COMMENTARIES
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Reading Pakistan: How does Pakistan see the War on Terrorism?
D Suba Chandran · 14 May, 2012 · #3619 · Commentary
This commentary is a response to a recent article on the war on terrorism (WoT), written by a former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Ambassador Shamsad Ahmed, which appeared in The News (http://bit.ly/KdScTU). Ambassador Ahmed argued: &ldquo...
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Reading Pakistan: Stand-Off on NATO Supply Line
D Suba Chandran · 14 May, 2012 · #3618 · Commentary
The military commanders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO in Afghanistan met recently to discuss border security issues. An important question, at present, seems to be the invitation for Pakistan to the forthcoming NATO summit in Chicago. The NA...
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The Missing Elements in the Counter-Naxal Strategy
Ali Ahmed · 09 May, 2012 · #3617 · Commentary
The Home Ministry’s Annual Report states this about its counter-Maoist strategy: “While it is necessary for the State Governments to conduct proactive and sustained operations against the extremists, and put in place all measures req...
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The US-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreement: Nothing More Than Symbolic
Aryaman Bhatnagar · 08 May, 2012 · #3616 · Commentary
Barack Obama’s recent surprise visit to Kabul was marked by the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the US and Afghanistan. The pact commits the US to provide long-term assistance – military and financial &nd...
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The Rise and Fall of Bo Xilai
Narayani Basu · 02 May, 2012 · #3615 · Commentary
The sensational ousting of Chongqing’s municipality chief, Bo Xilai, in March 2012, has not only blighted what was a particularly colourful political career, but has also exposed the bitter battle between the reformers and hardliners withi...
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The Kargil-Skardu Route: Implications of its Opening
Zainab Akhter · 26 Apr, 2012 · #3614 · Commentary
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is strategically important for Pakistan both in terms of water security and because of the Karakoram Highway, which links Gwadar with China. Consolidating a road that intercepts the Karakoram highway is critically important...
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Special Commentary: Resolving the ‘Siachen’ Dispute
Dipankar Banerjee · 26 Apr, 2012 · #3613 · Commentary
A massive avalanche at Ghyari early in the morning of 7 April swept away some 130 soldiers of the 6th Battalion of the Pakistani Army’s Northern Light Infantry. Located west of the Saltoro Ridge, nobody seems to have survived. Glory lies i...
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Agni V: What is its Strategic Significance?
PR Chari · 23 Apr, 2012 · #3612 · Commentary
The successful launch of Agni-V, with its 5000+ km range and 1500 kg payload, has generated great euphoria in India. Manmohan Singh described the event as “another milestone in our quest to add to the credibility of our security and prepar...
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India-Pakistan: Winds of Change?
Ali Ahmed · 23 Apr, 2012 · #3611 · Commentary
General Kayani has finally got it right. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Peaceful coexistence between the two neighbours is very important so that everybody can concentrate on the well-being of the people.” The somber setting for th...
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Silk Road Initiatives: An Alternative Future for Afghanistan
Sreemati Ganguli · 23 Apr, 2012 · #3610 · Commentary
Afghanistan is being focused in a number of Silk Road initiatives as the bridgehead of inter-regional trade cooperation between South and Central Asia; a welcome change from its stigma of being the centre of insecurity for the last thirty years....
