Nihar R. Nayak

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on Sri Lanka’s eighth presidential elections, titled ‘SRI LANKA: Presidential elections: Will minorities become kingmakers?' has been published by Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi, on November 11, 2019.

As Sri Lanka is gearing towards the eighth presidential elections, national security, foreign policy and foreign investments in infrastructure projects and minority issues are once again dominating the political discourse in the country, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 11 November, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s article on Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s Nepal trip, titled ‘Xi Jinping Ko Nepal Bhraman: Indo-Pacific Birudh Himali Niti’ has been published by Nepal News on October 18, 2019.

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• Published: 18 October, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on ‘AFGHANISTAN: Elusive Dialogue: Peace Talks That Never Took Off’ has been published by South Asia Conflict Monitor (monthly online newsletter), Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, on October 5, 2019.

According to Dr. Nayak’s commentary, wo r l d w i d e, c o n f l i c t r e s o l u t i o n e x p e r i e n c e s suggest that the majority of peace negotiations have been successful on two occasions. First, when the rebel groups are in the weak position against the state and second when there is presence of an influential, trustworthy and non-partisan mediator. In the case of Afghanistan, both these peace process sustaining elements were not present.

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• Published: 5 October, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on ‘Kashmir Conundrum: Pakistan’s Obsessions and India’s Challenges’ has been published by the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, on September 13, 2019.

As India comes under both domestic and international pressure to remove restrictions in Kashmir, Pakistan sponsored street demonstrations, stone-pelting and terrorist attacks could follow once the restrictions are removed. The region has already witnessed 41,000 casualties in the last three decades. A new round of violence and conflict in Kashmir could escalate the ongoing tension in the region both at the diplomatic level and at the border, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 13 September, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s article on Nepal’s BRI Policy, titled ‘Nepal-China BRI Conundrum’ has been published by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA), a foreign policy think-tank in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 29, 2019.

Given the revival of US policy on the Himalayan region, India’s reservations over BRI and China’s hidden agenda behind selecting specific projects under the BRI, Nepal’s desire to take benefits from BRI could be delayed further. Instead of completely depending on the BRI, Nepal could explore other options to achieve its developmental aspirations, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 29 May, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s article on New Modi Government’s foreign policy and Nepal was published in ‘Nepal News’ on May 29, 2019.

Dr Nayak writes that the foreign policy of NDA-II on neighborhood will be broadly guided by ‘neighbourhood first policy’ and ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash Sabka Vikaas’, to win the confidence of smaller countries to a newer height. The new government will continue its policy of South Asia as shared zone of prosperity, which synchronizes with Nepali PM’s vision of ‘Samriddha Nepal, Sukhi Nepal’.

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• Published: 29 May, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr Nihar Nayak’s Article on Bhutan’s BRI Policy, titled ‘Bhutan Says No to BRI’ was published by the All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on April 20, 2019.

Bhutan’s decision on BRI indicates that there is a coincidence of views between India and Bhutan over this issue. It also suggests that there has been no major change in Bhutan’s foreign policy under the new government in Thimphu, writes Dr Nayak.

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• Published: 20 April, 2019

Voters in Bhutan have shown their political maturity by bringing in a new government, which is an indicator of growing awareness about their rights and their role in holding governments to account.

• Published: November 12, 2018
• Issue Brief

Nepal’s quest for an alternate transit country with a view to reducing its dependence on India succeeded with the finalisation of the text for the Protocol of Transit Transport Agreement with China on September 7, 2018.

• Published: September 27, 2018
• Issue Brief

The purposes of the visit have been achieved and a new phase of relationship has begun with India acknowledging Nepal as an ‘equal partner’.

• Published: April 11, 2018
• IDSA Comments