
Biden’s declaration ‘America is back’ must also apply to Afghanistan
The US-Taliban peace deal also needs to be rejected, as it is a disaster in the making for Afghanistan, the region as well as for America since it would turn Af-Pak into a terror cauldron and a springboard to launch terror attacks on the US and its allies, writes Lt Gen Prakash Katoch (Retd) for South Asia Monitor

High stakes at coming India-EU summit: Opportunities and roadblocks
Can the EU hope for forward-looking language on at least a limited trade deal between India and the EU?, writes Amb Bhaswati Mukherjee (retd) for South Asia Monitor

In India, dissenters are having it rough
The Supreme Court of India has categorically held that criticism of the government, however harsh, does not amount to sedition unless violence is incited, writes Rahul Machaiah for South Asia Monitor

Need for reinventing India’s aeronautical industry
Fifty years of bitter experience should prompt the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to initiate a major paradigm-shift in India's defence-industrial programmes, writes Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) for South Asia Monitor

India, China to have a hotline for timely exchange
China and India have agreed to establish a hotline to exchange views timely following talks between foreign ministers of the two countries, reports China's state-run Xinhua news agency

China backs Sri Lanka, calls UNHRC resolution 'interference' in 'internal affairs'
Backing Sri Lanka in the ongoing 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), China strongly criticized the “politicization” of human rights, and lashed out at the UNHRC for…

PM Modi wants India to become a toy manufacturing hub
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for making India the next global hub for manufacturing and sourcing of toys by attracting investments in the sector and promoting exports

Pakistan has successfully avoided FATF blacklist, claims minister
Pakistan has yet again managed to avoid being blacklisted by the global watchdog on money laundering and terror financing, claiming that the possibilities of the country being pushed from the grey…

Protests in Dhaka after writer's death in jail
Protests erupted in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka after writer and blogger Mushtaq Ahmed, denied bail six times, died in Kashimpur jail

Sri Lanka replaces Chinese vaccine with India-made AstraZenca shots over safety concerns
In what is being viewed as a big win for India's vaccine diplomacy, Sri Lanka has put on hold Chinese Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine and will use India-manufactured Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to…

Nepal Police arrest two for human trafficking; expose growing syndicate
Nepal police have arrested two people for their alleged involvement in trafficking a woman and her daughter to Turkey last year where they were sold for 2000 lira

Rice import in Bhutan doubles during pandemic
The raging COVID-19 pandemic followed by two nationwide lockdowns in Bhutan led to a record rice import last year, officials said. The Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) imported around 24,000…

Engage in meaningful talks, reduce violence: Russia to Taliban
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asked the Afghan insurgent group Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan and engage in meaningful talks with the Afghan government to find a political…

WHO gives laboratory, cold chain equipment to Maldives to strengthen pandemic response
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has handed over the cold chain and laboratory supplies to the Maldives Ministry of Health to strengthen pandemic response and support the building of a…

Pakistan ready to resolve all outstanding issues with India: PM Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday, welcoming the ceasefire announced on the Line of Control (LoC), said Pakistan has always stood for peace and remains "ready to move forward to resolve all…

Kerala-born scientist tests sewage in Sydney to check COVID spread
Kerala-born Sudhi Payyappat is leading a team of 20 in examining dozens of sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants across New South Wales (NSW) in Australia testing for COVID-19…

India’s #MeToo movement: A courageous battle and victory for women
The acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani by a Delhi court in a criminal defamation case lodged by former Union minister M J Akbar in relation to the sexual harassment allegations leveled against…

Art for a cause: Panting exhibition to support cancer patients in Nepal
An exhibition is being showcased at the Nepal Art Council in Kathmandu to support cancer patients
Modi's self-reliance doctrine energises dying small-scale industries
Several dying small-scale industries in India are looking at a comeback with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat that also focuses on self reliance and import…
South Asia Monitor (SAM) is happy to platform and promote sponsored articles/interviews by South Asian businesses and those interested in doing business with and in South Asia. Please contact P S Mitra at info@spsindia.in