War Against Iran Enters Second Month: Whither Global Leadership?
Expanding the arc of aerial/missile destruction to the Bab el-Mandeb would irreparably threaten the last viable option for Gulf oil exports and a regional war will soon cascade into an ‘epic’ global crisis. Ironically, the tally of death and destruction is barely mentioned and the war sanitized to a daily video ritual. Scroll and move on. Sagacious global leadership is absent when it is most needed and a discerning global civil society has been paralyzed by the unending Trump theatrics.
A New Dawn in Kathmandu: India Must be the First Responder to Nepali Needs
Given that Nepali citizens enjoy national treatment in India, greater enrolment in higher education institutions across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal should be encouraged. India must remain the first responder to Nepal’s needs at all times. Sustained cooperation and mutual trust can help realise the vision of “Viksit Nepal” alongside “Viksit Bharat.” Regional frameworks such as SAARC, BBIN, and BIMSTEC should be leveraged to strengthen Nepal’s alignment with India across international platforms.
Balendra Shah’s Rise as Nepal PM: A Test of Political Maturity with Regional Ramifications
Balendra Shah’s rise as Prime Minister of Nepal represents a defining moment in the country’s contemporary political evolution. It signals a break from traditional party dominance and the emergence of a new political language shaped by youth aspirations and digital mobilization. At the same time, it introduces new uncertainties into Nepal’s regional relationships, particularly with India and China, both of whom will closely monitor Kathmandu’s evolving foreign policy orientation.
Power, Influence and Covert Intervention in South Asia: Was Bangladesh Target of a Transnational Conspiracy?
Since August 2024, Pakistan’s military establishment, its intelligence apparatus, and associated actors—including Turkey’s MIT—have allegedly been involved in sending weapons and explosives into Bangladesh. These materials are believed to have ended up in the possession of pro-Yunus loyalist mercenaries as well as various extremist groups, including Ansar Al Islam, a local affiliate of Al Qaeda.
Sri Lanka needs well-designed political and economic policy changes for long-term recovery
The government has taken steps to address shortages of fuel and gas to some extent when compared to the earlier situation which had long queues that stretched for kilometres outside fuel and gas…
Bulldozing War Memory: South Asia’s Selective Silence Over Desecration of Gaza's Commonwealth Graves
In the end, the need to remember our war dead transcends borders, alliances, and eras. These disturbed graves — British, Australian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi in origin — call us to a solemn…
Edible Geopolitics: How Asian Cuisine is Leveraging Soft Power to Wield Cultural Influence
At a time when global consumers are increasingly drawn to wellness-oriented and sustainable diets, South Asian culinary traditions, particularly those rooted in India’s Ayurveda, offer significant…
Who will rescue the UN — will it be a “Madam SG”?
The choice of the next SG will determine whether the UN regains relevance or slides further into insignificance. A woman leader would not only break a glass ceiling; it would show the UN retains…
Political stability must for economic recovery, says Pakistan PM; calls for ‘Charter of Economy’
The IMF’s refusal to revive the $6 billion bailout package over the government’s initial refusal to implement austerity measures made things worse for the government. In recent weeks, the Sharif…
Sufi, Spirit and Resistance: A Layered Work Grounded in South Asian Storytelling Traditions
The Sufi Storyteller speaks to a wider South Asian moment, where Sufi traditions are increasingly invoked as counterpoints to narrowing religious and cultural orthodoxies. By…
Whither Commitment to Truth? How AI, Media, and Visuals Shape Our Sense of Threat
The social media takes advantage of the reward systems in the brain, especially the dopamine circuits within the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex. Using signals of micro-engagement,…
Amid Global Turmoil, India Must Seize the Moment to Play a Defining Role
Assuming leadership requires both inherent strength and ideological positioning. While the world covets India as a market, India should also become a market leader in strategic areas where it…
