COMMENTARIES
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Trishanku, Pervez Musharraf and Atal Behari Vajpayee
PR Chari · 27 Mar, 2004 · #1350 · Commentary
Hindu mythology celebrates a pious king named Trishanku who devoted himself to virtuous deeds and austerities. Impressed by them, the sage Vishwamitra asked Trishanku to seek a boon. The King then asked Vishwamitra to ensure that when Trishanku ...
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One Year of the Iraq War: US Unilateralism Fails to Bring Desired Results
Mukul Kumar · 26 Mar, 2004 · #1349 · Commentary
Announcing the war against Iraq, President Bush had stated a year ago, that the United States and its allies would not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatened the peace with weapons of mass murder. However, after he went ahead with...
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Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections 2004 – II: Polls, Poles and Palls
N Manoharan · 26 Mar, 2004 · #1348 · Commentary
The Sri Lankan snap elections, slated for 2 April 2004, is significant for several reasons. 6024 candidates are in the fray for 225 seats of which 196 are to be directly elected. An all-time high of 2337 independents are contesting, signifying d...
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The Value of the Phalcon AWACS for India
Prashant Dikshit · 22 Mar, 2004 · #1347 · Commentary
The long awaited AWACS (Air Borne Warning and Control Systems) is eventually being inducted in the Indian Air Force. Israeli Phalcon Radar is being integrated on the Russian IL-76 A-50 Beriev Transport jets under Indian supervision and the softw...
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BIMST-EC: Putting Free Trade in South Asia on a Strong Footing
Anand Kumar · 18 Mar, 2004 · #1346 · Commentary
South Asia moved further on the path of free trade when it signed the BIMST-EC agreement in Phuket, Thailand. The agreement inked by the commerce ministers of the member countries except Bangladesh when implemented would include South Asia, whic...
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Shaheen-II Test: Ramifications for India
Reshmi Kazi · 18 Mar, 2004 · #1345 · Commentary
On 9 February 2004, Pakistan successfully test-fired Shaheen-II, its longest range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, amidst an intense debate on nuclear non-proliferation. The test indicates Pakistan's resolve to maintain a nuclear deterren...
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Haitian Crisis Comes Full Circle: The International Community Intervenes
· 18 Mar, 2004 · #1344 · Commentary
Amidst pressure from opposition groups in Haiti and mounting violence that had erupted across several major cities, including the capital, Port-au-Prince, President Jean Bertrand Aristide left the country on 29 February 2004. He said his departu...
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Megawati, Sharia and the Crisis in Indonesian Politics
· 18 Mar, 2004 · #1343 · Commentary
Megawati Sukarnoputri seems to be playing an old-fashioned game to garner support in the upcoming presidential elections in Indonesia – trying to pacify Islamic zealots by engaging in a tirade ...
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The Crisis in Nepal and India’s Response II
Maj. Gen. Dipankar Banerjee · 18 Mar, 2004 · #1342 · Commentary
The Current Environment
The political situation remains murky. The King compares his role to a stand-by generator; required in an emergency and which will switch off the moment electricity returns. But, there is no real chance of an early...
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The Crisis in Nepal and India’s Response I
Maj. Gen. Dipankar Banerjee · 18 Mar, 2004 · #1341 · Commentary
The Backdrop
Sandwiched between China and India, Nepal occupies a strategic location in South Asia astride the high Himalayan ranges. It had little contact with China in the past. Its ties with India have been intimate and long, developed over ...
