Nihar R. Nayak

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Nihar R Nayak’s commentary on India's major conflict theatres, titled ‘INDIA: Assessing Major Conflict Theatres Amid COVID-19 Pandemic’ has been published in the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on May 21, 2020.

The commentary analyses the impact of the lockdown due to COVID-19 on India's three major conflict theatres – Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Northeastern (NE) region and Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Before the lockdown these were witnessing violent incidents daily. Interestingly, the impact of the lockdown varied from one conflict theatre to another given the nature of conflicts - objectives, origin, support base and level of conflict, etc.

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• Published: 21 May, 2020

The spectre of climate change and increased global warming has spurred more action in recent years. However, with the global economic outlook not likely to pick up any time soon, the temptation to opt for cheaper but dirtier fuels could further complicate the climate change negotiations.

• Published: May 06, 2020
• Issue Brief

The prevailing environment has underlined the importance of a balanced market to the oil producers. India has been consistently reiterating the need for oil to be priced responsibly to ensure the stability of the oil market.

• Published: April 24, 2020
• IDSA Comments

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on COVID-19 and Pakistan Army, titled ‘Pakistan and COVID-19 Pandemic: Is the Army Taking Advantage?’, has been published by the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on April 18, 2020.

Although the performance of Imran Khan’s government has not been impressive over the last 20 months, there seems to be no imminent threat to that. Since the army is committed to not to allow any political instability in the country during the double crisis (economic and Corona) and at the same time, it has been acting as a ‘de facto’ ruler, it would prefer the continuation of this government with some modifications in the current governance structure, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 18 April, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on Nepal, titled ‘NEPAL: New Left-Wing Extremism and Impending Threat’ has been published by the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on March 20, 2020.

Nepal government’s decision to impose a ban on the Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand alias Biplab, known as CPN (Chand), a renegade Maoist faction, completed one year on March 12, 2020. Will the movement replicate the 1996-People’s War? This is a question being debated widely in Nepal at the moment, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 20 March, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine, titled ‘Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine: Still Caught Between the Deep Sea and the Devil’, has been published by the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on December 20, 2019.

There is still much confusion on whether they belong to Rakhine, Myanmar or Bangladesh, or are seen as terrorists or as refugees. Even interventions by India and China did not yield results, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 20 December, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo (Dr.) Tandi Dorji’s visit to India, titled ‘India-Bhutan Ties Set for Further Growth’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on November 19, 2019.

The Bhutanese Minister’s week-long visit has set a new benchmark for the bilateral ties, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 19 November, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on Sri Lanka’s eighth presidential elections, titled ‘SRI LANKA: Presidential elections: Will minorities become kingmakers?' has been published by Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi, on November 11, 2019.

As Sri Lanka is gearing towards the eighth presidential elections, national security, foreign policy and foreign investments in infrastructure projects and minority issues are once again dominating the political discourse in the country, writes Dr. Nayak.

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• Published: 11 November, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s article on Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s Nepal trip, titled ‘Xi Jinping Ko Nepal Bhraman: Indo-Pacific Birudh Himali Niti’ has been published by Nepal News on October 18, 2019.

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• Published: 18 October, 2019

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak’s commentary on ‘AFGHANISTAN: Elusive Dialogue: Peace Talks That Never Took Off’ has been published by South Asia Conflict Monitor (monthly online newsletter), Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, on October 5, 2019.

According to Dr. Nayak’s commentary, wo r l d w i d e, c o n f l i c t r e s o l u t i o n e x p e r i e n c e s suggest that the majority of peace negotiations have been successful on two occasions. First, when the rebel groups are in the weak position against the state and second when there is presence of an influential, trustworthy and non-partisan mediator. In the case of Afghanistan, both these peace process sustaining elements were not present.

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• Published: 5 October, 2019