COMMENTARIES
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AfPak: Beginning of an End?
Firdaus Ahmed · 28 Sep, 2010 · #3246 · Commentary
In an attack on Pakistan from Khost province in Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces killed 50 Taliban insurgents. The NATO spokesman rationalised the attack as “ISAF forces must and will retain the authority,...
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Dams on the Brahmaputra: Concerns in Northeast India
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman · 28 Sep, 2010 · #3245 · Commentary
The Chinese plans of constructing several big and small dams on the Yarlung Tsangpo in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) has indeed captured public, media and diplomatic attention in India over the recent past. The issue of Chinese dams and fear...
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AFSPA: A Practical Approach
Ali Ahmed · 28 Sep, 2010 · #3244 · Commentary
Even as the battle against the AFSPA is set to continue, it is equally clear that the Act is not going to be amended any time soon. The Air Chief in his capacity of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee has seconded the earlier statement of the Arm...
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Indus Waters Governance-V: One River, Three Dialogues
D Suba Chandran · 27 Sep, 2010 · #3243 · Commentary
On 19 September 2010, the Indus Waters Treaty completed fifty years. Signed in September 1960, between India and Pakistan, the IWT is considered the most successful treaty between India and Pakistan. The Treaty has survived the 1965, 1971 and 19...
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Bio-terror: Grave Implications of Synthetic Biology
Reshmi Kazi · 23 Sep, 2010 · #3242 · Commentary
The accelerating advancement in biotechnology has given rise to fresh fears of bio-terror among experts. They apprehend that the newfound ability of scientists to produce life from scratch holds potential risks of synthesizing deadly pathogens t...
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Political Instability in Nepal-II: Four Likely Scenarios
Arun Sahgal · 21 Sep, 2010 · #3241 · Commentary
Given the problems explained in the previous article (Political Instability in Nepal-I), the situation in political terms remains tenuous. So far, the democratic parties have managed to keep its flock together; both the UML and United Madhesi De...
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Political Instability in Nepal-I: Internal Divisions and Integration of Maoists
Arun Sahgal · 21 Sep, 2010 · #3240 · Commentary
Nepal continues to be in the midst of political instability. Not only are the political parties at odds with each other, but also remain fragmented from within, with various factions attempting to promote their own agenda. Within the UCPN (Maois...
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The Security Issue of Land: Industrialization vs Displacement
PR Chari · 20 Sep, 2010 · #3239 · Commentary
India is not short of labor—skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled—or indigenous capital. Several of the richest people in the Forbes list of billionaires are Indians. Further, a recent UN report informs that India has become a top...
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Myanmar Elections 2010 – I: It's All About Exclusion
Medha Chaturvedi · 16 Sep, 2010 · #3238 · Commentary
The November 2010 elections in Myanmar do not promise to be fair and inclusive nor do they come with the agenda of complete restoration of democracy in the country. But, one thing these elections promise to be is a step towards a transformation ...
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“Sit Tight and Do Nothing”: New Delhi’s Nero Policy towards Kashmir
D Suba Chandran · 15 Sep, 2010 · #3237 · Commentary
How does one explain New Delhi’s approach towards the ongoing violence in Kashmir valley? Though the PM and his Home Minister have been looking for a consensus and an elusive starting point, there have been clear formulations from the main...
