The Strait of Hormuz

A Gulf Truce with Global Consequences: Will it Bring Durable Peace?

A military confrontation in the Gulf can raise food prices in South Asia, accelerate inflation in Africa, disrupt supply chains in Europe, and unsettle financial markets across the globe. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is therefore more than a maritime development; it is a reminder of the profound interdependence that defines the contemporary international order.

Bangladesh’s Lord Ram Statue Controversy fuels Renewed Debate over Religious Freedom and Social Cohesion

The controversy surrounding the proposed Lord Ram statue has emerged at a time when the BNP government has been in office for only 100 days. Some political observers believe that certain groups may be attempting to exploit the issue to deepen existing tensions between Bangladesh and India 

Foreign Funds, Civil Society Freedoms, National Security and India-US Friction

Every democracy permits foreign funding under regulated conditions. The question is whether democratic states possess adequate mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability and protection against external influence operations, which could be against core national interests.

India's Push-In Policy on Suspected Illegal Immigrants: Need to Mitigate Human Suffering

Over the past two months, a series of alleged push-in incidents along the Bangladesh-India border has reportedly left scores of people stranded in zero-line and no-man's-land areas under difficult conditions.

More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs

Appropriating Subhas Chandra Bose: He was equally critical of both Muslim and Hindu communal streams

Bose was very clear that in independent India equal opportunities should be thrown open to all, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, writes Ram Puniyani for South Asia Monitor 

Can Air India become world class again? Can Tatas live up to expectations?

What is the future of civil aviation and Air India? The immediate outlook is that it will take beyond 2022-23 to return to any semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, writes N. Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor

For a more harmonious and cooperative South Asia, India must lead by example

India with its huge numbers and relative political stability can play an influential role in the South Asian region, writes Nirupama Sekhri for South Asia Monitor 

Debt management crucial for pandemic-hit economic recovery in India and South Asian nations

The pandemic is estimated to have caused 48-59 million people to become or remain poor in 2021 in South Asia, writes V.K. Varadarajan for South Asia Monitor

India, Bangladesh must settle Teesta issue in mutual interest

India should act quickly to reach an amicable solution to the Teesta dispute before Bangladesh embraces Chinese cooperation on the issue, writes Anup Sinha for South Asia Monitor

New supply chain dynamics post-Covid: Advantage India or Vietnam?

Even though Vietnam is reckoned as having an edge over India in the global supply chain, India’s demographic advantages override Vietnam, writes S. Majumder for South Asia Monitor

Can India and France work to shape a new world order?

With a French Presidency, the strategic partnership between India and the EU could finally bloom to its full potential, writes Amb Bhaswati Mukherjee (retd.) for South Asia Monitor

Deepening Indo-Saudi ties will see major investments, strategic energy partnership

During a visit to India in 2019, the Saudi Crown Prince announced that the kingdom would be investing $100 billion in diversified sectors in India, writes N. Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor

Pakistan’s National Security Policy: Old thoughts in new packaging

The NSP tosses a heads-I-win-tail-you-lose option for India; it announces its intent of seeking peace but leaves the onus on India, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor 

Bringing peace to India's Northeast: Greater engagement with Bangladesh and Myanmar holds the key

Using the Army to control insurgency in the Northeast has failed as a model, writes B.L. Vohra for South Asia Monitor

Bangladesh has a key role in combating maritime threats in Bay of Bengal

The US, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and others can work together with Bangladesh to deal with regional maritime problems, writes Jubeda Chowdhury for South Asia Monitor

India’s export of Brahmos missiles to the Philippines has larger geopolitical significance

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme that began in 1983 under the stewardship of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is an island of Indian perseverance and quiet success, writes Cmde C. Uday Bhaskar (retd,) for South Asia Monitor

Why Pakistani media now lavishes praise on Bangladesh

While the Pakistani media is now asking its government to follow the Bangladesh model, it remains a sore point that Bangladesh was an exploited colony of Pakistan, writes Pathik Hasan for South Asia Monitor

In a changing South Asia, India, Pakistan must reach middle ground to converge mutual interests

NGOs like South Asia Peace Action Network (SAPAN) and Aaghaz-e-Dosti deserves mention for relentlessly trying to end enmity and distrust between the two countries, writes Anondeeta Chakraborty for South Asia Monitor

Why Gotabaya is battling a crisis no Sri Lankan leader has faced

As Sri Lanka descends deeper into economic chaos, the popularity of the President and his government have declined to levels never seen before for any political regime reaching midterm, writes Indika Hettiarachchi for South Asia Monitor