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Afghanistan's
war has a new battlefield
The raids this week by United States special forces into Pakistan in search of
al-Qaeda and militant leaders mark a new era for Pakistan under
president-in-waiting Asif Ali Zardari. In preparation for his expected
anointment this weekend, "Iron Man" Zardari, with strong backing from the US,
has skillfully consolidated his hold over the security and intelligence
services and is ready to prosecute the "war on terror" with a vengeance. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Sep 5, '08)
CHAN AKYA Triangulating
an Asian conflict
It's possible that in the near
future Islamic extremists will have their finger on the
Pakistani nuclear trigger, while Han nationalists in
China and Hindu fundamentalists in India likewise
control their nuclear-armed countries. These are the
trends shaping tomorrow's world, writes Chan Akya, who does not
see the avalanche of words about a US vice-presidential candidate as
particularly relevant. (Sep 5, '08)
BOOK REVIEW
The ashes of American morality
The Dark Side by Jane Mayer
The core of the book is a dissection of the United States' reaction to the
September 11 attacks and how it led to the "war on terror" - a war the author
describes in all its sordid details. The deduction drawn is that the US has
seen many of its core values eroded to the point of endangering the very
principals on which American society is allegedly based. - Alexander Casella
(Sep 5, '08)

Time for Zardari to meet challenge
After months of grim political infighting, the likely election on Saturday of
Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's president gives the country's leaders a chance
to turn their attention to an economy beset by soaring prices, a crashing stock
market and a widening trade deficit. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider
(Sep 4, '08)
For Prachanda, a tale of two cities
Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda broke tradition and made his first state visit
to Beijing, instead of Delhi. It was controversial until a devastating flood
hit Nepal and exposed unfavorable pacts, such as the Koshi Agreement with
India. Now the ex-Maoist is pushing to renegotiate the deals and is gaining
support for his rebalancing act with Nepal's two neighbors. - Dhruba Adhikary
(Sep 4, '08)
How the Taliban gave a French lesson
France has admitted its troops were guilty of overconfidence ahead of walking
into a "well-organized Taliban trap" in Afghanistan last month that killed 10
of its soldiers and wounded 21. The ambush quickly led to a breakdown in the
French troops' command and communications, and the repercussions are
reverberating in Paris. (Sep 3, '08)
A sting in Pakistan's al-Qaeda
mission
After pounding Bajaur Agency for three weeks, the Pakistani military has called
off its operation, claiming "mission accomplished" against militants. The
offensive was in fact a smoke screen for Islamabad and its NATO allies across
the border in Afghanistan to flush out Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman
al-Zawahiri, and it failed dismally. The militants have already started taking
revenge, the latest attack being on the premier's motorcade on
Wednesday. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 3,
'08)
Extraordinary rendition,
extraordinary error
Mamdouh Habib, an Australian citizen, is yet another instance of the United
States "outsourcing" torture by transferring terrorism suspects to countries
that violate human rights norms. The policy relies on disingenuous diplomatic
deals, and such cases have become an al-Qaeda recruiting tool.
(Sep 3, '08)
Tigers' backs to the wall
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have once again shown their aerial
capabilities by bombing a Sri Lankan naval base. But on the ground they are
taking a beating, so much so that India could be tempted to pressurize Colombo
not to go for an all-out military victory, given the likelihood of high
civilian casualties. - Sudha Ramachandran (Sep
2, '08)
India's little car on crash course
Tata Motors' plans to roll out the world's cheapest car by October are
threatened by protesting farmers demanding back their land. That isn't the only
reason investors are dumping stock in the new owner of Jaguar and Range Rover.
- Raja Murthy (Aug 29, '08)
Afghan violence hits home in Japan
The killing of a young Japanese aid worker in Afghanistan at the hands of the
Taliban will raise serious questions about Tokyo's refueling mission for United
States-led coalition vessels in the Indian Ocean. Early elections for the Lower
House are likely, and they could even lead to a change in government. - Kosuke
Takahashi (Aug 28, '08)
India's nuclear deal headed for
fiasco
Delhi seriously underestimated the opposition the United States-India nuclear
deal would arouse in the international Nuclear Suppliers' Group, which must
grant India a waiver from its tough rules on nuclear trade. The frantic
scramble for a compromise US-drafted waiver motion leaves Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh in a lose-lose position. (Aug 28,
'08)
Politics hold Pakistan economy
hostage
The breakup of Pakistan's short-lived ruling coalition adds to concerns for the
economy, with foreign investors already pulling out funds and the risk of debt
default growing. Islamabad may yet have to go with begging bowl in hand to the
International Monetary Fund. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Aug
27, '08)
Recycling the Himalayas
India's has a trash crisis, while rapidly growing wealth levels have
kick-started rampant regional construction. Both have encroached on the sacred
landscape of the Himalayas and the Ganges River. A rag-tag bunch of volunteers
has stepped in with a "devotional" response, which they aim to replicate
nationwide. - Raja Murthy (Aug 27, '08)
Setback for Pakistan's terror drive
The defection to the opposition of the second-largest party in the ruling
coalition in Pakistan will not immediately bring down the government. It will,
however, significantly strengthen the forces opposed to Islamabad's
participation in the "war on terror", and make the military less willing than
ever to crack down on Taliban and al-Qaeda militants. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 26, '08)
False notes threaten India's economy
The Indian government is dragging its heels in combating the spread of
counterfeit rupees worth billions of US dollars. Alleged culprits range from
criminal gangs to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. As inflation passes
12%, the threat to the economy grows. - Raja Murthy
(Aug 25, '08)
Georgia war rooted in US
'self-deceit'
Whether Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had encouragement from his
"buddies in the White House" or not, the deeper roots of the Russia-Georgia war
lie in US bureaucratic self-deceit about the objective of expanding the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization up to the borders of a highly suspicious and proud
