IDR Blog
Pakistan: A Failed Democracy
Pakistan is headed towards another period of uncertainty. With the developments unfolding over the last few days pointing to the increasing role of the army in meditating in a dispute that was largely civilian and political in nature, no one knows how the script will unfold from here on. Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party would have...
Role of Pak Army in domestic turmoil
This is no Arab Spring. There is no Tahrir Square either. There is no spontaneous peoples’ movement. Only a movement led from the top and more a soup of four ingredients – one man’s ambition (Imran Khan), another’s opportunism (Tahirul Qadri), one man’s vendetta (Nawaz Sharif) and the fourth man’s reputation (General Raheel Sharif). Hyper...
Because Pakistan crossed the line
The Pakistan high commissioner seriously transgressed diplomatic norms in meeting the Kashmiri secessionists after being advised against it by the foreign secretary. Accredited envoys do not disregard such top-level “requests” from the host government. Such defiance has a cost, which can be either expulsion or a functional boycott of the...
India-Japan cultural ties through history
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is soon leaving for Japan. For several reasons, his visit will not be an ordinary one. In a statement issued by the PMO, Modi explains: “I will visit Tokyo and Kyoto, and will interact with all sections of Japanese society from students, political leaders to captains of industry.” Though Modi could not make it...
What Makes a Man Fight
“When thou has profited so much that you respectest thyself, thou mayest let go thy tutor”— Seneca General After my retirement from the Army, I have been working as a Principal in some of the very reputed schools of Rohtak which is an educational centre in Haryana. The area is considered as nursery for recruitment in the armed forces both...