Smruti S Pattanaik

The writer is Research Fellow, IDSA.

Nepal elections: Political stability may elude the nation again

Nepal may brace for another round of political instability in the next five years.

1y ago

Sri Lanka Crisis: Why is Saarc Missing in Action?

Saarc’s inability to respond to the humanitarian crisis reflects a lack of the sense of regionalism.

2y ago

Is It Sri Lanka’s ‘Arab Spring’ Moment?

Two dates – May 9 and July 9 – will remain significant for the Rajapaksa brothers in Sri Lanka.

2y ago

Return of the Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka

The victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections held on August 5 was very much anticipated, although the extent of the victory was speculated on.

4y ago

Turning Bimstec into a vehicle for regional cooperation

The 4th Bimstec summit is being held in Kathmandu after a lapse of four years. The last summit was held in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in 2014. For the Bimstec that celebrated 20 years in 2017, four summits in 20 years is not certainly a time for celebration and does not add to the credibility of the organisation that has the potential to transform the eastern South Asia.

6y ago

The future of 'Naya Pakistan'

The “second democratic transition” in Pakistan was marred with pre-poll suicide attacks which killed three contestants as well as scores of their supporters especially in Quetta.

6y ago

The unfolding political crisis in Maldives

Maldives has plunged into a major political crisis after the Supreme Court on February 2 in a judgement ordered the government to release 12 members of the parliament who were stripped off their posts and held by the government under different charges and order retrial of the case.

6y ago

Emerging geopolitics surrounding the Indian Ocean

Despite the possibility of buying back the shares from China after 60 years, the question is whether Sri Lanka's economy would allow it to buy them back. The fear expressed by economists in Sri Lanka is that the country is likely to fall into a Chinese debt-trap.

7y ago
September 3, 2016
September 3, 2016

Turning a new leaf in Indo-US relations

The Strategic Community in India is strongly wedded to the concept of strategic autonomy in India's foreign policy. However, signing of the LEMOA and various terms and condition enshrined in it only upholds India's emphasis on strategic autonomy.

May 30, 2016
May 30, 2016

The Tale of Two Oath Takings

A work permit system for those who want to work in India is the need of the hour. India, in consultation with Bangladesh, needs to work out a system which allows the workers to work and remit their money through legal channels and ensure that they are not being exploited.

May 25, 2016
May 25, 2016

How to read the State Assembly elections results in India?

The recent elections to four Indian states and one union territory are being interpreted by many as the march of the BJP and the decline of the Congress party.

August 27, 2015
August 27, 2015

Sri Lankans foil Rajpaksa's return to power

Sri Lanka voted overwhelmingly to elect the broad coalition led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe back to power.

August 12, 2015
August 12, 2015

The Naga Peace Accord and the challenges ahead

The “historic Peace Accord”, signed between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - led by Isaac Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah - popularly known as the NSCN(IM) and the Government of India in New Delhi on August 3, after 80 rounds of peace negotiations, expanding over 16 years, is expected to herald a new era of peace in the North Eastern region.

June 9, 2015
June 9, 2015

Pegging Sub-regionalism with Bilateralism

The successful conclusion of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Dhaka is important for both its content and symbolism.

May 26, 2015
May 26, 2015

One year of the NDA Government

Internationally, Prime Modi comes across as a leader who can take bold decisions and has the parliamentary majority to see it through.

May 18, 2015
May 18, 2015

The shadow of border disputes

None of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits drew as much attention as his three days visit to China.

May 8, 2015
May 8, 2015

The signing of land boundary agreement: 'Neighbour first' back on track

THE NDA government's 'neighbour first' policy received further boost in the recent past. From taking a lead in operationalising the rescue plan in Nepal to the passage of the long pending landmark Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), the signature determination of the government's intention to boost India's neighbourhood policy is apparent.

  •