While expanding the SCO mandate and reviewing the membership criteria are some of the issues that make the Beijing summit a vital one, contentious global issues like Iran also lend the summit greater importance.

• Jagannath P. Panda |
• May 29, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

A modus vivendi that accepts the concept of federalism in principle as well as the devolution of administrative and financial powers in key functional areas is the need of the hour.

• Gautam Sen |
• May 29, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

The Chinese decision to send warships to the Scarborough shoals was intended to send a message not only to the Philippines but also to the United States as well as other Asian countries in dispute with China over the South China Sea.

• R. S. Kalha |
• May 28, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

The absence of a credible secular substitute for Assad, a divided opposition, and deadlock in the Security Council, are all acting as stumbling blocks for the US wish to unseat Assad from power.

• Saurabh Mishra |
• May 23, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

The current growth trajectory is leading to serious environmental and cultural degradation—an issue that needs to be placed on priority and a holistic environmental impact assessment needs to be made public.

• P. K. Gautam |
• May 22, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

In times of back door diplomacy and brokerage of deals, Karzai’s political skill and experience in balancing the divergent interests of various stakeholders may assure him a role in fashioning Afghanistan’s new political arrangement.

• Vishal Chandra |
• May 22, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

Although Russia plays a weak hand due to structural problems in the economy and several deficiencies in the political and social order, Putin will try and leverage Russia’ substantial advantages—energy being one of them—to Russia’s advantage.

• Arvind Gupta |
• May 21, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

The elevation of its bilateral relationship with Bangladesh allows the United States to counter China’s ‘String of Pearls’ strategy.

• Anand Kumar |
• May 21, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

All Indian Missions abroad need to closely monitor international communist groups to counter the propaganda campaign that they unleash from time to time and refute their false claims.

• P. V. Ramana |
• May 19, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

Among other intertwining issues, what continues to disturb the Indian establishment is the non-inclusion of non-state actors as likely recipients of illicit arms which, in the Indian experience, is crucial and on which the Chairman’s paper remains silent.

• Prashant Dikshit |
• May 15, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments