The two global trends of multipolarity (rising powers) and non-polarity (failing states) are strongly present in the South Asian geopolitical context. India's competitive-cooperative relationship with China is clearly part of the multipolar trend of rising powers throughout the world, while India's long, antagonistic history with Pakistan is increasingly witness to a weakening and radicalized Pakistani state. In this mixed strategic environment, Indian nuclear weapons are neither a global bane nor a coercive form of power for compelling a lopsided agreement with Pakistan on Kashmir.

• Michael Kraig |
• May 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

The ascendancy of Jamaat Islami to power in a country that was born on the basis of secularism indicates the changing political dynamics in Bangladesh. Its syncretic tradition rooted in its language and culture limited Jamaat's success. Nevertheless, given the role the party played during the liberation war, its political ascendancy speaks of the changing political landscape. This article argues that though the party has exhibited some political success, it faces challenges from the secularists in the socio-cultural sphere, thereby limiting its growth and expansion.

• Smruti S. Pattanaik |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Atul Mishra |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

The raging Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan underlines the limits of the use of military force. The lack of visible progress on the reconstruction activity and prevailing insecurity has alienated the Afghan populace in the remote villages of South and East Afghanistan. Given that the military option alone has limited utility in Counter-insurgency (COIN), there is a need to exercise an 'out-of-the-box' option to address the present stalemate.

• Shanthie Mariet D’Souza |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• K. Sreedhar Rao |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

Major powers have tried to use military training programmes, manifested through military-to-military cooperation running the gamut of training exchanges to joint exercises, to defence-related dialogues through seminars and the like, in order to engage and influence other countries in the furtherance of their strategic interests. The US model is notable for being innovative, flexible, scalable, and broad in its approach, and this has fetched it considerable dividends.

• Cherian Samuel |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Gulshan Sachdeva |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Subimal Bhattacharjee |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Sanjaya Baru |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Abanti Bhattacharya |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis