In The News

The Breach

Mark Hibbs June 14, 2010
The Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons seeks to prevent the spread of such weapons and ultimately achieve global nuclear disarmament. Only a handful of states have not ratified the treaty, among them historical rivals Pakistan and India, which amassed nuclear arsenals after the international binding agreement came into force. In 2006, a plan was announced allowing the US to sell...

India's Medical Tourism Industry

Neeta Lal June 2, 2010
Producers of necessary goods anticipate sustained profits, but that does not preclude competition in the areas of quality or affordability. As costs for health care climb in developed nations, India’s hospitals and physicians step up efforts to become a destination for tourists seeking a range of treatments. Travel companies organize trips, sometimes combining treatment with sightseeing tours;...

US Is a Top Villain in Pakistan’s Conspiracy Talk

Sabrina Tavernise May 27, 2010
Pakistan and the US are allies in a war against extremism in Afghanistan, with the US providing more than $1 billion in annual aid, but mutual trust remains low. A US citizen originally from Pakistan was accused of placing a failed car bomb in New York’s Times Square. But many in Pakistan are convinced that his plan was devised inside the US. “Conspiracy theory is a national sport in Pakistan,...

As Rupees Roll Into Hollywood, India Is Opening Up on All Fronts

Nyay Bhushan May 11, 2010
The international film industry is increasingly transformed by globalization. A prominent example is Bollywood: Film studios in India partner with US studios on new movie projects, with financial support and actors crossing national borders. Bollywood and Hollywood both look for long-term growth, teaming up and reaching into the other’s territory. Globalization creates new opportunities and...

Thailand’s Red Tide

Pavin Chachavalpongpun April 30, 2010
A 2006 coup forced popularly elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office, abruptly ending his attempts to reform agriculture, education, taxation and other programs. Since then, protesters donning red shirts, led by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, have rallied against the government, demanding new elections. Demonstrations have swelled since March,...

Pakistan and the Afghanistan End Game – Part II

Ashley J. Tellis March 15, 2010
Pakistan’s policy of fomenting terrorism remains a major roadblock to peace with India and stability in Afghanistan, according to South Asia expert Ashley J. Tellis. Since its formation, Pakistan has employed a strategy of inciting insurrection in India. But that has failed many times over. However, the success of the jihadis in Afghanistan against the larger Soviet force in the 1980s provided...

Pakistan and the Afghanistan End Game – Part I

Ahmed Rashid March 12, 2010
As the US and NATO forces prepare for their gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan, a struggle for influence by Afghanistan’s neighbors has been intensifying and its impact may be felt in an increased terrorist threat from Pakistan-backed groups. In the first of a two-part series on the Afghanistan end game, author Ahmed Rashid discusses Pakistan’s two-pronged approach towards its neighbors on the...