Russia in the context of an old and volatile ethnic conflict. - Gareth Porter
(Aug 25, '08)
Low-profile president stirs
India
Apart from toting an AK-47 and telling women to learn karate, India's
73-year-old first female president, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, has had a quiet
first year. Wisely reticent amid political crises and overcoming diplomatic
gaffes, Patil has generated immense public curiosity. But a potentially
explosive national election may test her political expediency. - Neeta Lal
(Aug 22, '08)
Militants ready for Pakistan's war
Pakistan has declared all-out war on militants. This will delight the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization and Washington, which for many years have
complained of the country's spotty record. Militants previously allowed to
operate under the radar will now have to fight back. Thursday's suicide attack
on an ordnance factory in which scores of people died is a portent of things to
come. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 22, '08)
The mystery of Aafia Siddiqi
The resurfacing in a United States jail of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia
Siddiqi, who inexplicably vanished along with her three children in Karachi in
2003, has only deepened the mystery of her absence. The US believes she's a
terrorist caught red-handed in Afghanistan. Her family see her as a "fun-loving
people's person" caught in a bizarre nightmare. (Aug
21, '08)
Musharraf not the problem, or
solution
Washington has shown with India it doesn't need a military dictator to
influence a South Asian country's policies or power. It can do the same with
the civilian government in Pakistan now that former president Pervez Musharraf
is out of the picture. In the case of Afghanistan and the Taliban-led
insurgency, it is the US's policies that dictate events, with or without
Musharraf. - M K Bhadrakumar (Aug 21, '08)
Prachanda's journey begins in
Beijing
By attending the Summer Olympic's closing ceremony in Beijing, Nepal's Prime
Minister Prachanda will set a precedent for relations between his country and
its two most powerful neighbors. The newly appointed former revolutionary may
have embarked on a course to reduce Nepal's dependence on India, but his
sincerity is another matter. - Dhruba Adhikary
(Aug 21, '08)
Afghan numbers don't add up
From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to think-tanks, the consensus is
that more troops must be sent to Afghanistan to counter the spiraling
insurgency. The emergence of warlords on the side of the Taliban, though, has
added a new dimension to the struggle, and one which cannot easily be countered
by placing more boots on the battlefield. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 21, '08)
Bush buried Musharraf's al-Qaeda
links
Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf's cozy relationship with the US
earned him lavish political and economic benefits. But behind the public
support, the George W Bush administration covered up the Musharraf regime's
involvement in the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear export scandal and its deals with
al-Qaeda.- Gareth Porter (Aug 20, '08)
Goodbye Musharraf, hello Taliban
As if to reinforce an influential think-tank's latest warning that efforts to
contain the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan are failing, 10 French
soldiers have been killed and a US base brazenly attacked. The roots of the
problem can be traced to Pakistan, where, during the watch of pro-West Pervez
Musharraf, militants gained a solid foothold. With the former president gone,
and the government in Islamabad virtually paralyzed, the militants can only get
stronger. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 20, '08)
US faces up to life without
Musharraf
Cornered by politicians baying for his blood and out of favor with the George W
Bush administration, Pervez Musharraf had little option but to serve the
"supreme national interest" and vacate the presidential palace. Washington
believes it already has the Pakistani military and political leaders in
Islamabad on side. Now it needs to ensure that the third asset needed in this
crucial "war on terror" region - the presidency - is filled by "their" man. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Aug 19, '08)
In Afghanistan, blurred lines cost
lives
Killings of aid workers have moved Afghanistan's civilian and military groups,
both national and international, to sign an unprecedented agreement on their
roles and functions. The pact could be a huge step for civil-military relations
in conflict situations or, like hundreds of other documents produced by the
international community, it could gather dust in academic archives. - Aunohita
Mojumdar (Aug 19, '08)
Security fears paralyze Kabul
A summer of rising insurgent violence and suicide bombings has prompted Afghan
police to shut down nearly half of Kabul's major roadways. Many blame the
ubiquitous checkpoints and constantly closed roads for slumping business - and
the heightened security does not make them feel safe.
(Aug 15, '08)
Huawei's perfect Indian marriage
China's emergence as the world's factory has not been matched by the
development of global-standard brand-name companies. A notable exception is
Huawei, whose growth, aided by tapping into Indian software skills, is helping
to shape the market for telecommunication equipment. - Pallavi Aiyar
(Aug 15, '08)
India-Pakistan relations in free
fall
The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is back on a razor's edge, with huge
Muslim protests and a Hindu backlash stoking violence. Pakistan has
internationalized the issue, just as Delhi works with the United States to
pressure Islamabad over its commitment to the "war on terror". The peace
process between India and Pakistan is on hold, and given the volatility of the
political situation in both countries, Kashmir will continue to burn. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Aug 14, '08)
Taliban win a
fight - and settle scores
When the Pakistani military launched operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda
militants in Bajaur Agency, their opponents were more than ready, having been
briefed by well-placed informants. Under the unified command of radical leader
Baitullah Mehsud, the militants repulsed the offensive and are already planning
retaliatory attacks in other parts of the country. And on Wednesday, Baitullah
settled a score with one of Islamabad's last remaining "precious assets". -
Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 13, '08)
Indian bombs shake diamond trade
The discovery of more than 20 bombs in Surat in India, the center of the
world's diamond cutting and polishing business, has shaken the local industry,
already rattled by the weakening global economy and violent demands for higher
pay. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 13, '08)
Chaos descends on Nepal
The main task of post-monarchy Nepal - the drafting of a new constitution - has
being pushed to the sidelines after Maoist leaders were unable to cobble
together a consensus government. Meanwhile, the country is volatile and
vulnerable with violence and crime on the rise, hunger worsening and travel
increasingly unsafe. - Dhruba Adhikary (Aug
12, '08)
New al-Qaeda focus on NATO supplies
Almost 90% of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's shipments for
Afghanistan land at the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Rather than
wait for the supplies to reach the border areas, al-Qaeda and Taliban militants
now plan to target them in Karachi. Their cause is aided by political turmoil
in Islamabad. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 11, '08)
All downhill for Pakistan's economy
President Pervez Musharraf may use the country's deteriorating economy, racked
by rising prices, withdrawal of foreign funds and a weakening currency, to
dissolve parliament. The open fight between president and government will bring
even further uncertainty to the economy. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider
(Aug 11, '08)
Battle lines move from Kashmir to
Kabul
On the surface, India appears to have scored a major diplomatic victory in
Afghanistan. This has come with the blessing of the US, which has embarked on
an unprecedented pro-India tilt in its regional policy. Washington's other
major ally in the region, Pakistan, is naturally not impressed and sees Kabul
replacing Kashmir as the main area of antagonism with New Delhi. How Washington
benefits from this is unclear, but India would do well to remember the history
of its involvement in Afghanistan - and prepare for a Pakistani backlash. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Aug 8, '08)
BOOK REVIEW
Chronicle of errors
Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid
Hopes that the US's direct involvement in Afghanistan would lead to a
terrorism-free region have gone. Rashid, an insightful and revealing
chronicler, rightly identifies the need for a reshaped Pakistan if peace in the
region is to be found. - Sreeram Chaulia (Aug
8, '08)
US hopes pinned
on Musharraf
President Pervez Musharraf's fate hangs in the balance. The general who ruled
Pakistan for eight years faces impeachment by the civilian government elected
in February. If Musharraf falls, grand United States plans to tackle militancy
in the country's tribal areas will also come tumbling down. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Aug 7, '08)
India's failure of Olympic
proportions
Since its Olympic debut in 1900, India has won only 17 medals, 11 of which came
in its national sport of field hockey. In Athens 2004, India brought home just
one silver, and this year Delhi is sending almost as many officials as
athletes. Poor funding, cronyism and an emphasis on education keep populous
India off the podium. - Neeta Lal (Aug 7, '08)
CHAN AKYA
The anatomy of an Olympic winner
Sporting success is a source of nationalist pride, an avenue for chest thumping
or more usually an opportunity to make money. Americans love and respect
sportsmen, which is why they consistently produce some of the world's best
athletes. Perverse incentives force ex-communist countries to rely on producing
the world's best chemists. India doesn't win medals because it simply isn't
profitable for individuals to do so. (Aug 7, '08)
India's reforms look
forlorn
The opportunity won by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following his split
with the communist parties to drive through economic reforms may be lost due to
opposition elsewhere and better vote-winning alternatives as elections
approach. (Aug 7, '08)
Pakistan's problems spill into
India Pakistan's
recent incursion into Indian territory - the first since
1999 - has placed the five-year-old ceasefire between
the countries in jeopardy. All the same, Delhi is aware
that Pakistan's compulsions possibly have more to do
with its problems with Taliban militants and al-Qaeda in
its tribal areas than with antagonism towards India. -
Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 6,
'08)
SPEAKING FREELY India
as a US hedge against China As the race to conclude the United
States-India civil nuclear agreement presses on, its
advocates are peddling one selling point that appeals to
both sides in the US Congress, which has to approve the
deal: America must recruit the Indian tiger to hedge
against the rising Chinese dragon. Yet despite its broad
popularity, this strategy is completely untested. - Jeff M Smith (Aug 6, '08)
Truth and graft in
Bangladesh The
interim Bangladeshi government's Truth and
Accountability Commission, formed this week, will allow
people to voluntarily disclose ill-gotten wealth in
return for exemption from prosecution and imprisonment.
As in a previous anti-corruption drive, the biggest
casualty is likely to be the economy. (Aug 5,
'08)
Delhi risks a stumble at the finish
line Now that its
nuclear accord with the United States has been endorsed
by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, India has only
the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group to win over. Any
obstacles here will be made worse if Delhi insists on
gaining "clean and unconditional" approval. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 4,
'08)
Iran heartened by India's nuclear
vote The United
States-India nuclear agreement, which has been endorsed
by the International Atomic Energy Agency, represents a
timely diplomatic boon for Iran, which can now point at
the US's flexible application of its nuclear policies
with regard to Delhi as a reference point in Tehran's
nuclear negotiations. - Kaveh L
Afrasiabi (Aug 4, '08)
The bad side to the 'good
war' From the
outset in 2001, the United States-led invasion of
Afghanistan has been the "good war", fought against the
Taliban and their al-Qaeda guests. This belief
prevailed, even as the war in Iraq turned "bad". Now,
the weight of occupation and the rising number of
civilian deaths is shifting the resistance toward a war
of national liberation, and no foreign power has ever
won that battle in Afghanistan. - Conn Hallinan (Jul 31, '08)
Al-Qaeda hails 'revival' in
Afghanistan Oozing
confidence, al-Qaeda's operations commander in
Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu-al-Yazid, talks of the progress
al-Qaeda is making in consolidating its position in
Afghanistan and in attracting foreign jihadis to join
the Taliban-led struggle against "infidel" invaders.
Abu-Yazid's assessment is backed by Pakistan's eroding
commitment to battle Afghan and Pakistani insurgents, to
the extent that Islamabad is expected to redeploy troops
to the Pakistan-India border. - Michael Scheuer (Jul 31, '08)
Tooth and nail in Delhi's tiger
trade A grisly stash
of tiger parts - bones, skins and testicles - discovered
in Delhi underscores India's increasing role in
supplying Asia's insatiable appetite for exotic animals.
Meanwhile, slack implementation of wildlife laws and
astronomical profits push India's poachers to adopt
audacious tactics. - Neeta
Lal (Jul 30, '08)
Obama and the Taliban
United States presidential
hopeful Barack Obama's has spoken of the close
association between al-Qaeda and the Taliban. His
linkage of the two groups mirrors the George W Bush
administration's policy and over-simplifies a far more
complex reality, against which force and violence will
likely fail. - Mark LeVine
(Jul 29,
'08)
Good cop, bad cop: Pakistan
reels Even as the
United States rebukes Pakistan over its performance in
the "war on terror", it hands Islamabad four F-16
fighter jets as a reward for siding with Washington.
Then the US launches a missile attack into Pakistani
territory, killing an al-Qaeda commander. These
contradictions test Islamabad's will, to the advantage
of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 29,
'08)
India ripe for more
attacks Deadly bomb
blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, two cities that
symbolize India's growing economic might, appear also to
have been aimed at stirring communal riots. And all
indications are that more attacks will follow if these
ones don't succeed in that goal. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 28,
'08)
Pakistan
feels the heat in Washington Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani can expect a heated reception during his meeting
with US President George W Bush in Washington, given the
many top US policymakers who blame Islamabad for the
deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The Pakistan
government's bungled attempt to control its rogue
intelligence agency won't ease the atmosphere. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 28,
'08)
Pakistan draws a bead on
Baitullah After eliminating all opposition and
consolidating his power in the South Waziristan tribal
area, hardline Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud
is extending his reach into other tribal areas. And to
the major consternation of leaders in Pakistan and
coalition forces in Afghanistan, jihadis from around the
world are flocking to his cause. He's now a marked man.
- Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 25, '08)
Taliban winning the war of
words The media
battle in Afghanistan between Taliban-led
anti-government militants and pro-government forces has
claimed a victim, that of credibility. All the same, a
new report shows, the Taliban are winning the propaganda
battle hands down, with dire ramifications for the
embattled government of President Hamid Karzai. - Aunohita Mojumdar (Jul 25,
'08)
Yarchagumba!
It's caterpillar cocktail time A high-altitude caterpillar fungus
is being smuggled out of the Himalayas to China, where
it is believed to enhance athletic performance and
fetches up to US$23,000 per kilogram. But this alleged
elixir has a cocoon of controversy, and its sale has
funded insurgencies, motivated murders and launched a
"fungus rush" in the mountains. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 25,
'08)
Sri
Lanka marks a dark anniversary On the eve of the 25th anniversary
of the 1983 anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka, the country
remains in conflict and people can only dream of what
might have been for the blighted island. And a rising
level of lawlessness has done little to help
Tamil-Sinhalese amity. (Jul 24, '08)
A
glimmer of hope for Nepal Ram Baran Yadav, the first president
of the new republic of Nepal and born into a farmer's
family in the impoverished Terai highlands, brings with
him first-hand knowledge of the woes of rural Nepalis
and many see him as a light amid anarchy and
uncertainty. - Dhruba
Adhikary (Jul 24, '08)
Indian
airlines flush out costs India's airlines are taking all
measures possible, from cutting routes to charging for
drinking water, to reduce the impact of rising fuel
costs. Mid-flight toilet use may also be under scrutiny.
- Neeta Lal (Jul 23,
'08)
Reluctant
gambler hits Indian jackpot Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, generally viewed as over-cautious and
unassertive, has won the biggest political gamble of his
life by squeaking through in a no-confidence vote in
parliament that centered on Delhi's pending nuclear deal
with the United States. But he and his government have
not emerged unscathed and their days may still be
numbered. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Jul 23,
'08)
Plot to
divide the Taliban foiled A plan by the Pakistan government,
with connivance from Saudi Arabia, to split the Taliban
operating in Pakistan's tribal areas has failed
spectacularly, with the "renegade" Taliban leader and
his network wiped out by al-Qaeda-backed militants. The
incident has consolidated the hold of Taliban leader
Mullah Omar, while al-Qaeda is benefiting through a
sharp increase in jihadis from around the world heading
for the tribal regions. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Jul 22, '08)
A deal-breaker for
India The Indian
government faces a no confidence vote on Tuesday that
could see it prematurely thrown out of power, the
catalyst for discontent being Delhi's planned nuclear
deal with the United States. There is however much more
at stake: a massive realignment of forces is taking
place that could profoundly remake India's political
landscape. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Jul
21, '08)
CHAN AKYA A
stone for Chris Cox Investors in the United States might
wish they, like Pakistanis, could stone their stock
exchange. New rules designed to reduce market volatility
will have the exact opposite effect by locking in
unsophisticated investors into a permanent downward
spiral. (Jul 18, '08)
Dining with the dacoits
The next time you visit India,
forget visiting the Taj Mahal, the Kerala backwaters or
Kashmir. Instead, travel to Rajasthan's notoriously
bandit-infested hinterlands and get to know a
mustachioed, gun-strapped dacoit along the banks of
River Chambal. A new plan is redefining "adventure
tourism". - Neeta
Lal (Jul 17, '08)
THE
ROVING EYE Obama's
brave (new?) world At first glance, Democratic Senator
Barack Obama's "new overarching strategy" for Iraq and
Afghanistan is streets ahead of the approach proposed by
his US presidential rival, Republican Senator John
McCain. But from the planned withdrawal of troops from
Iraq to dealing with the Taliban, Obama's vision, when
it comes to implementation, will likely founder on the
harsh realities that have so frustrated the George W
Bush administration. - Pepe
Escobar (Jul 16, '08)
Militants ready for a war without
borders Coalition
forces expect it. Al-Qaeda and the Pakistan Taliban
expect it: the war in Afghanistan will soon spill over
into Pakistani territory. Washington is banking on
Islamabad helping out from its side, but the militants
have other ideas. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Jul 16, '08)
The final countdown for
India India's
ruling United Progressive Alliance faces a crucial vote
in parliament that will determine not only the fate of
the government but also the long-stalled civilian
nuclear deal with the United States. With every vote
counting, hectic efforts are on to poach support and
ensure loyalty. - Sudha
Ramachandran (Jul 16, '08)
Karzai nods to US, winks to
Iran Afghan
President Hamid Karzai uses cautious language to give
praise equally to the United States and Iran for their
roles in his embattled nation. Even with US officials
pointing to Iranian-made weapons bound for Taliban
militants, Karzai says "both countries have helped us in
our reconstruction" and vows his government does not
want its "soil to be used" in any conflict between other
countries. (Jul 15, '08)
Afghan attack resonates in
Washington The
deaths of nine United States soldiers at the hands of
the Taliban at a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan
is a sharp reminder that the central front in
Washington's "war on terror" has moved from Iraq. This
realization has already had a major impact on the US
presidential elections. - Jim
Lobe (Jul 15, '08)
DISPATCHES FROM
AMERICA Five
weddings and many funerals The bombing of a wedding party in
Afghanistan on July 6 brings to five the number of such
gatherings hit by United States air power since 2001,
including in Iraq, with cumulatively hundreds of dead
and wounded. - Tom Engelhardt
(Jul 14,
'08)
Afghanistan's 'sons of the soil'
rise up With the
Taliban proving increasingly difficult to defeat
militarily, and with the Western coalition reluctant to
negotiate with any Taliban or al-Qaeda radicals, an
uneasy stalemate has been reached in Afghanistan.
