South Asia and Beyond

‘Iran Is Driven By Its sense Of Being Shia’

Iran is unpredictable in its policies, driven by its sense of being the ethnic Persian Shia power in a sea of Sunni Arab countries. That explains its support for Iraq, Syria’s ruling Alawites and non state actors like Yemen’s Houthis or Hezbollah, says former diplomat Dilip Sinha on The Gist. The exception here is Hamas, […]Read More

‘Technology Is Supposed To Augment Human Capabilities, Not Replace Them’

National security looks at capabilities and capabilities could be technologies, either old or new but traditionally it’s a combination of both, says Anshuman Tripathi, Member, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Speaking to StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale on ‘The Gist’, he said technology is supposed to augment human capabilities, be a force-multiplier but it […]Read More

A Guide To Contemporary China

‘Taiwan Elections Will Not Affect Inevitable Trend Of China’s Reunification’ A Chinese spokesperson on Saturday commented on the outcomes of the Taiwan leadership and legislature elections. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the results reveal that the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island. […]Read More

Taiwan Presidential Poll Scripts ‘William Tale’ As China Bristles

NEW DELHI: Taiwanese voters scripted history on Saturday as they voted back the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the third consecutive term. And party candidate Lai Ching-te, a doctor-turned politician popularly known as William Lai, who’s currently vice-president, will be the next President. He got a little over 40 per cent of the vote, […]Read More

Throwback To The Agonising ULFA Years… And A Peace Deal

NEW DELHI: The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by Arabinda Rajkhowa recently signed a tripartite peace accord with Centre and Assam Government. According to the deal, ULFA has agreed to give up violence, disarm and disband the insurgent group and join the democratic process. However, a faction of the […]Read More

Sheikh Hasina Takes Charge Amid Clash Of Political Narratives

NEW DELHI: Sheikh Hasina has taken oath as prime minister of Bangladesh for the fourth consecutive term after winning a landslide in the 12th general elections, the fairness of which has been questioned by the Opposition and the West alike. The U.S State Department has said that the elections were ‘not free and fair’. “The […]Read More

Continuing China Talks But Maintaining Robust LAC Posture: Army Chief

NEW DELHI: Talks with China are continuing at both military and diplomatic levels but we are also maintaining a robust posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), says Army Chief General Manoj Pande. In an exclusive interview with StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, Gen. Pande also answered questions about the controversy surrounding the […]Read More

Diplomatic Waves Of Ethiopia-Somaliland Agreement

The waters around the Horn of Africa are notorious for piracy and for many years a coalition of nations have stationed their naval vessels there to provide security for cargo ships, now something else is brewing in these waters which could trigger a war between two countries Somalia and its breakaway western half called Somaliland. […]Read More

India to Grow at 7.3%

NEW DELHI: Last week the Central Statistical Office (CSO) forecast that India would close the current fiscal year with a very impressive growth of 7.3%. This is just weeks after RBI surprise everyone by raising its forecast for the current fiscal year from 6.5 to 7%. Even more surprising is that RBI did not change […]Read More

‘Plot To Malign Bangladesh’

NEW DELHI: In this edition of the Gist, Two people from extremely diverse fields spoke on the recently concluded elections in Bangladesh, which brought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to power for the fourth consecutive term. The polls, boycotted by the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, were described as […]Read More

‘Ukraine Peace Implies Regime Change And Its Demilitarisation’

NEW DELHI: “I don’t know if 2024 will be the last year of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.” That blunt prognosis by Russian academic Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think-tank, showed Russia’s determination to continue the conflict till its aims had been met. He […]Read More

India-Russia Ties & Relationships With Others ‘By Choice’

NEW DELHI: Has growing proximity between Russia and China and India’s greater engagement with the United States strained the India-Russia bilateral relationship? Both India and Russia might have special relationships with other partners but we can be sure about India and you can be sure about Russia that it’s a choice by us and by […]Read More

Sheikh Hasina Set To Be Bangladesh PM For Record Fifth Term

NEW DELHI: The 12th Bangladesh general elections threw up no surprises. The results of Sunday’s voting haven’t been declared yet but the ruling Awami League by all accounts is headed for absolute majority. Unofficial results say the party has won over 220 seats in the 300-member parliament. Independents come a distant second, with a little […]Read More

A Guide To Contemporary China

China Sanctions Five US Companies In Response To Washington’s Arms Sales To Taiwan The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that China has decided to impose sanctions on five US defense companies, including freezing movable and immovable assets and other types of property held within China, as well as prohibiting organizations and individuals […]Read More

Indian Navy Marcos To The Rescue

Pirates Are Leveraging The Houthi Attacks For Their Benefit’ This may appear unprecedented, but the Indian Navy has five of its frontline warships deployed in the Arabian Sea and near the piracy infested waters of Somalia and civil war torn Yemen. Former naval veteran Capt DK Sharma told StratNews Global that their presence was made […]Read More

Situation Along LAC Stable But Not Normal: Northern Army Commander

UDHAMPUR, J&K: More than three years and a half after the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh began, the “situation is stable but sensitive and not normal,” says Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. Upendra Dwivedi. In an exclusive interview with StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. […]Read More

Bangladesh Poll: Is The Die Cast?

NEW DELHI: There has been no let-up in subversive activities in the run-up to January 7, the day Bangladeshis will vote in the 12th general election. At least four people died after miscreants set some coaches of the Benapole Express, a passenger train, ablaze in Dhaka late on Friday. A fortnight ago, four people had […]Read More