It is instructive to think about the international political economic implications of the easily disparaged, late in coming War Crimes Trial in Bangladesh. The local media have for long written up tomes on the domestic fight in setting up that trial; less attention has been paid to the international dimensions of that fight. A quick summary […]
Given the latest news of the strategic suicide bombing in Lahore, it’s important that we think hard about what we are fighting for in Pakistan. We need to ask: What is the U.S. fighting for in Pakistan? What is Pakistan fighting for? An answer to either question is not readily available. Perhaps neither question is […]
Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamist political party that entered into coalition with the BNP during its previous turn in power, has seen better days. The three top leaders of the party were arrested this week on charges of hurting the sentiments of Muslims. This has all come about because another Bangladeshi religious group filed charges against Jamaat […]
The growing prominence of Indian-Americans has been an important but under-noticed factor in bilateral relations.
A documentary on the political history of modern China, produced by the C.I.A circa 1967. It’s definitely worth a look. The link is here, if the flash player isnt working for you. (H/T Henry Hoyle)
The current government of Bangladesh should be congratulated for maintaining some modicum of restraint and dignity, relative to its predecessor governments. It has managed macro-economic policy to the extent that over the last year a series of macro-economic reports for different sectors have trended positive. The central government’s plan to take over recruitment and management […]
The former dictator and President of Bangladesh, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, pledged his loyalty to the ruling Awami League, the very party that once stood in opposition to his rule. His Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), though a member of the left leaning AL Grand Coalition has been something of a flighty beast. Once the clearing house […]
The AP reported over the weekend past that more than 200 supporters of the BNP were arrested during a day long protest strike that the BNP had called to speak out against political moves it has challenged as Awami League misrule. As the AP piece observes, the return of hte hartaal (protest strike) is a […]
The World’s South Asia blog had recent post on the background facts behind my recent piece on the central government’s takeover of migrant recruitment and management. Zahid Hussain’s post fills in the numbers gap between the latest news on international migrant workers and the government’s latest move to own a larger share of the remittances […]
Someone recently asked me if the Naxalites could be considered a threat to India’s nuclear arsenal. My answer was a potential threat, but a highly remote one. The Naxalite problem in India has grown exponentially over the last few years, and they have become one of India’s biggest security risks. The recent attacks on security […]
To the recent moves that the central government would deploy its own resources in covering remittances from international labor migrants, the AL government has announced that it will recruit international laborers alongside private recruitment agencies. The move is designed to result in lowering the individual and social costs of transacting with these private–often sordid, criminally […]
The Daily Star reports today the program of street protests that BNP leader Khaleda Zia promised would oust the sitting Awami League government was just a bargaining chip to have cases pending against her and her two sons removed from the docket. Against those pending cases, the BNP offered to pull the program of agitation […]
In a move that signals a huge departure from standard practice, the Indian government announced plans to move closer to market-driven fuel prices.
Michael Hastings’ article published in Rolling Stone magazine has claimed more than Gen. McChrystal’s career. Seemingly taking the U.S. leadership hostage, the article seems now to have extended its long tendrils and has squarely, elastically exploded onto U.S. foreign policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The New York Times published a stunning article this morning that […]
The annual Global Attitudes Survey released last week offers a fascinating snapshot of how Indians presently see their place in the world and their dealings with other leading countries.
