Many fear that the Balochistan situation could lead to a 1971-like crisis that split the country due to centralised power, military operations against civilians, and foreign overreach. Why, then, have these lessons not been learned?
India, BRICS Fail the Iran Test: It Could Seek to Bridge Divides
For India, the failure is particularly significant as its presidency was an opportunity to translate “strategic autonomy”, the current buzzword in foreign policy circles, into multilateral leadership. True, its response is shaped by structural constraints. The country imports more than 85% of its crude oil, much of it from West Asia and Russia. Some nine million of its citizens live in the Gulf. The United States is its largest trading partner. Iran anchors the Chabahar port project and India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Each relationship is too consequential to risk.
Bhutan Under China’s Doklam Shadow: Delhi Needs to Move Away From Protector-Protected Dynamic With Thimpu
A key consideration for Delhi is Bhutan’s occasional denial or downplay of any Chinese encroachment on its territory, even when satellite data suggests otherwise. This is coupled with a growing perception within Bhutan that India is preventing it from completing its border negotiations with China. Although Thimphu remains closely aligned with Delhi, there is growing interest in expanding its engagement with China.
AI in Elder Care: Potential for Broader Social Transformation
For India, the opportunity is significant as its robust digital infrastructure and large demographic dividend can create a significant opportunity for adoption and deployment of Artificial Intelligence across sectors, particularly in the care economy. There is an ample room for the development of age-friendly products and services using AI innovation which are of scalable commercial value.
South Asia's EdTech Moment: Centre of Gravity of Global Education is Shifting
South Asia's higher education ecosystem — with over 1,500 universities and 60 million enrolled learners — is uniquely positioned to absorb and scale new models: work-integrated degrees, on-demand micro-credentials, lifelong learning. The Global South — Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East — shares the same structural challenges. The solutions that work at scale in India, Bangladesh or Nepal will travel naturally to these geographies.
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Why peace continues to elude Manipur
The ethnic cleansing under Biren Singh’s watch broke all records – Kuki-Zo women paraded naked and subjected to mass rape publicly, with some token FIRs. This is also viewed as the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avoided visiting violence-stricken Manipur in the past 16 months.
India's patriarchal nightmare: The Kolkata horror, and illusion of justice
The Kolkata case is a stark reminder of the persistent failures of India's criminal justice system in addressing sexual violence against women. To truly address the issue of rape in India, there must be a holistic approach that includes legal reforms
Can a collaborative strategy work for South Asia's gold medal quest at the 2028 Olympics?
South Asia’s quest for gold medals at the 2028 Olympics requires a strategic and collaborative effort. By learning from the successes of sports legends like Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel, and addressing key areas such as infrastructure, coaching, and talent development, South Asia can enhance its Olympic performance.
Bangladesh in the aftermath of a revolution: Need for political clarity to meet high expectations
The lesson from the Bangladesh protests reaffirm the fact that governments and their agencies should handle grievances of citizens promptly, with sincerity and fairness, or retributive justice will follow that is unhealthy for democracy. Currently, it is imperative for internal peace along with cultural safety to be restored in Bangladesh, or the nation will drift miles away from democracy.
Emerging practices in channelising green finance : Global learnings for South Asia
There is a strong case to develop MVI for all countries of South Asia based on climate and other vulnerability indicators so that these countries could access and channelise green finance to fulfil their SDG goals.
Democracy in transition: Bangladesh's political chessboard open to potential permutations and combinations
BNP’s push for early elections, Jamaat-e-Islami’s need for time to rebuild, the ambitions of smaller parties, and the rise of new political forces from the anti-discrimination movement all contribute to a highly volatile and unpredictable political environment.
The arrest of former ISI chief echoes Pakistan’s continuing politico-military tussle
The reign of the "hybrid government" in Pakistan has ended with Gen Munir's military wresting its socio-economic and political control. The arrest of the former ISI spymaster has been made into an example for those who dared act against the military.
A tale of two Indias: The Ambani wedding highlighted the nation's yawning wealth disparity
The contrast between the Ambani wedding and the lives of millions of Indians struggling to meet basic needs is a stark indictment of this inequality. While the former was a celebration of excess, the latter is a grim reality marked by poverty, hunger, and lack of access to essential services.
Battle to dominate global communications: Pakistan should leverage US-China rivalry for national benefit
For South Asia, particularly Pakistan, this fragmentation poses challenges but also opportunities. Pakistan’s strategic investments in its digital infrastructure, supported by both Chinese and Western technologies, could position it as a bridge between these emerging digital spheres. By fostering regional connectivity and digital cooperation, Pakistan can mitigate the risks of fragmentation and ensure that its digital economy continues to thrive in a multipolar world.
Why climate change needs to figure more prominently in Indian political discourse
India needs to have a robust competitive framework where political parties ideate, brainstorm and debate on how to give more teeth to the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC), create bodies like the USA's EPA and ensure all environmental laws, disaster management work in tandem under the Gaia’s hypothesis highlighting the “One-Health Approach”.
The potential of regional social spending in India's soft power projection
Apart from being the largest country in the region in terms of geography and economy, New Delhi’s responsibilities as an important player in South Asia also rest on its efforts to improve the region's social and economic parameters.
Challenges in building a new Bangladesh: Yunus has his work cut out
India offered unqualified support to Hasina over the last decade or so. For India, it will be a major challenge to see how it builds a relationship when a new democratic government emerges in Bangladesh. China had invested more in infrastructure in Bangladesh in the last decade or so; and the relationship was improving. But it did not interfere in domestic political issues.
The Kamala Harris story personifies rising Indian American aspirations in a changing America
M R Rangaswami, Silicon Vally entrepreneur, angel investor and philanthropist, and a community leader who founded Indiaspora, said: "I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would have an Indian American running for President of the United States but this is now a reality".
Hasina’s legacy: Stellar growth marred by political stagnation, stalled democracy
The considerable economic progress under Hasina's governance starkly contrasts with the stagnation in political reforms. Persistent issues such as limited press freedom, corruption, and inadequate improvements in democracy, rule of law, and human rights have marred her administration’s record
