Need to revive Iran-India energy ties The possible lifting of the sanctions on Iran will lead to a rush for a share of the lucrative Iranian energy pie similar to Myanmar’s opening up last year. India cannot afford to be left behind. Shebonti Ray Dadwal | September 30, 2014 | IDSA Comments
Border Standoff: Understanding Chinese Motives The response from the Indian side during the recent border incident was much more robust. However, it is important to examine the likely motives that drive the Chinese to raise the ante before the high-level visits to India. Rumel Dahiya | September 29, 2014 | IDSA Comments
Saudis join war against Islamic State; many sceptical The participation by the Saudi royal family in the US-led bombing of Daesh positions in Syria indicates Riyadh’s implacable opposition to the mercenary group. Iran, however, has dismissed the air strikes as a “psychological operation”, not a military one. Sandhya Jain | September 29, 2014 | IDSA Comments
2014 General Elections in Kashmir Valley: Incidents of Violence and its Impact The background study looks at incidence of violence in the Kashmir Valley during the 2014 parliamentary elections and the correlation of violence to voter turnout. This study also lists out various actors responsible for violence and the trends in voting patterns from different regions of the Valley. Deepshikha Hooda | September 25, 2014 | Backgrounder
New Gambles in Ladakh It all appears that the Indian army this time got clear orders to hold the ground and undo what the previous UPA government did – dismantled huts, bunkers and observation posts in exchange of PLA moving back from the Indian territory. P. Stobdan | September 25, 2014 | IDSA Comments
XI’s visit and the boundary issues In the Chinese mind the settlement of the border issue with India cannot be divorced from regional, political and larger strategic issues. China has used the threat of intrusions across the LAC, as a part of its coercive diplomacy and it is too valuable an asset to give up. Mukul Sanwal | September 24, 2014 | IDSA Comments
A primer on the Indian Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 During PM Modi’s visit to US, one of the topics that is likely to be high on the agenda will be the still incomplete US-India nuclear cooperation by way of sales of nuclear reactors to India because of the Indian Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. G. Balachandran | September 23, 2014 | Backgrounder
PLA Asserts as Modi-Xi Jinping Talk The military gap between Indian and China is growing steadily as the PLA is upgrading the military infrastructure in Tibet to enable rapid deployment. China will stall resolution of the territorial dispute till it is in a much stronger position. Gurmeet Kanwal | September 22, 2014 | IDSA Comments
India and China: Ready to Meet Halfway Can the two leaders go further and recognize the regional strategic interests of each other in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans? What about full support for India’s membership of the Security with the two countries working together in that forum? Mukul Sanwal | September 22, 2014 | IDSA Comments
India Mission to Mars: Ready to Orbit The orbit insertion scheduled for September 24 will be a landmark achievement. The Mars accomplishment could assist the global efforts towards the possible human colonization of the Red Planet and would automatically increase India’s status. Ajey Lele | September 19, 2014 | IDSA Comments
