Hence, in the span of only one and a half-century, a mighty river like the Indus has been imprisoned in dams, bridges, and barrages, which has severely disturbed the river’s flow, writes Muhammad Abbas Khaskheli for South Asia Monitor
The Geopolitics of the Dalai Lama Institution and Tibetan Reincarnation: China’s Quest for Control
In Tibetan society, the process of identifying reincarnations is understood as one of the most sacred expressions of rebirth. Although this tradition may be unfamiliar outside the Tibetan Buddhist world, it is deeply rooted in Tibetan religious culture. Communist China remains fundamentally alien to this traditional reincarnation system.
China’s Troubled Relations with its Maritime Neighbors: A Military Necessity or Violation of Classical Geopolitics?
This tactical aspect of nuclear counter-attack is perhaps the foremost reason why China reckons it needs absolute control over the South China Sea. China’s troubled relations with its maritime neighbors are, from its perspective, a necessary cost it has to pay for its national security.
From Odesa to Oman: The Lethal Cost to Merchant Mariners
When dominant military powers prioritise the enforcement of economic blockades, the legalities of merchant shipping and the safety of non-combatant crews are treated as secondary operational variables. No country can fully insulate its civilian seafarers from these realities.
The Changing Face of Warfare and the New Definition of Victory
In earlier conflicts, victory was often measured by territory captured, armies defeated, or governments forced to surrender. In modern warfare, however, the outcome is far more complex. A nation may achieve battlefield success yet suffer demographic, economic, and infrastructural losses that take decades to recover from.
More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs
Seamless connectivity, clean-energy investment can herald new era of South Asian cooperation
By prioritizing green stimulus through clean-energy investment and sustainability-oriented policies in its pandemic response, South Asia can play an important role in making the development process more sustainable, both for the region and for the world, writes Partha Pratim Mitra for South Asia Monitor
For a peaceful South Asia, US acknowledges India's strategic importance to Afghanistan
The growing political and economic influence of India in Afghanistan has been factored by the Biden administration and the inclusion of India in the peace talks are proof of that, writes Shushant VC for South Asia Monitor
From security dialogue to leading the world: Quad summit Friday to discuss larger global role
The broader agenda signals the Quad's move towards multifaceted cooperation to broaden their footprint, while also keeping the facade -- important to India -- that it is not directed against China, writes Arul Louis for South Asia Monitor
India's new soft power: Pharmacy of the world
Gratitude has been expressed to India from the highest political levels of the 57-odd countries that have received 56 million doses through outright grants, commercially or through COVAX, writes N Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor
Manifold challenges faced by imprisoned transgender persons in South Asia
There are countries in South Asia, for example, India and Pakistan, where we have judgments from apex courts declaring self-determination of gender identity by trans people as fundamental to gender recognition, writes Sai Bourothu for South Asia Monitor
An icon of South Asia: Sahir Ludhianvi’s lifetime work and legacy still relevant
Sahir's birth centenary, on March 8, 2021, is an occasion for all to revisit his lifetime work and legacy that has tremendous relevance even in our own troubled, testing times, writes Venkat Parsa for South Asia Monitor
Justice for India's women: Against a bleak backdrop, some encouraging developments too
This is an ironic and familiar pattern wherein every March 8, the collective global attention briefly dwells on the status of women and while well-meaning statements are repeated – the substantive improvement in the welfare and safety of women remains a work in slow progress and an area of grave concern, writes Cmde C Uday Bhaskar (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Journey of an Indian woman diplomat: A story of struggle, success and empowerment
The Indian Foreign Service has come a long way in changing gender stereotypes. In the early years, women diplomats were forced to resign if they got married, writes Amb Bhaswati Mukherjee (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Sahir Ludhianvi: The poet-lyricist who belonged to both India and Pakistan
Sahir Ludhianvi’s relevance becomes greater and urgent in the present times for promoting an inclusive society and religious harmony, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
Privatisation is a fraught exercise in India: Will Modi succeed?
Modi’s address on the floor of the lower house on February 10 went much further in stating that the days are long gone when only the government was responsible for national development, writes N Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor
Why New Delhi should not fear the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul
Unlike Pakistan, India is an emerging regional power both from a political and economic point of view, and India, since the last two decades, has built a friendly image in the minds of many Afghans – many consider India as the second home for the Afghans, write Hamayun Khan & S. Nasrat for South Asia Monitor
India’s ethics code for online platforms: Need of one for politicians too?
The Indian government’s explanation for the crackdown on these presentations is comprehensive enough to nip all literary, cinematic, and journalistic ventures in the bud, writes Amulya Ganguli for South Asia Monitor
US vows to deepen India partnership against China dangers; no zero-sum proposition vis-a-vis Pakistan
Biden is having to deal with the geopolitical realities of the rising threat from China and has to have India as a strategic asset for meeting the challenge, writes Arul Louis for South Asia Monitor
Developing India’s port sector to meet its global aspirations
In the last six years of being in office, this government has taken numerous initiatives to harness the potential of the maritime sector and improve India’s global standing, writes Cmdre Anil Jai Singh (retd) for South Asia Monitor
