The NSP tosses a heads-I-win-tail-you-lose option for India; it announces its intent of seeking peace but leaves the onus on India, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
Between Treaty And Truth: Sri Lanka's Conflict-Related Sexual Violence And Limits Of International Law
Sri Lanka's case highlights the central weakness of the ICC’s complementarity principle. The Rome Statute grants jurisdiction only where states are unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution. Sri Lanka maintains functioning judicial institutions, conducts some prosecutions, and has established reparations frameworks, thereby technically satisfying the ability threshold while systematically failing to deliver accountability for conflict-related crimes.
Davos: Noise, Narratives, And The Reality Beneath
If Davos had a clear centre of gravity this year, it was technology—not geopolitics. The tech industry arrived in force, underscored by high-profile appearances from Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The message was unmistakable: this is where attention, ambition, and capital are converging. With extraordinary sums being poured into artificial intelligence, unease among lenders and investors is understandable. Yet many executives were keen to reassure markets that fears of an AI bubble were overstated.
Abandoned U.S. Weapons Empowering Terrorists, Undermining Pakistan’s And Regional Security
Strategically, these developments underscore the importance of regional counterterrorism cooperation and rigorous monitoring of cross-border arms flows. The proliferation of foreign-supplied weapons into Pakistan not only strengthens terrorist organizations but also threatens regional stability. Each attack executed with U.S.-origin rifles or advanced tactical gear reinforces the need for Pakistan’s zero-tolerance policy against militancy while exposing the organized external support networks that continue to embolden groups like the TTP.
A Year of Dissanayake Government: People Keeping Faith Despite Disappointments
It is not easy for a country faced with heavy debt payments to find resources to accelerate domestic growth, exports and infrastructure development. It has to carefully balance infrastructure priorities, social spending, and ongoing economic reforms. Next two years will be crucial for the government to at least complete the ongoing projects to fulfil major promises while taking up the remaining ones that were temporarily shelved for early implementation.
More on Spotlight
Bringing peace to India's Northeast: Greater engagement with Bangladesh and Myanmar holds the key
Using the Army to control insurgency in the Northeast has failed as a model, writes B.L. Vohra for South Asia Monitor
Bangladesh has a key role in combating maritime threats in Bay of Bengal
The US, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and others can work together with Bangladesh to deal with regional maritime problems, writes Jubeda Chowdhury for South Asia Monitor
India’s export of Brahmos missiles to the Philippines has larger geopolitical significance
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme that began in 1983 under the stewardship of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is an island of Indian perseverance and quiet success, writes Cmde C. Uday Bhaskar (retd,) for South Asia Monitor
Why Pakistani media now lavishes praise on Bangladesh
While the Pakistani media is now asking its government to follow the Bangladesh model, it remains a sore point that Bangladesh was an exploited colony of Pakistan, writes Pathik Hasan for South Asia Monitor
In a changing South Asia, India, Pakistan must reach middle ground to converge mutual interests
NGOs like South Asia Peace Action Network (SAPAN) and Aaghaz-e-Dosti deserves mention for relentlessly trying to end enmity and distrust between the two countries, writes Anondeeta Chakraborty for South Asia Monitor
Why Gotabaya is battling a crisis no Sri Lankan leader has faced
As Sri Lanka descends deeper into economic chaos, the popularity of the President and his government have declined to levels never seen before for any political regime reaching midterm, writes Indika Hettiarachchi for South Asia Monitor
In the intricate web of the Islamist terror network, growing calls for jihad against China
In the face of jihadi threats against it, it remains to be seen how China responds; or will it continue to fund and support nations like Pakistan that are the terror factories of many jihadist designs? writes Aparna Rawal for South Asia Monitor
India urged to act to help Tamils live in dignity in Sri Lanka: Can Modi pressure the Rajapaksas?
It is open to speculation what and how much India can do for the minority Tamils vis-à-vis Colombo, which is slowly again extending a hand of friendship to New Delhi after trying to prop up China as a counter, writes M R Narayan Swamy for South Asia Monitor
Maldives needs to be wary of the Chinese debt trap
Beijing will try its level best to lure Maldives more into its debt trap and wean it away from India, writes Lt Gen P. C. Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Political alignment and networked economy boosts India’s conglomerate capitalism
Scarcely a day passes without news of a big-ticket acquisition or investment by Reliance or Adani biting into every lucrative business venture in India and South Asia, writes N. Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor
2022 holds little promise for Afghanistan; India must maintain informal contacts with Kabul
Chances are that the churn in Afghanistan may end up singeing those who take an intrusive interest in its affairs, writes Amb Rajiv Dogra (retd) for South Asia Monitor
India: A nation in disharmony with its philosophical and constitutional values
The values that are glorified today ironically are those that were always held anathema by classical Hindu society - majoritarianism, intolerance, hatred, and revanchism, writes Tarun Basu for South Asia Monitor
A success story turns sour: Rise and fall of a Sri Lankan strongman
Amid shortages of even essential goods and runaway inflation, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s image has taken a solid beating, writes P. Jayaram for South Asia Monitor
Now Bangladesh to aid Kabul beat hunger and disease
Bangladesh – which has in recent times extended loans to Sri Lanka and the Maldives – is also home to about 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, writes Samina Akhter for South Asia Monitor
