Development
Return to article
Navigating Politico-Security Hurdles to Regional Connectivity: Pathways for New Delhi
Soon after taking office in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated two new visions for cross-border relations: the Neighborhood First and Act East policies. Both initiatives aimed at improving relations with the immediate neighborhood and building bridges of connectivity,…
Nepal’s Unfinished Economic Reckoning
On September 8, more than 19 young Nepalis were killed during confrontations with security forces at the gates of the parliament in Kathmandu. What began as spontaneous protests triggered by a social media ban—but rooted in deep frustration over corruption…
Ashtalakshmi in the Northeast: Development Without Security?
During his visit to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh in September 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Northeast as the country’s “Ashtalakshmi,” invoking the group of eight forms of the goddess Lakshmi and symbolizing the region’s cultural wealth, rich…
India’s Great Nicobar Project Faces Uphill Climb
Indian policymakers and analysts often tout the critical role the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) can play in safeguarding national security and operationalizing New Delhi's Indo-Pacific strategy. Considering their close proximity to the Malacca Strait, through which roughly one-third of…
سی پیک کے نفاذ کے دس سال: وعدے، خدشات اور امكانات
ایک زمانے میں چین-پاکستان اقتصادی راہداری (سی پیك) کو پاکستان کی غیر مستحکم معیشت كو سہارا دینےکے لیے تبدیلی کا ایک ذریعہ سمجھا جاتا تھا، تاہم اب اسے ہاتھ سے نكل جانے والے مواقع اور ادھوری امیدوں كی علامت سمجھا…
Can Conditional Engagement Spur Reform in the Taliban’s Afghanistan?
Four years into the second period of rule by the Taliban regime, Afghanistan has plummeted into economic insecurity and a human rights crisis. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, the regime’s chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had claimed, “we are going…