Pakistan’s HEU-based Nuclear Weapons Programme and Nuclear Terrorism: A Reality Check In order to construct an operational nuclear device, terrorists need to obtain the requisite fissile materials - Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) or plutonium. It has been proved that, generally, it is much simpler to devise a crude nuclear bomb with HEU than with plutonium. Hence, terrorists can have 'reasonable confidence' in the performance of weapons-grade HEU bombs. The magnitude of the threat of nuclear terrorism from Pakistan's HEU-based nuclear weapons programme is assuming alarming proportions. However, adequate preventive steps can be taken to minimize the danger. Reshmi Kazi | November 2009 | Strategic Analysis
Trends in Thinking about Warfare Militaries the world over need to study and understand lessons from the ongoing military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, and the new knowledge needs to be placed in context. Neglected military history itself provides enduring lessons. This article attempts to capture the trends and debates in the understanding of current warfare and outlines how lessons of war are interpreted with a focus on future trends in war-fighting. The article concludes with some policy suggestions and areas for further inquiry. P. K. Gautam | November 2009 | Strategic Analysis
Indo-US Relations That two countries, India and the United States of America, with so much in common should have drifted apart for so long has baffled many. Of course, there are reasons for it, but there are equally compelling arguments in favour of forging better ties. Perhaps the most important factor contributing to the drift has been the inability of the two to identify common interests. Both have been seized by many misconceptions; both have tended to look upon their mutual relations in the context of third countries. Dinesh Singh | November 2009 | Strategic Analysis
Is Energy Security the Main Driver for the West’s Debate on Climate Change? Though global warming and climate change is a real concern and needs to be addressed, it is concerns over energy security that are driving the West's policy and debate on climate change. With the traditional oil and gas market changing in favour of the developing countries, the developed countries are concerned about retaining their preferential access to energy resources. Shebonti Ray Dadwal | November 2009 | Strategic Analysis
The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power by Tariq Ali Sumita Kumar | November 2009 | Strategic Analysis
East Asian Regionalism Vs Asian Regionalism The appropriate option for the Hatoyama government would be to take incremental steps aimed at building greater confidence and trust amongst Asian nations across a number of policy fronts rather than indulge in advancing grand ideas which appear at the moment unachievable. Rajaram Panda | October 31, 2009 | IDSA Comments
The new government in Berlin On the eve of the formation of the new government it is expected that Germany would mainly devote its energy at home as the mandate is for continuity in the time of economic recession. No spectacular point-of-departure in foreign policy can hence be expected from Berlin. Alok Rashmi Mukhopadhyay | October 31, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Controversy over Relocating Futenma base The Futenma issue is therefore unlikely to be allowed to derail the decades-old alliance relationship, irrespective of the fact that there is now a government in Japan headed by the DPJ, which was in the opposition since World War II. Rajaram Panda | October 31, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Leading the way – Exercise Yudh Abhyas India's relationship with the United States has been a subject of debate and discussion. Both nations despite being large and stable democracies have had a contentious relationship demonstrating that shared value systems has not always been an insurance for building friendly relations. Arvind Dutta | October 29, 2009 | IDSA Comments
