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
India struggling to cope with sanctions on Iran The Indian government is now weighing several options to manoeuvre around the ever-tightening sanctions, including the provision of sovereign guarantees to oil tanker operators. Shebonti Ray Dadwal | June 26, 2012 | Issue Brief
The Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan The main objective of the summit is to attract foreign investment in Afghanistan, particularly in the context of emerging opportunities in sectors like mining, hydrocarbons, infrastructure, telecommunications, agriculture, education, health services, etc. Gulshan Sachdeva | June 26, 2012 | IDSA Comments
Is the Arab spring over? Whatever may be the eventual outcome in Syria, there is no denying the fact that for all practical purposes the dream of establishing democracy and the rule of law and the institution of human rights in the Arab World is almost over. R. S. Kalha | June 26, 2012 | IDSA Comments
Fantasising ‘Afghan Good Enough’ Where does Pakistan figure in ‘Afghan good enough’ if Pakistan’s centrality in the Western approach is taken into account? Not working towards a ‘Pakistan good enough’ would simply mean that ‘Afghan good enough’ is not ‘good enough’. Vishal Chandra | June 22, 2012 | IDSA Comments
