In Nepal, only the beginning of the end
People power has forced Gyanendra to cede executive power. But only a democratically elected Constituent Assembly can bring the people true power. Revolutions done in half-measure inevitably fail. The parties … Continue reading
Review: More at stake than the monarchy
With the partnership between Nepal’s parliamentary parties and Maoists having brought the Himalayan kingdom to a historic turning point, the reconfiguration of Nepalese politics, social relations and foreign policy is … Continue reading
Orden de Bernardo O’Higgins
On March 30, the Ambassador of Chile in India, Jorge Heine, conferred the Orden de Bernardo O’Higgins — one of Chile’s highest civilian honours for a foreign citizen — on … Continue reading
The countdown in Kathmandu has begun
The anti-monarchy protests planned for April 6-9 will be the first test of strength for the new partnership between Nepal’s Maoists and parliamentary parties. The King says the joint action … Continue reading
Looking beyond the nuclear deal
The inaugural issue of TERI’s new energy newsletter, Energy Security Insights has just come out. With articles by TERI Director R.K. Pachauri, the Department of Atomic Energy’s Anil Kakodkar and … Continue reading
From India now, ‘out of the box’ ideas on Kashmir
Manmohan Singh speaks of two internal and two bilateral tracks for peace. He says the governments of India and Pakistan should each conduct an “internal dialogue”with the people in areas … Continue reading
The Sawers letter: The game plan on Iran is becoming clearer
The Anglo-Americans want a Security Council resolution allowing for the eventual use of force. Iran must play its cards very carefully from now onwards. 25 March 2006The Hindu The game … Continue reading
And now on to the NSG
As the United States and India move forward to implement their agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, one hurdle which must be crossed is the Nuclear Suppliers Group to which all … Continue reading
Why not CBMs for India and Bangladesh?
Begum Khaleda Zia comes to India today on her first visit as Prime Minister of Bangladesh but Delhi and Dhaka remain firmly stuck in a diplomatic groove. The two countries … Continue reading
Another blow for popular sovereignty in Nepal
On March 19, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the seven party pro-democracy alliance released two separate but identically worded statements. Titled the ‘Second Understanding between the Seven Party … Continue reading
Crucial deal in Nepal hits roadblock
Leaders of the seven-party alliance are wary of the hostility of the United States and the Palace to any further agreement with the Maoists. And India’s official indifference is not … Continue reading
Key role envisaged for India in new U.S. national security strategy
Democracy promotion, pre-emption and non-proliferation are the main themes in the Bush administration’s latest national security strategy document. The renewed and even messianic emphasis on the ‘freedem agenda’ has a … Continue reading
More light on the nuclear deal
Normally, scientists and governments who want to make nuclear bombs insist that what they are really interested in is nuclear power. In India, however, we recently saw the reverse happening. … Continue reading
The new deal: When Bush comes to shove
India must treat the nuclear agreement with the United States as a standalone deal and reject the idea of any broader fusion of strategic interests. From Iran, Iraq and Palestine … Continue reading
Siddharth Varadarajan 