However, evolving regional dynamics, particularly China’s expansion and Pakistan’s tactical nuclear developments, continue to test the durability and interpretation of this doctrine. While India has officially reiterated its commitment to No First Use, debates persist within strategic circles about its future applicability under extreme scenarios.
The significance of Shisir Khanal’s visit therefore lies not only in the agreements reached but in the broader message it conveyed. Both Kathmandu and New Delhi are signalling a willingness to move beyond the grievances and suspicions that have periodically defined their interactions. If the emphasis on development diplomacy, economic integration, and pragmatic cooperation is sustained, the current moment could indeed mark the beginning of a new chapter in India–Nepal relations.
This is also the terrain through which the US 62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) traverses, facing security threats from north to south, losing men and material in attacks by militants. That being the case, the US entry brings in another global player, ready to guard its interests against China’s looming presence. Is the South Asian region headed for a proxy war?
This contradiction—peace abroad, repression at home—defines Pakistan’s current posture. While Islamabad seeks international recognition as a mediator, its domestic record is marred by bloodshed and denial of democracy. The JAAC movement, rooted in basic economic grievances, has become a symbol of resistance against this hypocrisy.
The post-1991 era of economic liberalization catalyzed a paradigm shift in India's federal structure, empowering states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to engage in para-diplomacy and craft their global economic narratives. Their early success in leveraging IT-led growth demonstrated the transformative potential of subnational diplomacy.
Eviction of slum dwellers in South Asian nations cannot merely be dismissed as collateral damage of urban development and anti-encroachment drives. They reflect a larger, alarming trend of displacement of the urban poor and gross violations of their dignity and human rights.
South Asian feminist voices are calling for a shift from tokenism to transformation. The path forward lies in institutionalising women’s participation across diplomatic, security, and environmental policymaking. Whether it’s building back peace in Sri Lanka, safeguarding water rights in the Indus basin, or protecting Rohingya women refugees in Bangladesh, South Asia’s feminist peacebuilders are not just responding to crises; they are redefining what peace means.
The fateful March 1977 election vindicated Indian democratic traditions and proved the triumph of freedom over bread. Ballot after regular ballot has shown that just because a man is poor and maybe cannot read does not mean he does not care for his liberty and human rights.
The time has come to reject the mythology of civilizational war. It is time to reclaim the principles of sovereignty, multilateralism, and international cooperation. And it is time to imagine and construct a new security architecture for the Muslim world
Had these events occurred during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, Dhaka would likely have expressed solidarity with India and endorsed its right to self-defense. The current posture highlights a broader strategic shift under the interim leadership, raising questions about the future trajectory of India-Bangladesh security cooperation.
The very name ‘Himalaya’ comes from two Sanskrit words Hima (snow) and Alaya (abode), a classical language of South Asia. The term 'Himalayasia'—comprising two names Himalaya and South Asia—does not privilege any one nation and is free from colonial discourse; it centers on a natural feature that has shaped the region’s ecology, mythology, and philosophy for millennia.
While carbon taxes are a key instrument in the climate policy toolkit, their limitations in the face of inelastic demand and global regulatory fragmentation suggest that complementary measures are essential. Subsidies for clean energy and research offer substantial emissions reductions while encouraging innovation and preserving economic competitiveness.
Cricket—especially the IPL—is a multi-billion-rupee industry. In 2023 alone, IPL revenue touched Rs.11,770 crores, with the BCCI posting a surplus of Rs.5,120 crores. Over three years, its cumulative profits crossed ₹15,000 crores. And yet, the world’s richest sports body pays no tax—shielded by a “charitable” status. In stark contrast, research labs and educational institutions are taxed.
India’s Pakistan Conundrum is a comprehensive and somewhat concrete account of the dynamics of the power and politics in Pakistan. Though one can differ with various minor details, one must remember that the author is a diplomat, a civil servant from India, so the burden of resolving theoretical riddles is not his to carry. However, what he must be applauded for is acknowledging Pakistan's problems
The twin crises of South Asia and the Middle East in 2025 reflect a dangerous transformation of global order from a managed, rules-based system to an increasingly fragmented and militarized world. The absence of consistent international norms, selective diplomacy, and double standards by great powers are undermining peace efforts and pushing humanity closer to irreversible confrontation.
But this declaration will never be signed. The actual G7 communiqué will likely promise "managed decline" disguised as "leadership"—words drafted in servitude to the oil beneath Alberta’s soil, not in the spirit of its majestic mountains.
The Middle East’s volatility is not an outlier—it’s a feature of the emerging global order. India’s challenge is to anticipate these tectonic shifts and act with strategic foresight, not just tactical response. Energy security, export competitiveness, and supply chain resilience must now be treated as interlinked pillars of national power. Failing to adapt could make India a casualty of distant wars.
The absence of any form of engagement with Pakistan other than military has narrowed India’s options substantially. As a sovereign state, Pakistan cannot be seen to nor will it bow to coercive tactics. The current Indian establishment’s perennially punitive approach to Pakistan and efforts to humiliate it as an object of domestic ridicule has not yielded any dividends.
For India, this summit offers a dual opportunity. First, to shape a more inclusive multilateralism; one that amplifies the Global South’s priorities on energy, security, and digital equity. Second, to rebuild strained ties with Canada, a relationship marred by recent tensions but too strategically important to neglect.
