Articles By Ashok Sajjanhar

Kazakhstan Takes a Significant Step Forward

Kazakhstan Takes a Significant Step Forward

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 25 Jan , 2021

Elections to the Kazakh Majilis (lower house of Parliament) as well as the maslikhats (local government bodies) were held on January 10, 2021. These were the first elections held after the...

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Modi's Russia visit: Short in Duration, Long in Achievements

Modi's Russia visit: Short in Duration, Long in Achievements

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 18 Sep , 2019

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a 36-hour bilateral visit to Vladivostok, Russia September 4-5 to participate in the 20th annual bilateral summit and as chief guest to the 5th Eurasian...

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India must continue to play its cards judiciously in the Maldives

India must continue to play its cards judiciously in the Maldives

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 07 Oct , 2018

Not surprisingly, India was the first country to congratulate Maldives on results of the Presidential election of 23rd September. A statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcoming...

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Oli in India - A ''Reset'' in Bilateral Ties

Oli in India - A ''Reset'' in Bilateral Ties

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 16 Apr , 2018

It came as a matter of some relief and satisfaction that Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, the new Prime Minister of Nepal chose India as the first country of his foreign travel (6-8 April) after being...

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Will North Korea Denuclearise?

Will North Korea Denuclearise?

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 14 Apr , 2018

The short and simple answer to the question ‘’Will North Korea Denuclearise?’’ is ‘’Unlikely.’’ This, notwithstanding the assertions that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un...

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India-Jordan Relations: An Ascendant Partnership

India-Jordan Relations: An Ascendant Partnership

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 01 Mar , 2018

The three-day visit by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan to India starting February 27, 2018 is testimony that India’s “Think West” policy, like its “Act East” initiative, is...

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India and Iran Resolve to Focus on Connectivity and Economic Cooperation

India and Iran Resolve to Focus on Connectivity and Economic Cooperation

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 21 Feb , 2018

The three-day visit of Hassan Rouhani to India, his first after becoming President in 2013, is testimony that India’s ”Think West” Policy, like its ”Act East” Policy, is thriving and blooming....

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The Maldivian Crisis: What Can India do?

The Maldivian Crisis: What Can India do?

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 08 Feb , 2018

The newest crisis in Maldives which erupted on 1 February 2018 took both the government and the people by surprise. In a unanimous judgment, the five member Supreme Court of Maldives directed that...

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The India-ASEAN Partnership at 25

The India-ASEAN Partnership at 25

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 07 Jan , 2018

India and the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are currently celebrating 25 years of their rapidly expanding partnership. They are also marking 15 years of their Summit...

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China's Belt and Road Initiative: Prospects and Pitfalls

China's Belt and Road Initiative: Prospects and Pitfalls

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 29 Nov , 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping initially mooted the idea of Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia in September and...

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US Afghan Policy: A Shot in the Arm For India

US Afghan Policy: A Shot in the Arm For India

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 25 Aug , 2017

Exactly seven months after his inauguration as the President of the United States, President Donald Trump unveiled his Afghan Policy on 21st August. The Policy was long in coming. But the wait...

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The Doklam Standoff - Should India Project its Stand More Vigorously?

The Doklam Standoff - Should India Project its Stand More Vigorously?

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 13 Aug , 2017

Two months have elapsed since the eruption of the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation on the cold, deserted plateau of Doklam on the India Bhutan China tri-junction in the Sikkim sector. The standoff...

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India-US Relations: On the Upward Trajectory

India-US Relations: On the Upward Trajectory

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 30 Jun , 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States on 25-26 June at the invitation of the new President of the United States Donald trump. This was Modi’s first meeting with Trump, although...

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Crisis in the Gulf: Implications for India

Crisis in the Gulf: Implications for India

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 24 Jun , 2017

The Persian Gulf region was shaken by a massive political earthquake on June 5, 2017 when four Arab countries – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt – announced that...

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Modi Meets Trump – What To Expect?

Modi Meets Trump – What To Expect?

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 22 Jun , 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump on June 25-26, 2017. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders although they...

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Dealing With Pakistan

Dealing With Pakistan

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: www.swarajyamag.com | Date: 14 Nov , 2016

The most formidable challenge confronting Pakistan since its birth 70 years ago is its failure to carve out an identity for itself. It has hence tried to define itself in being anti-Indian in most...

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Visit of Myanmar President Upgrades Bilateral Ties

Visit of Myanmar President Upgrades Bilateral Ties

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 03 Sep , 2016

Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw paid a decisive visit to India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee from 27 to 30 August 2016. This was the first contact between the top leadership of...

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The Failed Coup in Turkey - The Road Ahead

The Failed Coup in Turkey - The Road Ahead

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Date: 03 Aug , 2016

Introduction It is more than two weeks since the abortive coup on the night of 15-16 July took place in Turkey. Although additional information has become available, it is still not clear who the...

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Why is NSG Membership important for India?

Why is NSG Membership important for India?

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 23 Jun , 2016

The issue of India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has been the focus of significant public and media attention over the past few weeks. It appears to have emerged as the...

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Time to Rejuvenate the India-Russia Partnership

Time to Rejuvenate the India-Russia Partnership

By: Ashok Sajjanhar | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 01 Jun , 2016

Relations between India and Russia were up-graded from “strategic partnership” to “special and privileged strategic partnership” in 2010. Five years after this up-gradation and two years after...

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