, especially for India. The basic proposal of fragmentation is to break off and allow Afghanistan to [...]

Afghanistan After America

General Patraeus’s recent communique to the ISAF says “fight the Taliban hard and have a cup of tea with the Afghans.” Thankfully, the West has , despite all the COIN strategies realised that it is important to win the popular support in this insurgency.  That he is willing to apply the “whole of government” approach [...]

Bangladesh Calling China

Geopolitically speaking, India and Bangladesh’s intertwined borders, ethnic and cultural links and the fact that India was the architect of Bangladesh as a nation should have ensured enduring peace built on trade and commerce to benefit the impoverished Bangladesh and a friendly country allowing transit through rail, road and sea to India’s North East. It was a [...]

Indo Pak Re-engagement

To turn a metaphor around, what can’t be endured must be cured. Trust is the key curative ingredient in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s nuanced strategy of structured re-engagement with Pakistan. And yet the meetings between home minister P Chidambaram and external affairs minister S M Krishna with their Pakistani counterparts on June 26 and July [...]

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