Sri Lanka: Dismounting the Tiger A critical appraisal of the national security decision making (NSDM) during IPKF operations is revealing. At every stage, the NSDM was found wanting. The fact that none of the actors possessed the delicate skill or means by which to control events proved that not much thought had gone into the decisions. Involvement of numerous actors made the decision making challenging, which was further complicated by varied and cacophonous inputs and assessments. Overconfidence also created an opaque in the clarity of decisions taken. Lessons from the IPKF involvement are numerous. M.R. Narayan Swamy October 2009 Journal of Defence Studies
Give Me More: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) Turns 60 Indian insurgent groups are re-establishing camps in Bhutan and are also forging links with Bhutanese rebel groups. Ramesh Phadke September 30, 2009 IDSA Comments
Contours of the India-United States Strategic Partnership The strategic partnership is moving towards a higher trajectory with growing co-operation in the areas of defence, economy, energy, education, environment, science, technology and innovation. Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastav September 29, 2009 IDSA Comments
Afghan elections and Af-Pak Strategy If Karzai were to become President again in the election seen as marked by fraud, his lack of legitimacy will only feed into the insurgent propaganda. Shanthie Mariet D’Souza September 29, 2009 IDSA Comments
Pakistan’s Travails and China’s Aggressiveness The aggressive posture that the Chinese have adopted along the otherwise relatively tranquil Line of Actual Control (LOAC) has come under a lot of analytical examination by Indian Sinologists. They have advanced a number of explanations for the Chinese actions, all of which have a ring of truth about them. P. K. Upadhyay September 23, 2009 IDSA Comments
Pratibha Patil’s Visit to Tajikistan: Enhancing goodwill, trust and mutual confidence Pratibha Patil’s three-day visit to Tajikistan (September 6 to 8, 2009) was the first ever visit by an Indian President to the Central Asian region. She attended the National Day celebrations of Tajikistan as the Guest of Honour. President Patil held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon on a wide range of issues, including efforts to tackle terrorism, bilateral relations, and developments in and around the region aimed at consolidating ties between the two countries in the political, economic and other spheres. Meena Singh Roy September 23, 2009 IDSA Comments
The Pakistani Taliban: An existential or a passing threat ? Pakistan’s ability to press home a multidimensional campaign against the radical forces, and contain domestic instability and economic downturn, is suspect. Harinder Singh September 23, 2009 IDSA Comments
North Korea Admits to Uranium Enrichment Programme Indications are that the stalled six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue will resume in the coming months. While North Korea has let it be known that it is willing to return to the negotiating table, the United States showed its willingness to hold one-to-one talks with North Korea. This time, the North Korean capability/status of uranium enrichment programme would, among other things, dominate the negotiations. Ch. Viyyanna Sastry September 23, 2009 IDSA Comments
Sixty Years of The People’s Republic of China Once an exporter of Chinese style Communism and isolated internationally, today’s China is the mainstay of the capitalist world exporting a large quantity of what the world imports. Avinash Godbole September 23, 2009 IDSA Comments
Pakistan’s latest adventure across the International Border Pakistan has yet again shown its proclivity to raise tensions with India. This time, the Pakistan Army or its proxies have fired three rockets across the International Border (IB) near Wagha in Punjab. Although no injuries were reported, such attacks pose a major danger to the people living in areas adjacent to the border, and some 150 farmers of the area indeed protested. This is the second time that rockets have been fired from Pakistan in the recent past. Ramesh Phadke September 14, 2009 IDSA Comments