In The News

Wary on Obama

Stanley A. Weiss April 21, 2009
Obama’s charisma might be a draw for many Indians, but the substance of his policy toward India leaves others apprehensive. Among areas of concern are the inclusion of disputed Kashmir in the US’s regional strategy toward Pakistan; the potential that US military hardware given to Pakistan could be used against India; Obama’s openness to reconciliation with “good” Taliban, a phrase many Indians...

India in a Changing World

Sanjaya Baru March 30, 2009
Foreign policy has typically been a side issue in Indian politics owing to more exigent domestic issues. However, as former aide to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sanjaya Baru notes, by attending to foreign policy, New Delhi can likely achieve its internal goal of modernization and prosperity. But there are two important considerations: U.S-China relations and regional balance. Should the current...

Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, US Aides Say

Mark Mazzetti March 27, 2009
Trusting an alliance with divided allegiances is difficult, if not impossible. Pakistan is a US ally in the fight to control Afghanistan, but evidence has emerged that Pakistani military intelligence operatives provide support for Taliban attacks on foreign troops. “The support consists of money, military supplies and strategic planning guidance to Taliban commanders who are gearing up to...

Pakistan Is Being Shaped by Popular Will as Never Before

Mohsin Hamid March 19, 2009
A series of trends in Pakistan signal more democratic representation for the country, but the US may not like the opinions emerging from the feisty democracy. “The US needs a Pakistani state that is significantly unrepresentative of the Pakistani people, because most Pakistanis are opposed to America's war in Afghanistan, and the US cannot hope to succeed there without Pakistan's...

A Dangerous Void in Pakistan

Ahmed Rashid March 4, 2009
Many analysts had hoped that the democratic elections in 2008 and the resulting civilian government might stabilize Pakistan. Instead, a dithering and weak government which tried to buy off Islamic militants by a controversial ceasefire now face a breakdown of the ceasefire, in the midst of new terrorist attacks, political protests and economic meltdown. The result is that NATO and the US,...

Hollywood Meets Bollywood as India's Movies Go Global

Nandini Lakshman February 24, 2009
The success of the film Slumdog Millionaire – a work of globalization in itself with the work of a British director, Indian actors and setting, and a US distributor – could mean more cooperative ventures between Bollywood and Hollywood. Films produced in each location have distinct flavors, and yet producers sense the opportunity for expanding audience numbers, by setting up offices and hiring...

End Game in Sri Lanka

Harsh V. Pant February 23, 2009
Civil war has divided Sri Lanka since 1983, as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought for a separate state for Tamils, which comprise 18 percent of the country’s population. But global and regional events that conspired against the rebel cause can’t be counted on during the post-conflict phase, explains Harsh V. Pant, a lecturer in defense studies at King’s College in London. Several factors...