US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

New Civilisational Thesis of Western Renewal Risks Reviving Spectres of Colonialism and Racism

After Munich, Rubio travelled to Budapest and aligned himself warmly with Orbán’s government, praising Hungary’s trajectory. For European leaders committed to participatory democracy and the rule of law, the signal must have been disquieting. It suggested that Washington’s conception of Western solidarity may prioritise cultural homogeneity over liberal pluralism.

Trump’s Tariff Shock and India’s Export Reset: A Tech-Led Turn in the Making

The structural transformation of India’s export basket is no longer incremental—it is systemic. Technology-driven industries with higher value addition are steadily outpacing traditional sectors. If managed strategically, external tariff pressures could accelerate this transition. Rather than viewing tariff hikes solely as a threat, India can leverage them as a catalyst for deeper integration into global supply chains and stronger positioning in high-technology manufacturing. The reshaping of India’s export architecture is already underway. The tariff shock may simply fast-forward the process.

AI Encounters in Indian Higher Education: In Search of Humans in the Loop

Considering the potential of AI in solving complex questions and generating contents in individual writing styles, institutions need to ask a few fundamental questions - what is the role of academia in ensuring that the learners are not being slaves to AI, but masters who are aware of the potential bias and hallucinations that has a huge impact on knowledge acquisition and dissemination?  Should it be a social responsibility of higher educational institutions to ensure meaningful curriculum and assessment practices which make learners future ready in such a rapidly changing AI era?

Cryptocurrency and the Emergence of a Parallel Financial Architecture in South Asia

Recent global adoption indices confirms that South Asia has become one of the most dynamic regions for cryptocurrency engagement, with implications for remittance use. According to the 2025 crypto adoption index by Chainalysis, India secured the top position worldwide in overall crypto adoption across retail usage, reflecting pervasive grassroots digital activity. Pakistan and Bangladesh also feature prominently, with Pakistan ranking among top three in Asia and Bangladesh within top 20

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Jaishankar's visit to Colombo: Will it signal continuity or change in bilateral ties under Dissanayake government?

Analysts believe that Jaishanakar's visit will be a significant opportunity for India to reinforce its commitment to providing development support for its strategically situated Indian Ocean neighbor amid worries about a shift in its foreign policy under the new president.  

Pakistan seeking to reshape regional dynamics through stronger Central Asia, Azerbaijan ties

Pakistan’s pivot to geo-economics has gained significant momentum, particularly in the context of its deepening ties with Central Asian Republics and Azerbaijan, aligning with the country's goal of becoming a regional trade hub

Can Pakistan and Bangladesh overcome historical grievances to redefine relations?

For India, Pakistan and Bangladesh's defence cooperation is reason for concern. The long, porous border between India and Bangladesh, along with New Delhi's historical position as a vital supporter of Dhaka, make any reconciliation between Islamabad and Dhaka a sensitive matter. The weapons agreement, in particular, has fuelled suspicion in India about a potential shift in Bangladesh's outlook, particularly in light of the anti-India rhetoric that surrounded the protests that led to Hasina's removal.

Knowledge diplomacy: India’s missing soft power tool

India’s superpower ambitions require a comprehensive strategy to use the Indian education sector, both private and government, towards advancing India's strategic aims and objectives. A starting point to experiment such knowledge/education diplomacy lies in its neighbourhood.

National anthems and identity crises continue to haunt South Asia

However, religion, domestic compulsions and failure to improve political conditions, with or without national elections, have embroiled Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, all compounded by economic woes, in issues that impinge on their national identity.

Sri Lanka's new president: Can he deliver on economic stability and regional security?

In a way, Sri Lanka's economic crisis has served as a blessing in disguise, bringing India and Sri Lanka closer as South Asian neighbors. However, India remains concerned about security in the Indian Ocean, where China has been actively expanding its influence. 

Isolating the Taliban is not helping Afghanistan's people: International diplomats must return to Kabul

For Afghans to find their own solutions they need an engaged international community inside Afghanistan.  The more isolated they become the more possible it is for the most regressive among the Taliban – which it must be said is not a monolith – to impose tighter and tighter controls, which is what is currently happening.

Cross-border militancy, Taliban intransigence intensifies Pakistan's security dilemma

Then there is the thorny issue of "Lar o Bar," a nationalist idea that has long existed on the fringes of Pashtun politics. The phrase, literally meaning "here and there," reflects the dream of uniting Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand Line, the border drawn between Pakistan and Afghanistan during British rule. While the notion might resonate with cultural pride, it’s a direct threat to Pakistan’s territorial integrity.

Dismantling barriers to empower persons with disabilities: India must unlock potential of a largely untapped talent pool

India has made strides in creating a legal framework that supports the rights of individuals with disabilities, but their full inclusion is still a distant goal. The integration of sensory and speech-impaired individuals into the workforce requires a multi-faceted approach beyond vocational training that includes accessible infrastructure, employer sensitization, and use of assistive technologies.

Summit of the Future: From past lessons to present chaos to a future we want

The hope for a better and more sustainable future now lies, first with the youth in the ages of 18-25, studying in the universities and higher education institutes. These youth would be the young decision-makers by 2030. That year would see the end of SDGs and expected to halve the GHGs emissions. By 2050, the youth of today would be at the helm of the affairs in business and government.

As world abandons Afghanistan, Taliban, IS and ISK-P feed on each other to export terror

The region and the world should reconsider their policies toward Afghanistan and the Taliban. They must assist the Afghanistan people in forming a legitimate government and establish professional security forces. The Taliban are not a trustworthy partner in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan seeks climate justice as its people battle climate change

In the bustling city of Karachi, solar panels are becoming a common sight. Pakistan is investing heavily in renewable energy, aiming to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030

Pakistan needs to address foundational causes of its persistent violence and social instability

It is a fact that Pakistan's obsession with military power without attending to the roots of political exclusion and economic disparity has left its vulnerable masses base to the extremes. 

Sri Lanka's presidential election: Voter faced with choice of status quo, mild tinkering or radical change

Most analysts agree that there is no clear-cut winner and the race to the presidency is a multiple-horse race

Kolkata's protests: Will it herald a new era of youth-propelled social awakening in India?

What sets these protests apart was their apolitical nature, illustrating that regardless of how firmly a government may seem entrenched in power, movements grounded in just causes can expose the vulnerability of even the most resilient regimes, as recent events have clearly shown.