US-India Intelligence Relations

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.

India-US Relations: When Objectives Overlap, Perspectives Differ

One of the most durable strengths of India-US relations lies outside the government. The five million strong Indian diaspora has become an extraordinary bridge between the two societies. Indian Americans occupy influential positions in technology, academia, medicine, business and public administration. This human connectivity provides resilience that many bilateral relationships lack.

Cocos (Keeling), Sabang and Car Nicobar: India’s Quiet Maritime Rewiring

India and Australia are not building a grand alliance; they are building useful capacity. Indonesia, through its archipelagic geography, fits into that larger maritime dynamic. Taken together, these developments show how strategy is increasingly made through nodes, not narratives.

China’s Water Threats, India’s Malacca Leverage and Growing Indo-Pacific Contestation

While China's leverage over India runs through an upstream river Beijing controls, India's leverage over China runs through a chokepoint India will now sit astride. The Strait of Malacca is a 930-km passage between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra through which an approximate of  40–50 percent of global trade and 80 percent of China's crude oil imports transit.

More on Geopolitics and Strategic Affairs

Spanish PM's visit will enhance regional security cooperation between Europe and India

The trip - coming as it does on the heels of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to New Delhi with a large delegation - is a reflection of Europe's increasing desire for greater collaboration with India. And growing Indo-Spanish trade and economic ties may expand further cooperation in commerce, investment, research, technology, education, defense, and security between Europe and India.

Political violence in India: Criminalisation of politics or politicisation of crimes?

Money is an integral part which ensures criminalisation of the political space remains dominated by many such non-state actors without much criticism and conflict. Corruption and the flow of money into politics, therefore, becomes codependent enabling a seamless structure that is vulnerable to uncontrolled hegemony and unlawful domination. 

Is multiculturalism dead? Restrictive immigration would impair cultural diversity and sharpen global polarization

A new narrative then emerges and multiculturalism starts to be perceived as a disruptive force with a contrary ideology that poses a credible threat to the Western worldview. Immigrants are perceived as foreigners, who are disrespectful of the prevailing cultural unity by asserting – even imposing – an alien way of thinking and behaving.

US-India ties: Trump has established track record on India ties, but Harris record is sparse

The Biden administration has taken a relatively low-key approach compared to Canada, but it will continue to be an irritant in India-US relations and could balloon in a Harris administration.

The shadow of the caliphate: Hizb-ut-Tahrir a threat to India's national security

In India, HT's message poses particular risks. India has a sizable Muslim population which exceeds 200 million, and around 47 percent of it consists of a young population under the age of 19. Socio-economic challenges of the community make the youth population vulnerable to the group's radical propaganda. This is especially concerning as India grapples with its own extremist threats.

South Asia: Redistributive growth needs to be the mantra for policymakers

It is estimated  that about 37% percent of the world’s 1.1 billion multi-dimensionally poor people live in  South Asia. And an estimated 272 million poor people in the region live in households with at least one undernourished person. 

Business and bonhomie in Kazan: The significance of the BRICS Summit 2024

For India, its adoption of The Kazan Declaration represents yet another significant turning point. The Kazan Declaration is anticipated to support the BRICS countries' joint endeavours to tackle global concerns, ranging from security to economic development, and to demonstrate the group's increasing global clout.

China-India agreement: West will need to adapt to a new reality

The broader message of the Sino-India pact is clear: the world is moving toward a multipolar order where the dominance of Western powers is increasingly being challenged by the rise of nations like China and India. This agreement exemplifies the ability of non-Western nations to resolve their conflicts without Western interference

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. 

Hardened positions in both capitals has India-Canada ties on the edge

Beyond the immediate flare up, the fact that Trudeau is sticking to his guns so publicly without offering any actionable evidence could mean that internally he is certain of the damaging nature of what his law enforcement has gathered. If not, then he is playing a dangerous game prompted by domestic political compulsions.

Mob justice: A growing threat to Bangladesh’s stability

The current government came to power with promises of systemic reform and state reorganization. However, the alarming rise of mob justice across Bangladesh suggests a shift from reform to revenge. Since the police returned to duty on August 11, 21 people have been beaten to death in 38 days, with only eight arrests. This highlights the failure of law enforcement to curb mob violence