The China-Iran partnership scenario is not a product of coincidental political and trade decisions over the years, but rather a part of a carefully crafted policy, writes Ivaylo Valchev for South Asia Monitor
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.
Growing Chinese Influence in Bangladesh Making India Uneasy: Dhaka's Autonomy is New Delhi's Challenge
Mongla matters because it represents more than a port. It reflects the erosion of inherited strategic privilege in South Asia. India can no longer assume automatic influence in Bangladesh, while Bangladesh cannot expect infrastructure agreements with China to be interpreted as purely economic.
Why Beijing's Oceanographic Research Irks Philippines: Seen as Precursors to Military Expansion in Contested Waters of South China Sea
The Xiang Yang Hong 33 incident exemplifies a broader challenge in the South China Sea. For China, the mission is characterized as routine environmental research conducted in the waters. The Philippines does not view Chinese marine scientific surveys as isolated environmental initiatives
Porous Borders, Shadow Wars and Grey-Zone Infiltration: The Geopolitical Rift in US-India Intelligence Relations
The Pannun case in the US, the preceding Nijjar row in Canada, the unyielding diplomatic stances of their respective governments, and the coordinated, adversarial statements issued by the Five Eyes alliance, collectively triggered a quiet but intense counter-intelligence pivot by New Delhi.
More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs
Will Pashtun nationalism become Pakistan's Achilles' heel?
Support to the Pakistan Taliban and Afghan Taliban is rebounding on Islamabad as both Talibans don’t recognize Durand Line and want Pakistan to be Sharia-ruled, writes Lt Gen P. C. Katoch (retd.) for South Asia Monitor
Bravehearts of Killer Squadron: Recalling Indian Navy’s 1971 valour
The Killer Squadron traces its genesis to the 1971 war when it took part in operations that enabled the Indian Navy to dominate the Arabian Sea, crippling the Pakistan Navy, writes Col Anil Bhat (retd) for South Asia Monitor
India's outreach to Central Asia: Afghanistan factor gives it added importance
India, as also Eurasia – Russia and the Central Asian Republics (CARs) - have a common adversary in terrorism and need to make it a common goal to work on, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
Growing income disparities in India can upset social equilibrium
How does India compare with the South Asian neighbourhood? The World Inequality Lab database indicates that regional disparities are less than India’s, writes N. Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor
Why winning the ‘water game’ in India requires team effort
With some 600 million Indians facing high to extreme water stress, ‘games’ offer vital insights for expanding self-governance to help people manage water more sustainably, write Ruth Meinzen-Dick and Pratiti Priyadarshini for South Asia Monitor
India-Bangladesh ties headed for a 'golden phase', with enhanced connectivity creating new opportunities
The two countries’ leaders have brought Delhi and Dhaka closer and can together bring economic prosperity to South Asia, writes Pathik Hasan for South Asia Monitor
Celebrating a unique 50-year relationship: India and Bangladesh are development partners with worrying challenges
The foremost geostrategic challenge for India vis-à-vis Bangladesh is to counter the machinations of the China-Pakistan axis, writes Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty (retd) for South Asia Monitor
US has paid a heavy price for condoning the Bangladesh genocide in 1971
As a result of the Nixon-Kissinger folly that made it an accomplice of the Pakistani crimes in Bangladesh, Washington is now facing a formidable rival in China, writes Arul Louis for South Asia Monitor
Gwadar's 'Haq Do' movement has altered the region's political paradigm
The movement in Gwadar under the leadership of Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman Baloch has attracted a massive number of people across Balochistan, especially from the Mekran region, writes Nizam Hassan for South Asia Monitor
Peace propels development in Bangladesh's once-troubled Chittagong Hill Tracts
The development of tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is much better than any remote region of Bangladesh, writes Hafizur Talukdar for South Asia Monitor
Of marriages and separations across the Pakistan-India border: Visa issues keep brides and grooms apart
This is the story of Ganpat Singh from Pakistan’s Sodha Rajput community. Like him, each member of this half a million strong community has matrimonial linkages across the border in Rajasthan, India, writes Beena Sarwar for South Asia Monitor
Iran should not support the formation of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan
The Taliban will soon face internal strife; the Haqqani network and extremist and fanatical factions will revolt against the moderates, splitting the Afghan nationalist struggle, writes Dr Ruhollah Eslami for South Asia Monitor
Western Australia should renew protagonist role in Australia-India bilateral
A stronger relationship with India is undeniably in Australia’s – and Western Australia’s – interest, writes Andrew Hunter for South Asia Monitor
Bhutan must be rewarded for battling climate change
Bhutan contributes little or zero to the climate crisis. Yet, it has not been justly rewarded for its noble and invaluable sacrifices, writes Rinchen Kinzang for South Asia Monitor
