Sri Lankan Buddhist monks shout slogans and hold placards as they stage a protest rally outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo

Sri Lanka's Influential Buddhist Clergy Raise Puts Government in a Spot

Sri Lanka’s Constitution gives Buddhism a special position under Article 9 while also protecting freedom of religion under Article 10 and related constitutional provisions. The government therefore has responsibilities both to protect Buddhist traditions and to ensure that the law is applied fairly across religious communities.

Amid Changing Geopolitics and Internal Turmoil, South Asia may Paradoxically get more European Attention

Some observers wrongly assume Europe's current crises will lead to a retreat from Asia. The opposite may occur. The EU's internal turmoil is accelerating a fundamental redefinition of its external priorities. South Asia is becoming increasingly important

Air Power and National Security: Strategic Choices that the Indian Air Force Needs to Make

Air power will remain central to national security. Whether India has enough of it, in the right form, and can afford it in scarce dollars, is still an open question. ACM Singh is to be commended for his distinguished service and stellar leadership – and more importantly – rendering objective professional advice to the apex leadership, an increasingly rare trait in the current times.

Nonalignment and Strategic Autonomy Unworkable for Small States: 'India First' Policy a Strategic Necessity for Sri Lanka

Under conditions of what is increasingly described as the "Great Fragmentation," Sri Lanka's geographic proximity to India should be viewed as a strategic advantage rather than a liability. Properly managed, this strategic reality could help transform Sri Lanka into a prosperous and stable nation.

More on Geopolitics, Security and Strategic Affairs

Pakistan needs to reshape priorities: Trim high defence budget, build positive ties with India

History has shown that whenever Pakistan sought peaceful relations with India, India responded positively. This held true during democratic governments and even during dictatorships in Pakistan.

With China tightening hold on South Asia, Maldives a wake-up call for India

Muizzu’s regime in the Maldives in conjunction with Pakistan could be potentially sitting on China’s lap for decades, along with a pro-China government in Nepal, and Myanmar annyway drawn into China’s strategic sphere since the military coup in Nay Pyi Taw in February 2021.

Islamic State's expanding footprints pose grave security threat to Pakistan and South Asia

While Pakistan continues to blame India for the bombings in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,  it fails to introspect on its own internal crisis stemming from its policies against its citizens and the military/political support being given to certain radical outfits or groups.

Why are the people of Bangladesh apprehensive about the upcoming elections?

Due to the lack of established regard for the democratic system, elections held after the 1990s have been marred by political turmoil and civic unrest. The absence of a solid democratic foundation has hindered the institutionalization of democracy in national life and politics.

Maldives election: India should not align its neighbourhood policy to individual leaders

The China-funded Sinamale Bridge connecting the capital Male and the airport island Hulhule, is a boon to the Maldivian people, who readily relate to the project, and hence to China as a development partner. But China is seen only as a developmental supplementary to long-term friendly neighbour India and not as an alternate in any way.  

Student suicides in India: Kota is a wake-up call

What we see in Kota today is deeply rooted in middle-class aspirations for social mobility, considering meritocracy a fair and promising system. But, the ‘merit ladder’ for upward mobility is not equally tangible and accessible to all. The material, social and psychological resources available for these students depend on their social location.

Continued ethnic strife in Manipur making region vulnerable to external exploitation

China has been supporting, training and arming northeast terrorists for the past several decades. The ongoing political experiment of ethnic cleansing and polarization in Manipur would naturally be exploited by China.

Shedding the misconceptions: Bangladesh's ties with China should not be a concern for India

The Sino–Bangladeshi partnership has not grown at the expense of the Indo–Bangladeshi partnership. Bangladesh does not constitute a part of the traditional Chinese sphere of influence. 

Empowering Bangladesh: The promise of solar-wind hybrid renewable energy systems

Bangladesh's energy woes demand innovative solutions, and the integration of solar and wind energies in a hybrid system represents a groundbreaking approach to meeting the nation's power needs. 

‘India’ or ‘Bharat’ debate reflects postcolonial insecurities, not in tune with modern nationhood

India holds together not by ignoring diversity but by granting constitutional and ideational recognition to different ethnic, religious and linguistic groups. The word ‘India’ evokes and symbolizes a “we feeling” in the people's collective consciousness, derived from long-held traditions and pluralist imaginations. 

Child marriages in South Asia: Gross violation of girl rights that needs urgent regional attention

The persistence of child marriage in South Asia indicates the widespread failure of governments to address one of the most critical human rights issues. Effective legal remedies and ensuring accountability for those complicit in such crimes can be the panacea for such social ills.

G-20: India can seize the moment to give a new direction to multilateralism

India's leadership has already committed itself to exploiting the linkages between economic growth, gender equality, peace, and security and the use of technological innovations for universal benefit. India has championed the cause of low-income nations in the past — and it could now do so again.

How RAW and SIS had worked together to prevent the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka

Contrary to the bizarre story spun by Maulana in the Channel 4 documentary, Indian intelligence agencies, mainly RAW, played a pivotal role in monitoring IS movements in Sri Lanka. 

‘India’ or’Bharat’: Constituent Assembly debates showed reasonableness amid opinion divergence

The incongruity of “India, that is Bharat”, as given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, who drafted the Constitution, was pointed out by some members of the Constituent Assembly just as an independent India was taking shape.

Growing Indo-Bangla defence ties will have a significant bearing on South Asian security and stability

India and Bangladesh have welcomed initiatives to strengthen their maritime security partnership. A MoU for the establishment of a coastal surveillance radar system in Bangladesh’s Chittagong and Mongla ports has been inked.