Pakistan sees this as an opportunity to regain its
position as a key player in the affairs of its neighbor
by elevating moderate "sons of the soil" Taliban as the
people to negotiate with. This is already happening in
Pakistan's tribal areas. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Jul 11, '08)
Disturbing signs for
Nepal Astrologers
predict a rough time ahead for Nepal, with floods and
famine. Bickering politicians are not making matters any
better - a new prime minister and a president still have
to be elected. If it carries on like this, warn some,
the country could even break apart. - Dhruba Adhikary (Jul 10, '08)
India caught in the Taliban
myth India's
reaction to the deadly bombing of its embassy in Kabul
is one of outrage and the calls for retaliatory action
are vigorous. On the complex Afghan stage, though, this
is not a simple morality play of good versus evil.
Something has gone very wrong with India's attitude to
the Taliban and instead of a knee-jerk "war on terror"
response, a comprehensive examination of exactly what
India is doing in Afghanistan could better serve the
country. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Jul 9,
'08)
India chases the Dragon in Sri
Lanka China is
steadily increasing its activities in Sri Lanka through
the sale of arms and with development projects,
including the building of a key port. India, fearing it
is being left behind in its own neighborhood, has
increased its support to the Sri Lankan armed forces. -
Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 9,
'08)
Myanmar signs up energy
partners Companies
from India's Bharat Heavy Electricals to Thailand's PTT
Exploration and Production are securing
multimillion-dollar deals with Myanmar's military junta,
even as its rulers seek billions of dollars in emergency
aid from international donors in the wake of the Cyclone
Nargis disaster. - Brian McCartan
(Jul 9,
'08)
Now it's war against India in
Afghanistan The
Taliban and Pakistan have denied responsibility for the
devastating suicide attack on the Indian Embassy in the
Afghan capital Kabul on Monday. Delhi doesn't believe a
word of it. The Taliban have frequently targeted
projects sponsored and constructed by India in
Afghanistan, fearing India's growing influence at the
expense of Pakistan. Delhi is being urged to send troops
into Afghanistan. This might add to India's stature, but
it would be a disaster. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 8,
'08)
 UN leads global condemnation
(AFP)
COMMENT Delhi
carries a small stick India talks a good game, but it
could play a much more proactive role in regional and
international security, if not for the greater good,
then for its own motives to stabilize its periphery and
gain access to the natural resources and markets on its
doorstep. The attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul
could be the spur Delhi needs. - Chietigj Bajpaee (Jul 8,
'08)
COMMENT Islamism
shakes Kashmir After
decades without large-scale popular movements,
Indian-administered Kashmir exploded into virtual
anarchy last month over moves to allow Hindu pilgrims
temporary sanctuary on forest land. Clearly, the
alienation of ordinary Muslim Kashmiris from the Indian
government did not subside with the decline of violence
by Pakistani jihadis - they were just waiting for an
opportune symbolic issue to latch onto. - Sreeram Chaulia (Jul 7,
'08)
Bush carves out a legacy in
Asia With President
George W Bush's "war on terror" mostly discredited, it
is in Asia where the United States, instead of being
rendered a sub-theme to China's historic rise, is
totting up success stories, from North Korea to a
potential breakthrough in India-Pakistan ties. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul 7, '08)
India blows up a
monsoon Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made a very calculated
political - and potentially dangerous - move to seal the
much-delayed civilian nuclear accord with the United
States. The deal, though, is only one piece on the
chessboard of India's global ambitions that includes the
key players of Pakistan, Iran and the United States. But
it's the weather that could decide Manmohan's and the
chess game's fate. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Jul 3, '08)
India hurt by torture
claims A first-ever
nationwide assessment has found that the use of torture
is blatant and widespread in India's prisons and police
custody, with an average of four persons dying each day.
In the broader sense, says the report, torture reduces
the effectiveness of the country's counter-insurgency
operations. - Neeta Lal (Jul 1,
'08)
Smoke and mirrors in the Khyber
Valley Pakistan is
trumpeting the success of military operations at the
weekend in the Khyber Agency against the Taliban, and
Washington will be pleased that Islamabad is finally
taking action. The trouble is, the offensive was
launched in the wrong area and against the wrong people,
leaving the "real" Taliban well alone. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 30,
'08)
Desperate Delhi wheels and
deals The Indian
coalition government has made friends with former foes
in a final bid to move ahead with a civilian nuclear
deal with the United States. The high-risk move could
end in early general elections, and might already be too
late. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 30,
'08)
CHAN AKYA Incredible
India, indeed While
its neighbors blissfully ignore bigger economic trends,
India's policymakers have made a series of poor
strategic choices for the country, in effect pushing the
economy into the eye of the global storm. As the
government grapples with inflation and contends with a
fractious coalition, the outlook is murky. (Jun 30,
'08)
Islamabad blinks at Taliban
threat The
North Atlantic Treaty Organization's response to the
consolidation of the Taliban in Kandahar and Khost
provinces in Afghanistan is to squeeze the supply lines
of the militants across the border in Pakistan.
Islamabad, in the face of a startling show of strength
by the Taliban this week, is reluctant to play along. -
Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 27,
'08)
Huge case backlog clogs India's
courts A massive
shortage of qualified judges has brought the Indian
judiciary to a virtual standstill and tens of millions
are waiting for justice. Meager salaries, such as the
chief justice's US$800 monthly pay, have also led to
widespread bribery and political interference, with 77%
of Indians believing their court system is corrupt. - Neeta Lal (Jun 27, '08)
Firing blanks in
Afghanistan The
saga of the youthful United States entrepreneur whose
company won millions of dollars in contracts from the
Pentagon to supply ammunition to the Afghan security
forces has caught the eye of prosecutors as well as the
US Congress. Most of the ordinance - from old communist
bloc stockpiles - was substandard, if not plain useless,
highlighting the "dysfunctional" procurement process at
the Department of Defense. - David Isenberg (Jun 26,
'08)
China toys with India's
border China's
incursions into India's Sikkim state are becoming more
frequent and more penetrating, the most recent one this
month going a kilometer into Indian territory. Delhi
fears it is all about Tibet: Beijing is laying claim to
Indian territories in the name of their vital role to
Tibetan Buddhist culture. - Sudha
Ramachandran (Jun 26,
'08)
Russia joins the war in
Afghanistan With its
profound hindsight into its former performance in
Afghanistan, it is strange that Russia is again wading
into its southern neighbor by agreeing to supply weapons
to the Afghan army in the fight against the Taliban.
Moscow is looking at the bigger picture, though. It has
put the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the
defensive and sidestepped United States-led (and
Chinese) efforts to undercut its influence in Central
Asia. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Jun 24,
'08)
Pakistan calls the
shots Washington's
grand plan for a compliant Pakistani government and
military is in tatters, and its carrot of economic aid
may no longer be enough to secure Islamabad's
cooperation in the "war on terror" against the Taliban,
with dire consequences. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Jun 24, '08)
India takes glacier politics to new
high By embarking
on a series of civilian and military mountaineering
treks to the Siachen Glacier, India is reasserting its
claim over a high-altitude swath of its tri-junction
with Pakistan and China. But Siachen has been hotly
contested for decades and the intrepid expeditions could
aggravate an icy stalemate atop the Himalayas. -
Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 24,
'08)
New Delhi airport, what a
zoo "This is your
captain speaking: there will be a three-hour delay in
our arrival in New Delhi because the runway is invested
with meter-long lizards, antelope and hyenas." If such
an in-flight announcement seems silly, you haven't flown
into the Indian capital recently. New construction has
moved an odd menagerie of critters to the airstrips,
where they are clawing into flight schedules. - Neeta Lal (Jun 20, '08)
India tiptoes to the new Middle
East Israel is in
peace negotiations with the Syrians and the Palestinians
and is also hinting at peace with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In this "changed constellation", a new Middle East is
struggling to be born, which is, paradoxically, a legacy
of the George W Bush era, except it is far different
from what the US president had in mind. India, with
China on its mind, is in the midst of a flurry of Middle
East activity to better place itself in what it
considers its extended neighborhood. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jun 20, '08)
Taliban raise a storm in
Kandahar
As
the United States admits, the Taliban "can raise a lot
of dust at any given moment", as they are doing now in
the southern province of Kandahar, drawing a massed
response from North Atlantic Treaty Organization and
Afghan army forces. More than dust is being raised,
though. This is just one aspect of the Taliban's
military and political plan, hoped to bring down a
veritable sandstorm. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Jun 19, '08)
AUDIO:
The fight for
Kandahar A Taliban
spokesman talks to Syed
Saleem Shahzad. (Jun 19, '08)
MP3 Podcast
Ranbaxy sale a perfect
match The purchase
by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo of Indian generic-drugs maker
Ranbaxy induced smiles all round. Investors bought into
the two companies' shares, delighted at the market fit,
while young Ranbaxy boss Malvinder Singh and his family
can look forward to his 36th birthday US$2.3 billion
richer. - Neeta Lal (Jun 18, '08)
India-Pakistan peace on track,
somehow With
Pakistan mired in political uncertainty and security
problems, there is still wide public sentiment in favor
of peace with old foe India. Citing a generational
shift, experts say Pakistani hostility towards India is
waning, as are bitter memories of partition and
religious differences. Delhi's role in the
democratization of its neighbor now depends on talks
this month. (Jun 18,
'08)
India goes to war in
space Concerned
over "the growing threat" to its space assets -
especially its lucrative satellite program - India has
established an Integrated Space Cell jointly run by
military and civilian officials. The cell will attempt
to more effectively utilize space-based assets for
military purposes and look to protect these assets, such
as against China's anti-satellite weaponry. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 17,
'08)
AUDIO Plans afoot to kill Bush
and Karzai A Taliban
commander comments on Afghan President Hamid
Karzai's threat to attack the Taliban leadership in
Pakistan and, in this short telephone
interview with Syed
Saleem Shahzad, tells of plans to
assassinate both US President George W Bush and Karzai.
