modisharif Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
10 April 2014

Elections: a view from Pakistan

Preoccupied with Pakistan’s internal politics, the media has shown little interest in the Indian elections. Nor has the Pakistani establishment expressed concerns about Modi’s ascendancy. But the relationship between Indian Muslims and the BJP led government – if it comes to power – will be a concern for Pakistan

rajapaksa Courtesy: Alexander Nikiforov/Wikimedia Commons
9 April 2014

Sri Lanka’s UNHRC challenge

India abstained from voting on the recent UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka calling for an international probe into the alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government. Sri Lanka has the option of rejecting the resolution, but it will have to evolve a strategy keeping in mind India’s concerns

leftlatam Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
8 April 2014

The Left surge in Latin America

Latin America continues to turn to the Left. Michelle Bachelet became president of Chile in March and has promised fiscal reform; Salvador Sanchez Ceren took over as president of El Salvador in June and will tackle inequality; and in Costa Rica too, the centre-left Luis Guillermo Solis assumed power

SansadBhavan_tv Courtesy: Indianhillybilly and Ambuj.Saxena/Wikimedia Commons
7 April 2014

Election 2014: A view from the U.S.

As India goes to the polls, many in the U.S. and at home will hope that a new government will usher in a new era in the India-U.S. bilateral. Yet, past condemnations of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and the Obama administration’s liberal leaning bureaucrats might prove to be stumbling blocks

scs Courtesy: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency/Wikimedia Commons
4 April 2014

South China Sea: a new war brewing

China is reportedly taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine to further its claims in the South China Sea. Its aggressive stance has pushed the Philippines to approach The Hague for arbitration. There are concerns that the tensions could lead to a breakdown of trade routes in the Western Pacific

Foreign Affairs March 2014 Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
4 April 2014

Eastern Europe Goes South

Many eastern European states who are part of the EU and were admitted only after being deemed compliant with the Copenhagen criteria have seen political parties in these countries become increasingly illiberal