Prasanta Kumar Pradhan

Antony’s Visit to Saudi Arabia: Boosting Defence Ties

Strengthening defence ties and broadening defence engagement between India and Saudi Arabia was the principal objective of Antony’s visit to Riyadh.

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan |
February 21, 2012 |
IDSA Comments

The Arab Spring: A Year Later

The Arab countries where people have successfully overthrown the dictatorial regimes now face the daunting task of moving forward with democratic processes, economic development and institution building.

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan |
December 23, 2011 |
IDSA Comments

Yemen’s Turbulent Spring: Imminent Change amidst Continuing Conflict

Yemen is stuck in a paradoxical and ambiguous situation. While it is widely believed that regime change is necessary, in the absence of reliable alternate leadership, the risk of chaos and instability looms large.

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan |
October 18, 2011 |
Issue Brief

OIC Astana Session: Emphasising Change and Action

Though the Astana meeting reflected a change in the OIC’s approach and understanding of the issues and problems of the Islamic world, lack of concrete action would lead to a further loss of credibility for the organisation.

Protests in the Arab World: Implications for the Region and India

The ongoing protests against undemocratic regimes in West Asia and North Africa have sent shockwaves throughout the region. This Brief analyses the protests in the Arab world and their implications for the region and India.

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan |
March 31, 2011 |
Issue Brief

Challenges for Saudi Arabia amidst Protests in the Gulf

Saudi Arabia’s concerns about regional stability and its domestic vulnerabilities have risen to the fore amidst popular protests in the Gulf region.

Wake-up Call for Persian Gulf Rulers

Rulers of Gulf states should initiate reforms to accommodate the voices and aspirations of different sections of their societies.

The GCC–Iran Conflict and its Strategic Implications for the Gulf Region

Continuing conflict, competition and rivalry have been a regular phenomenon in the Gulf region over the past few decades. Among other reasons, the troubled relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iran has been one of the major factors responsible for the present state of affairs in the region. The relationship has been marked by sectarian and ideological differences, clash of interests over the presence of the US in the region, concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme and territorial disputes between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

After Tunisia and Egypt: The mood in the Arab streets and palaces

The events in Tunisia and Egypt have raised hopes among the people and, on the other hand alarmed the undemocratic and authoritarian Arab rulers. Time has arrived for the rulers to take note of the aspirations of the people.

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan |
February 10, 2011 |
IDSA Comments

Accelerating India’s “Look West Policy” in the Gulf

The Gulf region is important for India because of increased cooperation in the fields of trade, business, politics and security. The "Look West Policy" intends to further deepen India's engagement with its "extended neighbourhood."