Evaluating the Political and Economic Role of the IRGC The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is Iran's most powerful security and military organisation, responsible for the protection and survival of the regime. Over time, the IRGC has attained a position of dominance vis-à-vis the regular army (Artesh). In due course, the Guards have also been transformed into a leading political and economic actor. The major political role of the IRGC started with the election of the reformist presidency. However, the Guards' involvement in the Iranian economy began during Rafsanjani's presidency. M. Mahtab Alam Rizvi | July 2012 | Strategic Analysis
India’s Afghan Policy: Beyond Bilateralism The India–Afghanistan relationship is not a simple bilateral engagement. India's Afghan policy is driven by, and is dependent on, many extraneous factors such as India's troubled relationship with Pakistan, its search for a land transit to Central Asia through Iran and Afghanistan and its concerns regarding use of Afghan territory by Pakistan to the detriment of Indian interests. Given the geographical constraints, India has relied on Iran for land access to Afghanistan. This has been complicated by Iran–US relations —the two countries with whom India shares common interests. Smruti S. Pattanaik | July 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Securing Central Asian Frontiers: Institutionalisation of Borders and Inter-state Relations This article develops the message that the artificially introduced administrative borders during the Soviet era, which were subject to the processes of re-delimitation after 1991, whether for reasons of security, administration, mutual distrust or the population's ethnic attachment, have become results and means of political manipulation and pressurisation. This has resulted in further pushing regional states to follow mutually exclusive policies. Timur Dadabaev | July 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Re-examining India’s Counterterrorism Approach: Adopting a Long View This article looks at the status quo of Indian counterterrorism policy—which largely favours ‘physical’ or ‘hard’ measures—and proposes that the government adopt a more holistic strategy. Termed ‘Countering Violent Extremism’, this would involve measures geared towards long-term prevention, with greater attention paid to the reasons for which people commit terrorism and to the impact of counterterrorism on communities. Ellie B. Hearne | July 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Political Decision-Making and Nuclear Retaliation Currently, India's nuclear doctrine is one of inflicting ‘unacceptable damage’ in case of nuclear first use against it or its forces anywhere. The problem with this is that at current levels of vertical proliferation it is liable to face a counter strike of equal proportions. This may not be in India's interests when viewed in relation to the inevitable setback to its trajectory of progress. Therefore, there is a case for terminating nuclear exchanges at the lowest possible level in case of nuclear first use of low opprobrium quotient or violence. Ali Ahmed | July 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Deliberating the Space Code of Conduct Ajey Lele argues that, in its present avatar, the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is not capable of realizing its stated aim fully because it lacks an accountability mechanism. Ajey Lele | June 29, 2012 | Issue Brief
Pakistan Navy’s ‘Nuclear’ Aspirations Recent reports from Pakistan seem to suggest the Pakistan Navy (PN) may be on the cusp of developing a naval nuclear missile capability, even as its plans for acquiring a nuclear submarine capability gradually become clearer. Abhijit Singh | June 29, 2012 | IDSA Comments
Naga Armed Factionalism Back to Centre-Stage Once Again There are fears that the NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Khole and Kitovi) will clash violently in big towns like Dimapur and districts like Mon for turf control since both outfits inhabit the same territorial space. Namrata Goswami | June 29, 2012 | IDSA Comments
CBMs in Cyber Space: What should be India’s Approach? India should support the idea of TCBMs (transparency and confidence building measures) as a first step towards a code of conduct or eventual cyber security convention. Arvind Gupta | June 27, 2012 | IDSA Comments
Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism—A Response An “imperfect” International Code of Conduct can help establish and strengthen norms for responsible space-faring nations. We must make hard choices about which less-than-perfect approach can best serve national and international security. Michael Krepon | June 27, 2012 | IDSA Comments
