India’s rise will generate contradictory pressures on U.S. policymakers. Those in Washington who warily eye the expansion of Chinese power in Asia will welcome the strategic counterweight of a stronger India. But officials will also have to contend with a growing number of Americans who view the country as an economic rival. How Washington handles these cross-currents will be a fascinating balancing act.
Even as Indian treads the ‘dialogue-with-Pakistan’ path cautiously, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has reiterated the singular importance of dialogue between the two countries. Speaking on an Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Trialogue, she stressed the need to make boundaries “irrelevant” and find “creative solutions” to problems. Ironically, she failed to spell out these creative solutions even as she […]
India’s ascent up the great-power ladder is one of the signal developments of the 21st century. But as two new reports make plain, the country is making the climb with its hands restrained.
On June 7th Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the convocation ceremony at the Sher-e-Kashmir University in Srinagar. The thrust of visits by India’s various Prime Ministers to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) primarily revolve around issues of terrorism, peace talks with separatists, development packages and omissions and commissions of Pakistan. P.M. Manmohan Singh’s recent visit addressed these […]
At present, there is a debate in India about the action to be taken against the Naxalities/Maoists who have increased their operations against the Indian government and civilians over the last few months. In the month of May, Naxalite attacks killed around 175 people including 29 security personnel. Prior to that in April, they carried […]
As the US watches the growing disaster from the BP oil spill unfold, it seems appropriate to take a look at what has happened in the wake of other modern industrial disasters. Unfortunately, the developments of this week illustrate that justice is not always served in the aftermath. Twenty five years after a chemical gas […]
South Asia is seen as a geo-strategic, geo-economic unit by some and a single civilizational whole by others. The program of regional cooperation was expected to benefit immensely from the historical and cultural ties connecting people across national borders in South Asia. Such assessments created positive possibilities regarding cooperation in the region. Despite differences over […]
In a fitting end to the much publicized trial of Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving terrorist of 26/11, a death sentence was awarded to him on five counts, including waging a war on India. Judge M L Tahiliyani sentenced him to five life terms and five death penalties for his display of “exceptional depravity” during […]
Pakistan’s short-sighted foreign policies and military spending will not lead to long-term regional stability.
I hope that you have been enjoying our On Our Bookshelves musings. In the spirit of springtime cleaning and sharing, I am giving away two of the books I’ve reviewed. It’s a Julia extravaganza. For the foodies, there’s Julia Child’s My Life in France. And for those seeking a passage to India, there’s Julia Gregson’s […]
The last few days have seen significant uproar in the Indian parliament and media about the alleged wire-tapping of four senior politicians in India. The Outlook Magazine reported that telephones of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh were tapped by […]
An interesting aspect of India’s defense strategy today is its focus on increasing its naval power, currently the fifth largest in the world. Last month, the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a panel to discuss this “dramatic maritime transformation.” Within the next decade, the country plans to introduce 40 new warships and 400 new aircraft to […]
As the Indian government strives to elevate people out of poverty, it should realize that good athletes can serve as more than a way to equal China’s Olympic might.
