Geopolitical Stipulation of Central Asian Integration The overall post-Soviet and post-Cold War transformation of the five Central Asian countries is multifaceted and complicated. New geopolitics has penetrated into almost all critically important spheres of post-Soviet transformation. Geopolitics even influences spheres such as national self-identification, which is traditionally regarded as having nothing to do with geopolitics. That is why one can assume that geopolitics stipulates regional integration as well. Farkhod Tolipov | January 2010 | Strategic Analysis
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): An Economic and Political Perspective Indian presence in the Gulf region is civilizational and has developed into a vibrant relationship over the years. With the emergence of India as a large economic power and with the Gulf region simultaneously witnessing spectacular economic growth, economic trends are reinforcing mutual interdependence. While India's economic presence in the region has transformed from barter exchanges between merchants and Indian human capital, India's political presence has remained more or less subdued. Samir Pradhan | January 2010 | Strategic Analysis
The Iran–Pakistan–India Natural Gas Pipeline: Implications and Challenges for Regional Security This research article examines the rationale for Iran, Pakistan, and India entering into a trade agreement to meet their economic, political, and strategic needs as well as the constraints and challenges that still hamper such an agreement from realizing its full potential. Using the gas pipeline project as a case study, the issues of energy security (as the independent variable) and of economic interdependence (as the dependent variable) highlight the importance of cooperation among these countries. Anjali Sahay , Jalil Roshandel | January 2010 | Strategic Analysis
Internet at the Crossroads The Internet’s blurred boundaries and its existing vulnerabilities have led to unhealthy trends, which, if not addressed adequately, could pose severe problems. Cherian Samuel | December 31, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Vietnamese Defence White Paper 2009 Vietnam’s third national defence white paper shows its commitment to greater transparency in defence modernization and strategic planning. Pankaj K Jha | December 31, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Asif Zardari and the T.I.N.A. Factor It would appear that for the moment at least the TINA factor operates in favour of the Zardari/Gilani combine especially if they continue to occupy their offices without wielding any real power. Sushant Sareen | December 30, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Tackling Insurgency Commanders and troops must understand that they are operating in a No Win situation and their overall aim will always remain achievement of a more perfect peace. K C Dixit | December 29, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Assessing Hatoyama in Office After Yukio Hatoyama assumed the office of Prime Minister, Japan’s foreign policy has begun to look different with an element of assertiveness and a greater focus towards Asia. Rajaram Panda | December 24, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Pakistan ISI: The Patron and the Victim That the ISI patron is now becoming the victim of jehadi terrorism does not bode well for Pakistan, which now has to recast the agency’s role and organizational ethos to contain the Taliban. Harinder Singh | December 24, 2009 | IDSA Comments
IAF Training: The role Flying Clubs can play The IAF should consider utilising the available aircraft and infrastructure at flying clubs for imparting basic training to its pilot trainees before sending them to the Kiran HJT-16. Ramesh Phadke | December 24, 2009 | IDSA Comments