Left: US President Biden and Indian prime minister Modi, Right: US ambassador Eric Garcetti

Gratuitous advice amid global disorder: US needs to smell the roses

Quite unequivocally, strategic autonomy would be a hallmark of India’s foreign and security policy allowing it to oscillate between strategic proximity and strategic distancing depending on the circumstances and need of the hour. New Delhi would certainly not be guided by the script the US, or its Western allies prescribe.

Can Afghanistan transcend its dubious legacy of terrorism?

Madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan, often funded by Gulf states, have spread extremist ideologies. Saudi-financed madrasas in Pakistan taught Wahhabism, fostering a transnational network of militants using Afghanistan as a base. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia provided substantial aid and funding to these madrassas and the Mujahideen, promoting jihad against the Soviets. 

Pakistan’s economic recovery contingent on political stability

Pakistan's continuous political turbulence, characterised by infighting and power rivalries, poses a serious threat to the country's economic development.

Bangladesh's recent violence was an expression of simmering political and social discontent

The violent conflicts have caused infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and industry closures that have cost Bangladesh billions of dollars in lost revenue and negatively impacted essential industries like clothing, steel, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals. Its ramifications went beyond short-term financial losses. 

More on Spotlight

US-Taliban talks: Peace is still elusive

The present peace accord is fragile as there are several forces which are against the peace, and they may try to disrupt the agreement, writes Jai Kumar Verma for South Asia Monitor

Delhi riots have dented Modi’s image

For, what happened in the capital during the two days of the Trump visit, especially on the last day, was no less damaging to the Prime Minister’s reputation than the electoral setback, writes Amulya Ganguli for South Asia Monitor

Popular dissent in India threatens the government's idea of domination

The women of Shaheen Bagh at Delhi and their sisters at innumerable other locations all over India have changed the narrative of dissent... causing utter confusion of thought as well as action at the level of the Indian government, writes Dr Udai Vir Singh for South Asia Monitor

Bangladesh has a tradition of religious harmony: American senator’s remarks cause outrage

There is no incident in Bangladesh that can prove that any Bangladeshi has been persecuted by the government for his or her religious beliefs, writes Swadesh Roy for South Asia Monitor

Modi and Trump are different, but together they can make a difference

The second largest and the fourth largest emitter of the green house gases are standing in the cusp of the most critical decade of the 21st century when they meet on 24-25 Februrary 2020 when the world is on the cusp of   environmental havoc due to climate change, writes Rajendra Shende for South Asia Monitor

Is Pakistan headed for Lal Masjid 2.0? Maulana’s return may trigger another crisis

When Nawaz Sharif was Prime Minister, Aziz had hailed and justified the terror attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, where scores of students and teachers were killed, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor

US-Taliban deal: Pakistan emerges triumphant

Ending the long war in Afghanistan and getting the boys back would help President Trump’s bid for a second presidential term but he may be creating a bigger Frankenstein in the combined Af-Pak region that would come to haunt America in the future, writes Lt Gen PC Katoch (retd.) for South Asia Monitor

Why education was a game-changer in the Delhi elections

For years Delhi government schools were known for their indifferent pedagogy, rundown buildings, large dropout percentages and were synonymous with all that was wrong with the country's public-sector education system, writes Tarun Basu for South Asia Monitor

Trump visit: US can help India shore up its naval power

Just before the American  president  sets  course for India, a senior US official noted  that  the US wants an India that is strong with a capable military that supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, writes Cmde C Uday Bhaskar (retd) for South Asia Monitor 

Despite intense efforts, Pakistan remains on FATF grey list

Having understood the American game plan, India acted swiftly to minimise the danger by ensuring that Pakistan did not get off the 'grey list' till its compliance is fully confirmed, writes Brig Anil Gupta (retd) for South Asia Monitor

Trump visit may be high on optics, low on substance

The visit will be high on optics and low on substance as both Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek relief from domestic pressures and revalidation before their citizens, writes Arul Louis for South Asia Monitor

To win war against polio, Pakistan must first win war against extremism

The issue of polio eradication has taken a perilous form in Pakistan due to the deadly mixture of militancy and developmental issues, writes Sanchita Bhattacharya for South Asia Monitor

When Trump comes calling, tech collaboration should be high on agenda

Technology collaboration by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers, specifically in the high technology segment, could be great lever of strategic and public policy partnerships for both countries, writes Kumar Deep (@kumar_deep) for South Asia Monitor

Can India enhance foreign investor confidence?

India may have jumped the rankings in The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business but foreign and domestic investors seek improvements in the ease of doing business on the ground, especially in the states, writes N Chandra Mohan for South Asia Monitor

Modi government balancing structural reforms with ideological commitments

The 'tax charter' ushers India into a new era where the rights of taxpayers in terms of imposition and payment of taxes are recognized for the first time, writes Arun Anand for South Asia Monitor