IDR Blog
India’s Central Asia connect may lie through Ashgabat
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj had a stopover in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on October 19, 2015 while on her way to Moscow, where she co-chaired the annual India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission. This was EAM’s second visit in last six months to Ashgabat; a period which also saw Prime Minister Modi’s...
Article 370: Does Jammu and Kashmir still need it?
A recent landmark judgement regarding reservations in promotion has stirred hornet’s nest in the already disturbed state of Jammu & Kashmir. The judgement has declared reservations in promotions applicable to SC/ST candidates as unconstitutional. The judgement affects 30% of the total population of the state which comprises the...
India and Pakistan: Vulnerable Border
On October 26, 2015, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army and two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Meanwhile, as nearly 3000 people migrated from border villages of Samba Sector finding no let up in heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani...
A new liberal Canada will push ties with India
Under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, Canada’s liberal party received a substantial majority mandate on Oct 19th to form a new government, replacing the Conservative party, with his promise to be an agent of change. It is both a historical and a surprise victory for Mr. Trudeau whose party just eleven weeks ago was in third position, with...
Is Pak Power Centre Losing the Script?
When Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif landed in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session, his body language lacked confidence and inspiration. He carried a restricted brief from the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi—just raise the Kashmir issue and internationalise it. A limited brief, indeed. Lodhi is known to be...