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Raising hopes: Iran-Pakistan energy ties and China factor

Iran recently announced the setting up of a $4 billion oil refinery near Pakistan’s Gwadar port with an estimated capacity of about 400,000 barrels per day. This intensification of ties with Iran is said to have snubbed the US and the international community that had placed economic sanctions on Iran with a view to hinder its nuclear program. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Iranian delegation led by Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi and… Read More »Raising hopes: Iran-Pakistan energy ties and China factor

Strategic alliance: India-Japan economic engagement

India-Japan strategic partnership can only be sustained on a long term basis on the solid foundation of deep economic engagement, for which Japan has provided enough fertilizer to nurture the relationship. Along with the promise to conclude the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement by the end of the year, other mega projects will help propel the bilateral economic and political relationship to unimaginable heights. The Civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan will help India enter many… Read More »Strategic alliance: India-Japan economic engagement

Seeking eminence: GCC-Iran dynamics and rivalry

Iran is making fresh efforts to increase its influence in the Arab world mainly among the GCC countries because Iran finds the Arab Spring an idea which is closer to the Iranian Revolution. This has heightened the already apparent tensions that existed between Iran and GCC. Since the Revolution in the Arab world is making impact, Iran feels that the time is right for Iran to get a fair chance to enhance its influence and… Read More »Seeking eminence: GCC-Iran dynamics and rivalry

Great expectations: But positive mood in Washington

Post-election murmurs from Foggy Bottom on relations with India and also among all the political and thinking class has reaffirmed the bipartisan support for stronger relations and engagement whereas the recent political developments in India has cast a shadow on Indian bipartisan support for strong relations with the US. The warm telephonic conversations after his reelection with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and later his meetings in Phnom Penh during the East Asia summit has… Read More »Great expectations: But positive mood in Washington

Failed intervention

Mali crisis and growth of Al Qaeda Mali is becoming Africa’s Afghanistan as Islamic terrorists find it easy to operate and get cheap recruits to carry out the conflict in a manner which is unknown to most professional militaries who go by traditional rules of engagements in a combat situation. The conflict in the West African nation of Mali, a former French colony with a majority-Muslim population, came to sudden prominence in the West when… Read More »Failed intervention

Cohesive action: India and US to jointly fight cyber war

India and US are now seriously gearing up to jointly fight the invisible war, which can prove to be much more disastrous than a conventional war. Since strategic partnership between them are less than a decade old and both are coordinating and cooperating on strategic and defence front, it is very natural that the two superpowers in the Software sector come together and jointly evolve strategies, technologies and tactics to fight this newly emerging menace… Read More »Cohesive action: India and US to jointly fight cyber war

Rising fast: Growth of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is one of the fastest growing terrorist organisations in the world. Not only has this group been able to recruit members from all over the northern African region-but it is also one of the wealthiest terrorists groups in Africa. With regards to becoming one of the most successful terrorists groups, the question can be posed: Does this group achieve these macabre heights through brutal combat and killings or is… Read More »Rising fast: Growth of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb

Tackling predators: Anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, has become a destabilizing force in the region. The seas, as Global Commons, allow for nations to exercise community rights of peaceful use of the seas. The seas form a complex legal environment of flag state, port state and coastal state jurisdiction. With most oceans lying beyond coastal states’ jurisdictions, cooperation with flag states becomes essential. This implies the need for national, regional and… Read More »Tackling predators: Anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden

Consolidating fast: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb on its way to growth

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was officially created in 2007 when the Algeria based Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat changed its name to Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, after having claimed publicly its linkage to Al Qaeda the year before. However, GSPC had been gradually enhancing its relations with the Al Qaeda for years before. One of its first attacks under the new name was against the United Nations buildings in Algeria, killing… Read More »Consolidating fast: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb on its way to growth

Stuck in mud: Basic trainer controversy is similar to chopper deal

As the complaint against foul play in the basic trainer deal currently under the evaluation of Ministry of Defence is getting into a mired game, there are hectic efforts to clear the deal as quickly as possible to avoid delay in the whole process. But as it has been seen in some cases, it may affect the whole deal in the long run if one of the contenders decides to seek legal recourse. Once embroiled… Read More »Stuck in mud: Basic trainer controversy is similar to chopper deal