The Taliban and Iran: An Unlikely Friendship
In 2016, Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. It was later revealed that he […]
Regional Affairs
A Tenuous Moment: Overcoming Current Roadblocks in the India-U.S. Partnership
The India-U.S. 2+2 dialogue scheduled for July 6, 2018 has been put on hold by the United States for the second time due to “unavoidable […]
CAATSA-out of the Bag: India’s Balancing Act
The India-United States-Russia triangular dynamics have become increasingly complicated recently. As the United States-Russia relationship has nosedived, signified by the U.S. Congress passing the Countering […]
Is China-India-Pakistan Trilateral Cooperation Possible?
At a recent event on India-China relations in New Delhi, Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui raised eyebrows when he floated the idea of a […]
Trump’s JCPOA Withdrawal: Implications for India-Iran Ties
On May 9, President Trump withdrew from the landmark P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This deal had […]
Hot Takes on Shangri-La: Striking the Right “Indo-Pacific” Chord
The Shangri-La Dialogue hosted annually in Singapore has established itself as a leading forum for defense diplomacy by coalescing discussions around the most burning questions […]
How Trump’s Iran Decision Could Play Out in South Asia
President Donald Trump, acting on his campaign promise, has taken the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. Consequently, the United States will soon re-impose […]
Most recent
Modi 4.0: Foreign Policy Hits and Misses
In May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clearest indication of his government’s foreign policy direction by inviting his South Asian counterparts to his […]
China’s Intentions in Afghanistan: Implications for India
As China extends its influence in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Afghanistan has begun to receive its attention, both diplomatically and […]
The New Reality of the India-Nepal Relationship
Sandwiched between two emerging giants, Nepal is seeing a battle between India, which is trying to retain its traditional influence in the country, and China, […]
Bay of Bengal: India’s Centerpiece and Springboard
Situated between South and Southeast Asia amid the vital sea routes linking the Indian Ocean to the Straits of Malacca, the Bay of Bengal has […]
India-Iran Relations: Beyond Strategic Optics
The resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a landmark deal signed in 2015 between the P5+1 and […]
Moscow, Beijing, and the Improbability of a Regional Solution in Afghanistan
Though much of the discourse on the continuing violence in Afghanistan is focused on the United States’ approach to Pakistan and the Taliban, there is […]
Moving Beyond Doklam in India-China Relations
The narrative of what went down in the Himalayan frontier region in the summer of 2017 has come under scrutiny once again ahead of a […]
Beijing as a Peace Broker in Afghanistan: Motivations and Constraints
In recent years, Beijing has focused on stabilizing Afghanistan through diplomatic engagement, engaging in four-nation talks to chart a course for resolving the conflict and […]
A Nepal-India Reset in Kathmandu’s Favor?
Last week marked Prime Minister K.P. Oli’s first visit abroad since assuming office in February and his destination was Nepal’s southern neighbor, India. As bilateral […]
Is Saudi Arabia Trying to Balance between Pakistan and India?
The bonhomie between India and Saudi Arabia over the last few years, on display most recently during Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Riyadh […]