Tag Archives: SAARC

India’s relations with its South Asian neighbors are on a free fall at present while their own relations with China are on an upward trajectory. The freefall in India’s relations with its South Asian neighbors has come at a time when ironically prime minister Narendra Modi has been pursuing a ‘neighbors first’ policy in his second term; an irony indeed.

It appears that Sri Lanka is in for some tough negotiations with the IMF. It has to address the structural issues, bring in financial reform to expand the tax base, reduce unnecessary expenditure and address the budget deficit. And it must do all these in a difficult political climate.

It is no coincidence that Chinese aid is flowing into Nepal at a rapid rate. China prioritizes relations with Nepal due to its geo-strategic location, lying between India and China’s autonomous region of Tibet. Chinese interest in Nepal has been stoked by national security concerns related to the free Tibet movements.

If states have only permanent interests, then India is yet to define them. Until then, New Delhi will swing between chaotic state responses to terrorist attacks and that of dramatic bilateral summits.

Why did Time magazine allege that Bangladesh is the next hotbed for terrorists? As baseless as such assumptions may be, one can’t help but wonder how they are conjured up in the first place.

Cooperation against terror might become the first step towards better ties between India and Pakistan.

Afghanistan has finally found its “man of destiny” in Ashraf Ghani. How long before some leader in Pakistan rises above self, selfishness and greed for the sake of the country?

The game of one-upmanship by India and Pakistan, the two leading countries of SAARC, is likely to do immense harm to the cause of the poverty-ridden South Asian region, where concerted efforts at regional cooperation could be crucial in shaping its future development.

Saarc declarations have made considerable progress on a range of issues, from trade and connectivity to ecology. But these declarations only serve to highlight that Saarc has near zero credibility.

Narendra Modi’s Nepal trip seemed to be personal, political and geopolitical, all rolled into one. The visit did gladden many Nepalis but left open the question as to how Modi plans to reach out to the other South Asian neighbors