On two counts – annoying Army and America, two of the three pillars on which Pakistan’s polity stands -- may block Imran Khan's future comeback. Only the third, Allah, can help, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
India’s Indo‑Pacific Assertion: Act East Policy in Action in Modi Visit
The significance of PM Modi's visits marks a shift from episodic diplomacy to structured engagement. The convergence of defence, economics, and technology across these four partnerships signals a pragmatic foreign policy.
China at the Core of the India-Japan Strategic Partnership
Yet, strategic behavior of both India and China is fundamentally opposed to each other as witnessed in the agreements signed between India and Japan during Takaichi’s visit to India. China views India’s foreign policy as an effort to embed itself in an alliance aimed at containing it.
Why the NATO summit in Ankara matters for South Asia
The NATO summit can indirectly transform India from a regional power into a West Asia stakeholder by integrating India into maritime security frameworks, supporting connectivity projects, strengthening intelligence ties, reinforcing India’s role as an alternative to China. The long-term outcome is that India could emerge as a pillar of stability linking Europe, the Gulf, and the Indo-Pacific
India–Japan Summit: Strategic Convergence in a Changing Indo-Pacific Order
Japan has also proposed developing a Bay of Bengal–Northeast India Industrial Value Chain aimed at transforming the region into an integrated industrial zone. As part of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, this includes strengthening cross-border connectivity with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs
Why Bangladesh won’t become a Sri Lanka or Pakistan
Bangladesh has very strong leadership, pragmatic fiscal policy and foreign reserves. The Sri Lankan case is totally different, writes Mehjabin Bhanu for South Asia Monitor
Is hate speech becoming the ‘new normal’ in India?
From within the Muslim community there are extremist elements who in the name of Islam provide much-needed provocations to majoritarian politics, writes Dr Ram Puniyani for South Asia Monitor
India has a deal with Australia: Will it be a precursor to more FTAs?
The ECTA with Australia will boost India’s confidence in signing similar trade pacts with the UK and EU, writes N. Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor
A land of plenty reduced to penury: Can Sri Lankans carve a new future?
Amid Sri Lanka’s crippling shortages, Hirunika Premachandra Yatowita, daughter of a slain SLFP MP and herself a former MP from Colombo, is being seen as a new leader, writes P. Jayaram for South Asia Monitor
South Asian nations need structural adjustment to step up growth
Some major countries of South Asia have recently had Article IV consultations with the IMF since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, writes Partha Pratim Mitra for South Asia Monitor
Wang Yi's South Asia tour: Seeking a new world order with Chinese characteristics?
Xi has been quick to grab the opportunity to launch his own diplomatic blitzkrieg by sending his Foreign Minister Wang Yi to South Asia, writes Amb Dilip Sinha (retd) for South Asia Monitor
China needs to roll back 2020 invasion and settle border issue with India
China needs to seriously think whether it wants to continue the confrontation with India or settle the border with irrevocable guarantees, writes Lt Gen P.C. Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Blasphemy: The curse of South Asia
Governments across South Asia need to display stronger political will against violence and unrest over communal and religious issues, writes Shubham for South Asia Monitor
Kashmir Files: It will have a negative impact on carefully nurtured Kashmiriyat
The film lives to its own dialogue that showing wrong is as dangerous as hiding the truth; it totally hides the murders and exodus of Muslims, writes Dr Ram Puniyani for South Asia Monitor
The new polarizing instrument of Hindi cinema
The film has soured Hindu-Muslim relations to an extent in Kashmir - and also in the rest of the country - that the Pandits will be unable to settle down as before in close proximity with their Muslim neighbours, writes Amulya Ganguli for South Asia Monitor
Bangladesh-Pakistan ties: Closing the gap, increasing the gains
The younger generation of both countries is keen to forge stronger ties between these two Muslim-majority countries in the region, writes Mehjabin Bhanu for South Asia Monitor
A missile misfire that could have gone horribly wrong
Fortunately, Pakistan never went ballistic and their reaction has averted what could have potentially led to a disastrous escalation, writes Maj Gen Jagatbir Singh (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Afghanistan’s cricket future looks promising, despite political challenges back home
Afghanistan owes a measure of its progress to the India cricket board and its generosity in providing to the embattled Afghan cricketers the use of ‘home’ grounds in India, writes Qaiser Mohammed Ali for South Asia Monitor
Japanese PM Kishida's Delhi visit: The missing buzz about Japanese investments in India
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation listed India as the most attractive investment destination, yet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Delhi failed to generate that investment buzz, writes S. Majumder for South Asia Monitor
