Modi’s Bhutan Sojourn: Why China Reads Between the Lines?
On May 16, 2014, India, the world’s biggest democracy and Asia’s rapidly rising power, announced the results of history’s longest and biggest multiparty democratic elections.
Clipping the Wings of Lashkar-e Taiba and its Charity Front Jamaat-ud Dawa of Pakistan
In an attempt to clip Pakistan’s terror charity Jamaat ud Dawa’s (JuD) financial wings further, the U.S. Department of the Treasury on 25 June (2014 once again targeted the leadership and financial networks of the organization. The JuD (formerly Markaz Dawat-ul-Irshad-MDI) which is a social charily front for the deadly Jihad group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been operating with impunity inside Pakistan since its inception.
Revitalising SAARC
In a remarkable display of faith in regional cooperation, the new Prime Minister in Delhi invited all the heads of government and their representatives of SAARC and Mauritius to his swearing-in. Interestingly, except for a common dinner hosted by the President of India, the SAARC leaders never met. Are we looking forward to a robust, frequent, effective, and efficient regional dialogue on various South Asian issues, especially on the environment front?
Indo-Myanmar Relation: Strengthening Ties through Energy and Infrastructure
The existing bilateral ties between Myanmar and India can grow much deeper provided they are calibrated in a manner that is beneficial to both countries. Energy and infrastructure could be the bedrock for such a strong relationship.
Preparedness of Odisha on Inter-State River Water
Early this month, the resolution of the Union Cabinet to constitute a special purpose vehicle- Polavaram Project Authority (PPA)- caught the Odisha government napping. Instead, the news has attracted cautious criticism from the state government. With General election in full swing and Telengana Statehood is commencing- it is beyond obvious that political parties, , leader of oppositions including incumbent State and Union governments would left no stone unturned to gain political mileage of blame game. It is less important to read between the lines on the timing of PPA.
People without a Home: Bhutanese Refugees and Third Country Rehabilitation
Despite the fact that a large number of Bhutanese refugees are rehabilitated in seven countries– the US, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Canada– the issue still haunts the country. The seriousness of the issue came to the international community’s notice while the same was discussed again between the prime ministers of Nepal and Bhutan on the sidelines of BIMSTEC in March 2014.
Indonesian Presidential Elections: Coalitions Dot Campaign Scene
The news of the Indonesian presidential elections has hit the headlines lately as the country prepares for ballots in the world’s third-largest democracy. The elections, scheduled for 9 July, will see a host of presidential candidates contest elections for the prestigious post.
India: 2014 Parliamentary Elections and Challenges from Rebel Groups
Indian democracy witnessed multiple challenges. Disruption of elections by the rebel groups in the three conflict theatres – Jammu & Kashmir, central India and the north-eastern states of India – is one of them. Unlike the 2004 and 2009 Parliamentary elections, some Islamist extremist groups have planned to disrupt the 2014 elections. Some have even been preparing for the last six months or more to disrupt the elections.
![Sri Lankan Buddhists: Peace Messengers to Terror Monk[ger]](/sites/default/files/2025-11/SACM-April%202014.jpg)
Sri Lankan Buddhists: Peace Messengers to Terror Monk[ger]
Vehemently opposing the Human Rights violation report submitted by the UN Human Rights Commissioner Navnanethem Pillay, the Sri Lankan (SL) government has recently rejected her call for establishing ‘an international inquiry mechanism to investigate further the alleged rights violations (both Human Rights and Humanitarian Law) and for monitoring any domestic accountability process in Sri Lanka.