Germany  is not just about holocaust, beer, football, cars or high-end technology. There are lots of things to explore and exploit, in the good sense of the term. Similarly, India has moved way beyond Bollywood, chicken curry or Holi and Diwali. There is much more to explore. By shying away from doing so, the myths will persist, the stereotypes will continue, the fears will enhance. 

Pakistan’s struggle for peace and stability is far from over. As the government seeks accountability for those responsible for this violent protest, the need for healing has never been more pressing. PTI’s leadership must be held accountable for their role in inciting violence, spreading misinformation, and damaging the country’s social fabric. 

The sensationalized reports from Indian media about attacks on minorities could further complicate this dynamic, potentially shaping Trump's perceptions and policies toward Bangladesh. The fear is that these narratives could lead to a skewed understanding of the situation in Bangladesh, undermining Yunus’s efforts to establish legitimacy and garner international support.

Things changed overnight and within hours after the presidential election results were announced, India’s High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha turned up at the JVP office in capital Sri Jayawardenepura        with a bouquet of red roses. Interestingly, Dissanayake in his brief conversation with the Indian envoy, recalled his visit to India and said that too was a contributory factor in his victory.

Film Southasia is more than just a film festival. It brings together creative voices from across the region, establishing Kathmandu as a regional hub where South Asian storytellers connect across borders. It has become a special space where artists can share their stories and break down the barriers that often keep South Asian countries apart. Over the years, the festival has welcomed many iconic cultural figures, including poet-filmmaker Gulzar, actor Shabana Azmi, and directors Shyam Benegal and Goutam Ghose.

The thrust cannot simply lay on maintaining security in the region, but also a complete transformation of relations. This requires a reconciliation between the Hindus and Muslims of the region who have suffered through communal violence. The de-essentialization of religious identity is crucial in building fraternity and retaining long term internal peace in the region, while at the same time limiting Pakistani intervention

Bangladesh stands at a perilous juncture, grappling with an unprecedented security crisis in the aftermath of the July 19 jailbreak. The escape of over 2,241 inmates, including militants and top criminals, has exposed deep vulnerabilities in the nation’s security apparatus and highlighted the urgent need for action.

The aspirations of Gen-Z are on the walls, calling for a more tolerant and pluralistic society, with a sense of justice. "All political parties have heard that and understand that the newer generation are the most important voting bank at this moment. They don’t believe in the binary we have lived in for such a long time."

Today in Pakistan universities have proliferated and where in 2000 there were about 1 million post secondary students, in 2020 there were nearly 5 million and they have expectations, and they are also more political. But it is also the 30 and 40 year olds, generations of Pakistanis who are frustrated with the lifestyle of the rich and corrupt, and of a military they increasingly see in a similar light.

In the larger South Asia context, air pollution does not follow national boundaries and therefore the solutions for all the airsheds cannot come from any one city or a country. The countries in South Asia – India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan - that share a common airshed are impacted by the transboundary pollution. More than half of the air pollution across major cities in South Asia is not local but transboundary in nature.

Regional bodies like the SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, have the potential to foster cooperation on climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and trans-border pollution control. However, geopolitical tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, hinder progress.

In the years gone by, India was defined by its religious and cultural strengths, but it has now taken Prime Minister Modi, with a new initiative, to give a boost to India-Caribbean ties through a purely development agenda. It is hoped that CARICOM would set up the mechanisms to get this agenda going. Is it that India is now showing its readiness to take on American and Chinese frontiers aimed at becoming a leader of the Global South if not a world power?

While the South Asian states securitize, local politics has often scapegoated refugee populations, turning majority insecurities into electoral capital – a fear that refugees’ encroachment  on physical and political spaces, jobs, land, corner welfare resources meted out by the state and place undue pressures on infrastructure; acase in point the rhetoric against Bangladeshi migrants in India.

Managing the country’s debt remains a priority. Pakistan has $26 billion in debt servicing obligations for FY25, but the government has already paid $5.7 billion. It hopes to roll over $14.1 billion of this debt, but a shortfall of $6.3 billion remains. While this presents a challenge, the government is exploring ways to address the gap without relying heavily on expensive, short-term loans. 

The JVP policy towards India took a u-turn when its youthful cadres were highly appreciative of the Indian assistance given during the tsunami and later at the height of the economic crisis two years ago. India’s $4 billion aid tops the list of overseas assistance. India also rushed food, fuel and medicines that helped end the long queues for these and other essentials.