(Jun 17,
'08)

Click here for audio
(mp3)
Click here for podcast
US runs out of patience with
Pakistan Patience is
running out in Kabul and Washington over the inability,
or unwillingness, of Pakistan to prevent the Taliban
from launching raids from Pakistani territory into
Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai warns of
taking matters into his own hands, but he's really
speaking for the United States. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 16,
'08)
Pakistan budget hits
poor Pakistan's coalition government
responded to rising prices and a slowing economy and a
bulging trade deficit by using its first budget to
handing out more money to the military and palliatives
to the poor. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider
(Jun 16,
'08)
Nepal marching to two
drums With the
national flag now formally flying over Nepal in place of
the royal standard, the country can address other
pressing issues, starting with the search for a
president. There are also two competing armies, with
grave doubts the regular army will stand down for the
Maoists. - Dhruba Adhikary (Jun 16,
'08)
India takes the high ground against
China After 43
years, India has re-opened an airfield, the
highest-altitude air base in the world, that overlooks
China's Xinjiang province and the Karakoram Highway to
Pakistan. Delhi says the move is in response to Chinese
incursions, and should be seen as a clear sign that it
is fed up with being bullied on the Sino-Indian border.
- Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 13,
'08)
Rattled Pakistan looks to
Musharraf The
United States air strikes that killed 11 Pakistani
paramilitary troops this week have shaken the country to
the core, so much so that President Pervez Musharraf,
who was about to be consigned to the bin of history,
could make a remarkable comeback. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 13,
'08)
BOOK REVIEW Asia's
awesome threesome Rivals by Bill Emmott Any friendship between China, India,
and Japan is a facade, argues Bill Emmott in his new
book on the inter-state rivalry and its consequences for
the world. Asia's "Big Three" are prone to suspicions
and jealousies due to their highly competitive and
strategic environment and this has led to a complex "new
Asian drama". Emmott's yen for futurology yields
interesting speculations but his premise of a is
illogical and bypasses the impact of Russo-American
tensions. - Sreeram Chaulia (Jun 13,
'08)
US strike hits Pakistan's raw
nerve Tuesday's
raid by United States warplanes into Pakistani territory
in which 11 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed
will further strain the US's relations with one of its
key allies in the "war on terror", which it accuses of
aiding the Taliban. But Islamabad has to weave an
intricate web with militants to protect its own back. -
Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 12,
'08)
 Pakistan, US dispute blame
(AFP)
VIDEO Taliban: A new breed of
leader

Qari
Ziaur Rahman, commander of the Taliban in Afghanistan's
Nooristan and Kunar provinces, which border Pakistan,
represents the new generation of anti-US resistance
leaders and is tipped to become one of the most
important Taliban commanders in the region. He spoke to
Syed Saleem Shahzad in the
Kunar Valley.
 See
also AT WAR WITH
THE TALIBAN, Part 2: A fighter and a financier (May 23,
'08)
India to upgrade higher
education New Delhi
has embarked on an education system overhaul by
expanding its world-renowned Institutes of Technologies
from seven to 16 in this year alone. But there will be
no easy answers. India's top schools will still be
extremely difficult to get into and the economy's
manpower shortage will continue to outpace the number of
skilled graduates. - Siddharth
Srivastava (Jun 11, '08)
Plenty of cream for India's fat
government Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call, after raising fuel
prices 10%, for colleagues to cut back on lavish
five-star overseas trips enjoyed at government expense
will do little to dent the rich lifestyles of his
ministers. US President George W Bush sets the
appropriate example. - Raja
M(Jun 11,
'08)
Pakistan at the mercy of marching
lawyers Thousands
of black-suited lawyers marching across Pakistan for a
confrontation in the capital Islamabad are only a part
of the story. The military has gone into a funk of
inactivity, the new liberal, secular government is
unable, given the pressure from the streets, to protect
United States interests, while America's poser-boy,
President Pervez Musharraf, is under siege. The
situation is ripe for exploitation by al-Qaeda, and
augers well for the Taliban in Afghanistan. - Syed Saleem Shahzad(Jun 10,
'08)
Fighting dirty in Sri Lanka The spike in violence
in Sri Lanka indicates increasing desperation for both
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government
forces trying to eradicate them. Colombo, unable to
steer the outcome of events on the battlefield in its
favor, is opting for the next best thing: silencing the
messenger. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 9,
'08)
Fake drugs a bitter pill for
India In response
to two damning reports from international health
agencies, one of which claims 75% of the world's
counterfeit drugs can be traced to India, New Delhi is
launching the world's largest-ever study to assess the
scope of the lethal, but lucrative, trade that is worth
US$34.9 billion in India alone. - Neeta Lal (Jun 5, '08)
India
wet and wary as rains arrive Meteorologists predict this year's
monsoons will bring an average amount of rain to India,
easing concerns over food grain supplies which have
stoked inflation to a four-year high. But even as
Indians enjoy the cooling arrival of the yearly rains,
they are well aware of the deluge of problems they
always bring. - Sudha
Ramachandran (Jun 5, '08)
China strategy stamped on Afghan
deal Success in securing rights to
Afghanistan's Anyak copper field last month underlines
China's determination to strengthen links with its
neighbors while developing its own remote western
regions. Much more of that determination will be needed
to overcome the obstacles that have so far prevented
exploitation of Aynak's potentially vast resources.
(Jun 4,
'08)
Kingless Nepal looks for a
president In their
haste to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy and declare a
republic, Nepal's lawmakers ignored important procedural
matters that could be challenged in the courts. There is
now widespread concern that the vacuum created following
the departure of the king will not be easily filled.
Similarly, the future of the United Nations mission to
the country hangs in the balance. - Dhruba Adhikary (Jun 3,
'08)
A
struggle between war and peace Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have
relied on ceasefires and peace accords to deal with
militants and the Taliban. These seldom last long, and,
as in the case of pro-al-Qaeda Pakistani Taliban leader
Baitullah Mehsud, they are being made with the wrong
people. It is a situation ripe for radicals to exploit.
- Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Jun 2, '08)
DISPATCHES FROM
AMERICA How the
Pentagon shapes the world This may be the most important
American story of the new century: the Pentagon's
massive expansion on just about every front during US
President George W Bush's two terms in office. On seven
major fronts, the Pentagon has expanded its power and
its powers, nationally and globally. These include the
Pentagon as budget buster, diplomat, arms dealer,
intelligence analyst and spy, domestic disaster manager,
humanitarian caregiver, and global viceroy as well as
ruler of the heavens. And it is still aggressively
expanding. - Frida Berrigan (May 30,
'08)
CHAN AKYA Mr
Market combats the Taliban Reduced opium production in
Afghanistan as a result of soaring wheat prices points
the way both for the conduct of war in poor countries,
and perhaps more importantly, handling emerging
environmental issues. Change that is led by the markets
will prove more sustainable than any that's thrust by
war. (May
30, '08)
US terror drive stalled in political
quagmire With
rumors swirling in Pakistan that President Pervez
Musharraf is about to step down, and the two leading
parties in the ruling coalition at odds, the country's
efforts in the United States-led "war on terror" have
all but ceased. Across the border in Afghanistan,
Taliban-related developments have also taken a turn away
from US designs. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (May 30, '08)
 SEX IN
DEPTH The age of innocence in
Asia Establishing
national ages for sexual consent is a dicey proposition
across the globe, and one increasingly muddied by
religion, culture and globalization. In Asia, the
average age for legal heterosexual sex is 14.5 years
old, but that is about as clear as the issue gets. The
laws are meant to protect young people, but each country
has its own prejudices and peccadillos. - William Sparrow (May 30, '08)
Poll alarm bells ring in
India The
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in
provincial elections in the state of Karnataka gives it
a stronghold in southern India for the first time. This
has set alarm bells ringing in the ruling Congress party
ahead of national polls. - Siddharth Srivastava (May 30,
'08)
SPEAKING FREELY Europe's
Asian love misplaced The recent history of Europe's ties
with India shows little enthusiasm for the would-be
superpower, and neither India nor the European Union
seems to be in a hurry to bolster the relationship. Such
indifference, however, will soon prove to have been a
strategic error. And so will Europe's obsession with
China. - Andrew Bishop (May 29,
'08)
A dire diagnosis for India's
health A major new
report raises fresh fears about the declining state of
India's public health. Already facing a huge shortage of
medical professionals, and spending an abysmal 0.9% of
its gross domestic product on health, the country faces
an explosion of "lifestyle diseases" that will alone sap
US$237 billion from the economy by 2015. - Neeta Lal (May 29, '08)
WTO's
formula for failure Attempts to reach a comprehensive
new global trade agreement continue their lamentable
history of non-progress. Nor is success likely unless
the industrialized nations take greater account of the
growing interests of China, India and other
fast-developing nations.Raja M
(May 28,
'08)
India pays dearly for cheap
hooch Another
bootleg liquor - or hooch - tragedy has struck India,
this time claiming more than 180 lives. For years the
illegal business has thrived under police protection and
the patronage of politicians and the recent tragedy
underscores the ingredients - liquor barons, greed and
poverty - that mix in the marketing of the lethal
liquor. - Sudha Ramachandran
(May 28,
'08)
In the footsteps of Osama
...
The
United States has stepped up its hunt for Osama bin
Laden, concentrating on the swathe of rugged territory
that straddles Pakistan and Afghanistan. Syed Saleem Shahzad hiked
through this region, accompanied by a young jihadi who
shared his views on where bin Laden might be, even
evoking the evidence of supernatural spirits. (May 27,
'08) This is the conclusion of a
three-part report.
Part 1:
Ducking and diving under B-52s
Part
2: A fighter and a financier
India
endeavors to police its Internet New Delhi is drafting a stringent
new Information Technology Act that will bolster
cyber-security norms and protect India's multi-billion
dollar software and outsourcing sectors. But as a rash
of recent arrests illustrates, there is a fine line
between fighting Internet crime and trampling freedom of
expression. - Siddharth
Srivastava (May 27, '08)
Shooting from the hip - and
mouth Two days of
talks between Pakistan and India, the first Delhi has
held with Islamabad's new government, concluded with a
slew of agreements, from access to prisoners to trade
facilitation. At the same time, Indian border posts in
Jammu and Kashmir came under Pakistani fire, dealing a
blow to the already slow normalization process between
the countries. - Sudha
Ramachandran (May 23,
'08)
FILM REVIEW Stark
reversals of a Pentagon blockbuster Iron
Man, directed by Jon
Favreau This film is not only
the box office hit of the year - taking in a staggering
US$428.5 million worldwide in its first three weeks -
but has been labeled the "best-reviewed movie of 2008 so
far". The only problem is that it has a strange knack
for taking the worst imprisonment and torture acts of
the George W Bush administration - and arms-dealing acts
of previous administrations - and dumping them all on a
set of al-Qaeda stand-ins in Afghanistan. - Nick Turse (May 23,
'08)
SEX IN DEPTH Asia: The
land of raising sons A strong preference for male babies
has led to social problems in Asia, specifically in
China and India, where traditions and state mandates
have led to serious gender discrimination in
reproduction. Now, mothers are being blamed, baby girls
are abandoned and bachelors have trouble hooking up. Is
it not time to say, as Maurice Chevalier did, thank
heaven for little girls? - William Sparrow (May 23,
'08)
A
fighter and a financier Qari Ziaur Rahman is one of the new
breed of Taliban commanders. His ties are closer to
al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden than to Pakistan, and he
has risen through the ranks to head the
Taliban's military and financial operations in Nooristan
and Kunar provinces. There is a price on his head, but
he shrugs that off, and explains to Syed Saleem Shahzad how his
"faithful brothers" go about their daily attacks against
coalition forces in this highly strategic area. (May 22,
'08)
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