India-Pakistan Talks-Need for a Grand Negotiating Strategy India should now focus on handling internal differences, balancing issues across sectors and forging a domestic consensus in order to enhance its negotiating posture vis-a-vis Pakistan Medha Bisht July 27, 2010 IDSA Comments
Maldives: Beleaguered Democracy Multi-party democracy in Maldives is facing a major crisis in the wake of a bitter political struggle between the president and the opposition-dominated national parliament. Anand Kumar July 27, 2010 IDSA Comments
Striking Balance among Diverse Oversight Concerns in Defence Acquisition Transparency in public procurement bears an immediate cost both for government and bidders. However, it is a key element to support fundamental principles of the public procurement system, especially competition and integrity. The drive for transparency must therefore be tempered by making transparent what sufficiently enables corruption control. If the level of transparency is adequately defined, the benefits will outweigh the cost, especially when comparing the initial cost of transparency with the potential negative consequences of corruption. K Subramaniam July 2010 Journal of Defence Studies
Searching for Options In the aftermath of the disastrous meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan, there is an all-pervasive air of despondency if not frustration as India seems to be running out of options. Ramesh Phadke July 23, 2010 IDSA Comments
UNSC statement on “Cheonan”: Sino-US compromise or limits of diplomacy The UNSC statement is more a testimony to Sino-US compromise arrived at after nearly a month and half of negotiations rather than being a “diplomatic victory” as has been hailed by North Korea. Preeti Nalwa July 23, 2010 IDSA Comments
Streamlining Defence Acquisition Process The process for Defence Acquisitions in India has evolved considerably in the last decade or so, and is being refined further. The Ministry of Defence recognizes the importance of timely modernization, and of balancing the operational needs with the requirements of transparency and probity. There are a number of areas where further initiatives are being considered and the Ministry of Defence, in consultation with all stake holders, would be moving forward in this regard. Nirmal Kumar Verma July 2010 Journal of Defence Studies
JMB Remains the Fountainhead of Terror in Bangladesh Recent arrests prove the close relationship between Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and extremist groups that have vowed to turn Bangladesh into an Islamic state. Anand Kumar July 22, 2010 IDSA Comments
Need to Understand the Military Modern democracies are much more than about simply throwing the rule book at their militaries. Armed forces expressing their views on grave issues of security should be taken in the right spirit. Ajey Lele July 22, 2010 IDSA Comments
Seeking Truth from Facts: The Sino-Taiwanese Trade Pact While the economies of China and Taiwan are getting integrated and there has been increasing contact between the people across the strait, the two sides are maintaining a studied silence on unification. R N Das July 22, 2010 IDSA Comments
Some Issues of Civil Military Relations The current discourse which is mostly about the role or the absence of such a role for the military in decision making misses out on key currents and issues like overcoming the massive import syndrome and sustaining the positive image of the soldier in society. P. K. Gautam July 22, 2010 IDSA Comments
