More than six years after the initiation of Operation Enduring Freedom the Taliban and its affiliates are back, wreaking havoc on the fragile security situation and impeding development activity in Afghanistan. The Taliban-led insurgency is spreading its tentacles to new areas, with the relatively stable north swinging towards instability. This paper takes stock of the deteriorating security situation and singles out the lack of 'unity of effort' as a missing link in the international community's counter-insurgency campaign, contributing to its ineffectiveness in establishing security.

• Shanthie Mariet D’Souza |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan is in sharp focus now. This is due to two critical factors: Bhutan's assertion of its identity and Beijing's tactics in the Himalayan region. Both factors have had an impact in the ordering of Indo-Bhutanese relations.

• K. N. Ramachandran |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

The Indo-Nepal border is an open border, which has facilitated close social, cultural, and economic exchanges and led to a special relationship between the two countries. However, in recent times, the increasing misuse of the borders by terrorists, political activists, anti-social elements, etc. has led to the demand for the closure of the border from the Indian side. The paper posits that a closed border is not beneficial for both the countries as the social and political costs involved in such a border are immense.

• Pushpita Das |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

• P. Stobdan |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Gurpreet S Khurana |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

• K. Sreedhar Rao |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

With the price of oil crossing $110 a barrel, the oil-importing countries' concerns have been mounting. Not surprisingly, the issue of whether the time is now ripe for energy consuming countries to take measures to counter the producers' growing clout is being discussed, including the formation of a consumers' cartel, to force exporters to bring down prices.

• Shebonti Ray Dadwal |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Vishal Chandra |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

China's influence in South Asia has significantly grown over the years, and in particular Bangladeshi-Chinese relations are now robust and very comprehensive. This is in contrast to Bangladeshi-Indian relations, which are extremely uneven. While the latter are substantial and not totally negative, in comparison to Bangladeshi-Chinese relations they are riddled with controversies. How does one explain this contrast, especially when China lacks the historic-cultural advantages and linkages that India has with Bangladesh?

• Sreeradha Datta |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Jagannath P. Panda |
• September 2008 |
• Strategic Analysis