IDSA Comments - MP-IDSA

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: A Critical Evaluation

Over the last three years, the Central Asian Republics (CARs) have witnessed significant geopolitical shifts in the region - the resurgence of Russia, China's increasing influence, a colour revolution in...

Meena Singh Roy |
July 04, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Nathu La: Pass To Prosperity But Also A Challenge

Nathu La, identified as the third mountain pass for border trade between India and China, is officially slated to open on July 6, 2006 after a gap of 44 years....

Pushpita Das |
July 04, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Million Mutinies in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas

The tribal terrain in Pakistan is in a state of turmoil. As the Pakistani Taliban gradually emerge, many analysts have pointed out that the terrain has traditionally been home to...

Ashok K. Behuria |
June 27, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

ULFA’s Pressure Tactics

In the third round of talks held in New Delhi on June 22 with the 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG), the Centre gave an assurance that it would engage with...

Namrata Goswami |
June 27, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Sri Lanka’s Uncertain Future

Sri Lanka, which seemed all set to move towards peace and ethnic reconciliation, teeters on the brink of a grim crisis today. In an almost incredible turn of events, the...

M. Mayilvaganan |
June 27, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Energy Transition: Strategic Necessity for India

After his landmark speech on energy independence on the eve of India's 59th Independence Day, President Abdul Kalam emphasised upon the importance of alternative fuel development to surmount the growing...

J Nandakumar |
June 26, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Buddhism and China’s Rise

Communist China, which has so far pursued a policy of state-sponsored repression of religion, has suddenly begun to promote a revival of Buddhism. This has deeper significance than what meets...

Explosions In Assam: An Assessment

Assam was wracked by a wave of bombings beginning June 8, which carried on for five days and left the State in turmoil. In all, there were 30 explosions, which...

Anil Kamboj |
June 22, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Non-Nuclear Missile: The New US Tool Against Terrorism!

The 'spirit' of the US global nuclear policies can be easily described in two words - 'nuclear ambiguity'. From NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) to CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty), and from...

Ajey Lele |
June 22, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Nobel Laureates Pitch In Against the Indo-US Nuclear Deal

As the Indo-US nuclear deal prepares to enter the US Congress for the final debate after a seemingly successful round of technical talks in New Delhi this month, critics of...

A. Vinod Kumar |
June 19, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

After Zarqawi: An Assessment

On June 8, Americans woke up to hear the news of the death of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the leader of the al-Qaeda in Iraq. This was the first good...

Anil Kamboj |
June 19, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

India and the Draft US FMCT Text

On May 18, 2006 the United States presented a draft Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) proposal as well as a draft mandate to establish an Ad Hoc Committee at the...

Building Strategic Roadways in Arunachal Pradesh

Travelling in Arunachal Pradesh without having to suffer from poorly developed roads is indeed inconceivable. Existing roads by themselves are of the primitive 'potholed' variety, which is made worse by...

Namrata Goswami |
June 13, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Will the Joint Doctrine Result in Synergy on the Ground?

The release of India's first joint doctrine on May 17 marks a major step towards military integration and interoperability among the three services. Intended to complement existing individual service doctrines,...

A. Vinod Kumar |
June 08, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

The EU Ban on the LTTE

The European Union finally decided to add the LTTE to its list of terrorist organisations on May 29. The Tigers would have seen the ban coming, when on May 17...

The Bhutto-Sharif Charter of Democracy

Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif signed the Charter of Democracy in London on May 15. This is a politically significant step as it signals the coming together of two important...

Aceh: The Road Ahead

The Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) formally launched its political party on May 23, 2006 at Banda Aceh. It has also appointed two independent candidates for the gubernatorial...

Pankaj K Jha |
May 29, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Darfur Peace: A Distant Dream

After weeks of intense negotiations and international pressure, the Sudanese government and a faction of the main rebel group (SLA) signed a peace deal on May 5, which aims to...

Nivedita Ray |
May 25, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Time to Samba

Samba is a traditional Brazilian dance. No one form actually defines the samba; it is a set of different rhythmical dance forms. To me what India and Brazil are attempting...

Vaishali Basu |
May 25, 2006 |
IDSA Comments

Bangladesh and the TATA Investment: Playing Politics with Economics

The TATA investment of US$3 billion in Bangladesh, by far the largest foreign investment in the country, has run into rough weather over the pricing of gas. Dhaka rejected Tata's...