COMMENTARIES
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Out of the Shadows: How Israel and Iran Benefit from Escalation
Muneer Ahmed & Siddharth Anil Nair · 29 Apr, 2024 · #5876 · Commentary
While the spectre of inter-state conflict has loomed large over West Asia these past few months, it appears now to be at a defining moment. The international crisis—spanning three continents—triggered by Israel’s invasion of Gaza in response...
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East Asia Compass
South Korea: Interpreting the National Assembly Election Results
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 29 Apr, 2024 · #5875 · Commentary · Column
The opposition Democratic Party maintained its majority in the elections to the South Korean National Assembly that took place on 10 April 2024. Overall, opposition parties in South Korea won a total of 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembl...
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What Factors Influence Thailand’s Approach to Refugees?
Fiona Raval · 26 Apr, 2024 · #5874 · Commentary
Thailand is looking at a new wave of refugees and asylum-seekers with the establishment of mandatory military service in Myanmar. The junta in Myanmar has recently activated the country’s conscription law, creating widespread panic and the possi...
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What Explains the Decadal Upswing in India-UAE Relations?
Muneer Ahmed · 31 Mar, 2024 · #5873 · Commentary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seventh visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in February this year marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations. The visit saw an extensive review of the strategic partnership, with discussion on new are...
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Red Affairs
On Screen Portrayals of Left-Wing Extremism: ‘Bastar, the Naxal Story’ as Example
Bibhu Prasad Routray · 29 Mar, 2024 · #5872 · Commentary · Column
Filmmakers adapting non-fiction work—especially those on conflict and terrorism—often struggle to stick to the original story. Filmmaking admittedly allows for the dramatisation of factual nuances given the need to tell a long story in a short...
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East Asia Compass
North Korea-Japan Talks and Pyongyang’s Creative Diplomacy
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 14 Mar, 2024 · #5871 · Commentary · Column
North Korea sometimes makes strange gestures that force others to speculate about the intent. In one such move, Pyongyang, which has so far refused to engage in talks with the US and South Korea, suddenly expressed interest in a summit meeting wit...
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South Korea’s Nuclear Paradox
Shivani Singh. · 27 Feb, 2024 · #5870 · Commentary
South Korea faces a paradox of choice. On one hand, it must address growing domestic public pressure in favour of acquiring nuclear weapons to combat the North Korean threat. On the other, this decision must be weighed against Seoul’s rapi...
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Pakistan Elections: An Explainer
Muneer Ahmed · 15 Feb, 2024 · #5869 · Commentary
None of the three main political parties in Pakistan were able to secure a majority in parliament following the 8 February election. Of the 266 contestable National Assembly (NA) seats, independent candidates backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehree...
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Tiers of Motivation: Bilateral and Regional Drivers of the Iran-Pakistan Missile Strikes
Muneer Ahmed · 30 Jan, 2024 · #5868 · Commentary
On 16 January, Iran launched highly
coordinated precision strikes in Pakistan’s Balochistan, while Pakistan retaliated on 18
January, after protesting diplomatically. These strikes were conducted across Goldsmid
line, which demarcates Pakista...
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Red Affairs
Militancy in J&K: An Annual Review
Bibhu Prasad Routray · 26 Jan, 2024 · #5867 · Commentary · Column
On 15 January 2024, the Indian army chief said that militancy in
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) was under control. Before that, the home minister
indicated that the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre had been successful in...