Haj will continue to be the harbinger of cultural and economic cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia, writes Dr H A Nazmi for South Asia Monitor
India-China military disengagement in Eastern Ladakh: New Delhi should always be ready for a surprise
China has been saying that the border question should be left separate from the bilateral relationship, implying it should be kept on the back burner. Resumption of patrolling in Ladakh, in whatever form, will be good, But the reversion to pre-April 2020 posture by China is out of the question.
Nepal Supreme Court’s landmark ruling sets benchmark for LGBTQI+ rights
Nepal made history with its 2007 judgment, becoming the first South Asian nation to formally register same-sex marriage, with a trans woman and a gay man legally marrying in the Lamjung district. It also passed affirming laws regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, including the legal recognition of a third gender over ten years ago, placing Nepal ahead of many other countries.
Building climate resilience in Pakistan: The SAFER project’s role in addressing water and ecosystem vulnerabilities
The SAFER project achieves two goals, by prioritizing participation of women, children, youth, and resilience of vulnerable communities, and by achieving gender equality and social justice. This ambitious project by Pakistan sets a precedent for other developing nations to follow, showing the importance of community driven, ecosystem based approaches to climate adaptation.
Alternative Dispute Resolution should be encouraged to reduce burden on courts
ADR law aims to make justice more accessible and reduce the burden on courts, which currently have over 4.48 crore (nearly 45 million) cases pending from District Court to Supreme Court, 1.08 crore of which are civil disputes and 3.40 crore of which are criminal cases. According to the National Judicial Data Grid, these cases have been pending for anywhere from one year to more than 30 years.
More on Spotlight
Modi's ‘high-risk’ coup could yield rich dividends in Jammu & Kashmir
Those who have closely watched Modi believe that the prime minister wanted to give a clear signal that his government would be in a pro-active mode to handle long pending issues, writes Arun Anand for South Asia Monitor
Why Pakistan got trapped in its Kashmir plebiscite demand
The reason Pakistan was afraid of the plebiscite was that the raiders and troops it had sent in “had indulged in loot, arson, rape, and murder in the State. Scores of villages and towns were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people uprooted, writes Arul Louis for South Asia Monitor
India's move will bring investments into Jammu & Kashmir, create employment
Pakistan can be expected to up the ante on terror, but any misadventure by Pakistan will be suitably responded to by India, writes Lt Gen Prakash Chand Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor
In Kashmiri psyche, Hindu majoritarianism will replace a multicultural democratic India as national symbol
If, in the name of security, the BJP can, with one stroke, undo the federal asymmetry which was a product of the unique circumstances pertaining to the accession of J&K state to India, with a complex set of legal and constitutional mechanisms, the same can be done to the Northeast special powers, but with greater ease, writes Reeta Tremblay for South Asia Monitor
The course of three South Asian democracies - Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives
After a decade, these three countries - Nepal, a Hindu majority country, Bhutan, a Buddhist country and Maldives, an Islamic country - make a compelling study in the journey of democracy, writes Rishija Singh for South Asia Monitor
India's nuclear policy has destablised South Asia: A Pakistani view
Despite dramatization of Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, it is quite clear that South Asia has remained safe from any major conflict due to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, writes Rabia Javed for South Asia Monitor
The dichotomy in Bangladesh: Democracy or development
By narrowing the space for dissent and dichotomizing values, the ruling Awami League has effectively defanged the opposition, media as well as ordinary people writes Rishija Singh for South Asia Monitor
India's hyper-nationalist narratives helped Pakistan Army stay relevant
The warmongering narrative, primarily driven by the ruling party and the media at large, may fetch some electoral gains to the BJP but it has proved to be welcome fodder for the Army in Pakistan as it tries to reinvent itself to remain relevant, writes Mayank Mishra for South Asia Monitor
India and Pakistan: Will there be a spring in ties?
As those who follow the India-Pakistan dynamic would know, there are two aspects to this relationship, often diametrically at odds with each other. A neutral observer would not know where the truth lies - perhaps, in between
India-ASEAN partnership: New Delhi must provide a balance to Beijing
Some foreign policy analysts from Southeast Asia have questioned the lack of performance by India, hinting at a subtle resistance to the concept of “Indo-Pacific” as a replacement to the old “Asia-Pacific,” writes Tunchinmang Langel for South Asia Monitor
Afghan refugees in India: The nowhere people
Given their situation, the only reason most Afghan refugees are staying on in India is to get a chance to go to any European country, writes Khatima Emami for South Asia Monitor
History tells us Pakistan Army will play spoiler
In a tumultuous fortnight, during which many an illusion was shattered at the turn of the year, some home truths emerged in the chronically accident-prone ties between India and Pakistan
