What is Foreign Office Up To?

Guest Post Narayanadas Upadhyayula Does the Indian government have a strategy to counter the latest Chinese incursion deep into Indian territory on April 15? If it does, it is shrouded in mystery and obfuscation. The first reports indicated that the Chinese penetrated ten kilometres inside from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and pitched tents. [...]

Ban on Porn and Pornography of Ban

Ban on watching pornography will serve no purpose. The proscription, however, will encourage anti-liberty proclivities that are entrenched in the system.

Himalayas or Indo Pacific

This then may be testing waters of Indian resolve in dealing with China before Prime Minister Li Keqiang visits India. India needs a better than Non Alignment 2.0 strategy to keep China in check. To begin with, India must seriously consider developing asymmetrical capabilities to counter the Chinese threat and enunciate its red lines unequivocally.

Analysing China’s Defence White Paper

Major conclusion that emerges is China is embarked on building all round comprehensive military capabilities to emerge as the dominant military power in Asia with ability to challenge even the US in its core areas of interest. The manner of its engagement in international peace keeping and anti piracy operations highlights its global ambitions as a responsible stake holder.

Book Review: Great Game East

The book presents rich account of genesis and the current state of affairs in Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Bangladesh and Burma. Lintner, who has traveled extensively and chronicled the region as a journalist(legally and illegally), has presented a deep and apparently only account of the longest insurgency movements in India’s North East and the support they have received from India’s long time foes China and Pakistan.

Pakistan: Dynamics of Failing State Theory

All scenarios and options painted by these analysts only focus on the dominant Punjabi elites –largely available in the JMC, at the cost of provincial stability. Unwittingly, they all believe (dangerously) that military is the only option to ensure relative stability in Pakistan where the democratic parties are too divided and defunct to steer Pakistan.

Was the War in Afghanistan Lost in Pakistan.

Reports coming in from the country suggest that Pakistan’s economy is in dire straits. One way of giving a boost to their country’s economy would be for Pakistani generals to charge a handsome fee by way of royalty (Intellectual Property Right) for every Hollywood macho film on terrorism made on their territory – and these are bound to proliferate – that shows the US Seals as super heroes.

US & Chinese Pivots and India

India today is struggling on many counts – political, economic and military. It’s ability to establish strong credibility is gravely eroded by its lack or weakening of institutions. Institutions for public policy formulation and execution that need to cut across domains/parties/personalities and weather the storms of fickle coalition dharma. Sacrificing national interests to “serve the nation” needs to structurally change in favour of strong democratic institutions, held together by a coherent strategic vision, to ensure its national interests are protected and promoted.

Democracy and Indian Muslims

Indian democracy is a model for all Islamic countries. It is the only country where Muslims have experienced democracy solidly for more than half a century; the other countries where Muslims have had some democratic experience are Indonesia and Turkey but their experiences have been limited to just a few decades. Democracies trust their citizens and are accountable to them.

Indian Challenges in the Global Tilt

India has reformed only when on the precipice . This time around though the urgency is on the positive sine curve – India has no choice but to become the ‘Break out Nation’ – an opportunity which may not come again.

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