Written by Dinesh Bhattarai
The resurgence of China and India as major powers brings immense opportunities but new dynamics to Nepal’s doorsteps. Nepal cannot choose between India and China and thus must walk a delicate path between the two most populous nations in the world.
Read MoreWritten by Kashoon Leeza
The rise of Hindutva nationalism in India is leading to a reciprocal Muslim nationalism in Pakistan. With both India and Pakistan playing the blame-game, while bolstering their own rhetoric, nationalist discourses are overtaking ties between South Asia’s nuclear armed rivals.
Read MoreWritten by Pooja Bhatt
Littoral nations suspect that even though China states that the purpose of research vessels in the Indian Ocean are purely scientific in nature, that these vessels could be gathering data to enhance Beijing’s maritime domain awareness in the region.
Read MoreWritten by Manali Kumar
South Asian countries must cooperate to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, SAARC is not the forum to broker such cooperation. There are few good examples of SAARC cooperation in the 35 years of the organization’s existence.
Read MoreWritten by Arkoprabho Hazra
With increasing security ties with Israel, a historic relationship with the Palestinians, and a history of working with the United Nations and other multilateral forums, India is in a unique position to help mediate the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Read MoreWritten by Minaam Shah
If India wants SAARC to succeed, it has to give its neighbors a reason strong enough to cooperate. Any sense of collective South Asian identity has to originate under the pressure of an external force.
Read MoreWritten by Sabyasachi Biswal
In South Asia, China is making in-roads as a global health leader, with an extensive public campaign, the “Health Silk Road”. India meanwhile vies for regional influence with Beijing, mobilising its medical sector and institutions such as SAARC.
Read MoreWritten by Filippo Boni
Having made CPEC the “flagship project” of the BRI, China is keen to project the economic corridor as a success. When China has undertaken a global propaganda push, Beijing has realised that the BRI’s reputation relies on the ability to move things forward in Pakistan.
Read MoreWritten by Riaz A. Khokhar
America’s absence from the stage has long-term geopolitical consequences. Its decreasing engagement in South Asia augurs badly for its long term influence. China’s relationship with South Asia, in particular Pakistan, is getting stronger with every passing day.
Read MoreWritten by Amrita Jash
Alfred Thayer Mahan’s prophetic words stating: “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia”- have become the key aspiration of great powers in 21st Century.
Read MoreWritten by Claude Rakisits
Most of the world’s attention has been focussed on China’s aggressive military behaviour and impressive infrastructure build-up in the South China Sea in the last few years.
Read MoreWritten by Krzysztof Iwanek
India is too independent to be an outspoken ally of any global power but too weak to be a global power by itself. New Delhi is keen to not be seen as a U.S. ally but cannot risk becoming China’s foe.
Read MoreWritten by Darshana M. Baruah
Islands in the Indian Ocean are located near key transit routes providing access and influence over important chokepoints and waterways, and thus, their key geographies have the potential to impact geopolitical competition.
Read MoreWritten by Niranjan Marjani
The strategic cooperation between both the countries is important for their bilateral relations. But it is also important for India’s outreach to Southeast Asia and for the success of Act East Policy.
Read MoreWritten by Gokul Sahni
Bangladesh’s internal waterways provide immense opportunities for India for transportation of cargo - both goods and tourists - between India’s ‘mainland’ and its north-eastern states. The two ports of Mongla and Chattogam have been offered to India for transporting freight through Bangladesh.
Read MoreWritten by Jyotsna Mehra
Last month, President Donald Trump made his first state visit to India when he flew to the country in the middle of a charged election campaign. Despite this obvious affirmation of New Delhi’s elevated status in Washington’s foreign policy calculations, the trip itself did not result in ‘pathbreaking’ deliverables.
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