SAARC Energy Agreement: A step in the right direction Signing of the SAARC agreement is merely the first step in the process of regional energy cooperation. To make this initiative work, governments in the region need to synchronise their efforts on a range of technical, institutional and political issues. Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni | January 05, 2015 | IDSA Comments
The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide by Gary J. Bass In 2013 two significant books were published dealing with the creation of Bangladesh, one by Srinath Raghavan (1971: A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh, Permanent Black, Ranikhet) and the other under review here. In terms of their databases and analyses, they are both outstanding. This, in spite of Bass’s reminder that the most sensitive wartime records remain classified and at times even White House tapes are edited to maintain secrecy (p. 289). Partha S. Ghosh | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
India as an Asia Pacific Power by David Brewster It is clear that the Asia Pacific is a platform where various actors can be seen playing wide-ranging roles. The United States is considered one of the existing influential powers playing the role of a security provider, at least partially. On the other hand, an emerging power like India, which is expected to be more responsible and visible in the Asia Pacific region, faces several challenges both at the national and international level. David Brewster’s book discusses India’s ambitions and capabilities as well as its limitations and challenges in becoming an Asia Pacific power. Sampa Kundu | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Cyber: Also a Domain of War and Terror India, the IT nation, did not make a news splash at CyberTech 2014. That is worth a passing thought. Because cyber is the fifth and new domain of warfare, after land, sea, air and space. Suryakanthi Tripathi | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Beyond NJ 9842: The Siachen Saga by Nitin A. Gokhale The history of the 20th century has for a long time looked at the inhospitable Russian Tundra in winter as the most hostile battleground that armies could experience. Hitler’s defeat at Stalingrad in the bleak winter of 1942 and the decimation of his Panzer divisions by hardy and acclimatised Russian forces remains one of the key turning points of World War II. Arjun Subramaniam | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Experiences from the International Rhine Water Management Germany, located in Central Europe, has access to different national and international river basins and lakes, including the Rhine, Elbe, Danube and Lake Constance. Precipitation in Germany differs between comfortable amounts in the Alpine region (1500–2000 mm/a) to moderate amounts in the central and northern regions (600–800 mm/a). In brief, the geological conditions are in favour of successful groundwater storage. Martin G. Grambow | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Overcoming Pakistan’s Nuclear Dangers by Mark Fitzpatrick Mark Fitzpatrick’s book Overcoming Pakistan’s Nuclear Dangers makes a courageous attempt in advocating recognition of Pakistan as a ‘normal nuclear state’ (p. 12). The author asserts that the international community must now refrain from making Pakistan pay for its 2004 AQ Khan debacle and recognise that ‘the time has come to offer Pakistan a nuclear cooperation deal akin to India’ (p. 162). Reshmi Kazi | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
The Articulated Strategy to Fight the Islamic State: Is It Self-Defeating? President Barack Obama has detailed his strategy to degrade, defeat and ultimately destroy the Islamic State (IS) (the IS is also referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS]) currently considered the most threatening of the various terrorist groups operating primarily in the Middle East. Fundamental to the success of the strategy is military action aimed at degrading the combat capabilities of the fighting elements of the IS. Sanu Kainikara | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Maoist Insurgency and India’s Internal Security Architecture by E.N. Rammohan, Brigadier Amrit Pal Singh and Gp. Capt. A.K. Agarwal The Maoist insurgency and the internal security response, which in part flows from India’s security architecture, have become increasingly relevant in the recent past. The Maoist threat has repeatedly been referred to as the gravest internal challenge to India’s security. The impact of this threat, along with terrorism in the hinterland, has exposed the inadequacies of the country’s internal security capacities. Therefore, a book dealing with the two is a timely addition to the literature, in the Indian context. Vivek Chadha | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Depoliticising Illegal Immigration from Bangladesh to India With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition coming to power in India in May 2014, the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh has come to the forefront once again. However, the fear is whether the debate over the issue will shed more light, leading to the resolution of the problem, or whether it will simply degenerate into political rivalry and polarisation. Illegal immigration figured prominently in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary elections and was often raised by one of the leading political parties, the BJP. Anand Kumar | January 2015 | Strategic Analysis
