COMMENTARIES
  • China, the Philippines and Vietnam: Conflicting Claims in the South China Sea
    Teshu Singh    ·   24 Jun, 2011    ·    #3416    ·    Commentary    
    In the recent weeks, there have been multiple claims and counter-claims on the South China Sea (SCS) between China, the Philippines and Vietnam. Why are there conflicting claims? And what are the bases of these claims? The key difference bet...
  • Indo-Pak Relations: A Survey of Expert Opinions - II
    Saswati Debnath    ·   23 Jun, 2011    ·    #3415    ·    Commentary    
    This article further explores what kind of diplomatic or military strategies India can adopt while dealing with Pakistan and what are the alternatives available besides the Pakistani military for dialogue. What are the various political, mil...
  • Indo-Pak Relations: A Survey of Expert Opinions - I
    Saswati Debnath    ·   23 Jun, 2011    ·    #3414    ·    Commentary    
    Lot of speculations abound on the future of Indo-Pak relations in the aftermath of Osama Bin Laden’s death. The current survey analyzes opinions from experts in three fields: the Defense personnel, bureaucrats and academicians. Based on in...
  • Reforming Qaumi Madrassas in Bangladesh: Hurdles and Alternatives
    Md Jawaid Akhtar    ·   22 Jun, 2011    ·    #3413    ·    Commentary    
    Bangladesh is planning to integrate hundreds of madrassas into the mainstream education system. The overhaul seeks to improve the quality of education offered at madrassas by training Islamic teachers and bringing facilities up to national stand...
  • Ilyas Kashmiri: An Analysis of the Pakistani, Indian and American Print Media
    Poonam Khatana    ·   20 Jun, 2011    ·    #3412    ·    Commentary    
    The death of Ilyas Kashmiri raised mixed responses in the Pakistani, Indian and American print media along predictable lines. This article attempts to analyze three important questions that have been raised after his death. Is Kashmiri indeed de...
  • Stuck in No Man’s Land: Thailand’s Repatriation of Myanmarese Refugees
    Panchali Saikia    ·   20 Jun, 2011    ·    #3411    ·    Commentary    
    The refugee influx and clashes in May 2011 between the Myanmarese military troops and Karenni soldiers near the Daw Ta Naw village in Shadaw District and with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Kyarinnseikgyieat in Karen State have eme...
  • Indo-Pak Nuclear CBMs: Mere Dialogue will not Suffice
    Ali Ahmed    ·   20 Jun, 2011    ·    #3410    ·    Commentary    
    Mandated by the MoU at Lahore, the foreign secretaries are to discuss nuclear CBMs. The last round of discussions on CBMs held in October 2007 was the fifth in a series that began five years after the agreement of 1999. The delay owed to both st...
  • China-Vietnam Friction: The South China Sea Factor
    Teshu Singh    ·   20 Jun, 2011    ·    #3409    ·    Commentary    
    As a reaction to the cutting of the exploration cables of an oil survey ship by Chinese surveillance vessels, Vietnam staged a display of its military strength in the contested waters of the South China Sea (SCS). Why has Vietnam reacted in this...
  • Pakistan’s Nuclear Posturing: Is Hatf-9 a Response to Cold Start?
    Ruhee Neog    ·   20 Jun, 2011    ·    #3408    ·    Commentary    
    Nuclear posturing is enabled by a country’s operational intent which includes the contours of a doctrine, deployment abilities, command and control structures and suchlike. It is this, rather than the mere acquisition of weapons capability...
  • Rule of Law or Law of the Ruler?: India’s Stand on Sri Lanka
    J Jeganaathan    ·   18 Jun, 2011    ·    #3407    ·    Commentary    
    In a move to sensitize the Indian Government about the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, and to satiate the expectations of an electorate which gave an absolute mandate to her party, AIADMK Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa unanimously adopted a special resol...
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