tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86954542220678404042011-12-16T22:36:26.529-08:00South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.comBlogger871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-36781085590627319732011-12-16T22:11:00.000-08:002011-12-16T22:14:01.773-08:00

New Delhi: The phenomenal rise of Mayawati, the chief minister of India’s most populous and key electoral state of Uttar Pradesh, didn’t happen overnight.After years of playing the Dalit card extremely well and known as the single-most entity that brought a complete paradigm shift in the electoral pattern in Uttar Pradesh, she now enjoys a charisma not even her Bahujan Samaj Party’s founder

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-8064852334021926722010-11-18T23:25:00.000-08:002011-02-01T10:05:56.839-08:00

'Pakistani leadership lives in self-delusion'Pakistan is a victim of many delusions - a country where the army and civilian leadership 'live in perpetual self-delusion' and take on 'jihadist overtones' that does not rule out orchestration of another Mumbai-style attack in the future, says a Europe-based, Pakistan-born political analyst. However, if that were to happen, pressure will mount on

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-74044105964523978722010-06-19T21:03:00.000-07:002010-06-19T21:09:15.550-07:00

The world is not even half way through the promises made at the recently-concluded nuclear summit at Washington and the very first slap has come from Myanmar.An investigation by an anti-government Myanmar broadcaster has found evidence that shows the country's military regime has begun a programme to develop nuclear weapons.Even though there is no fresh angle to the claims, but a nuclear Myanmar,

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-83277399583398763632010-04-24T21:52:00.001-07:002010-04-24T21:54:19.686-07:00

Diplomacy has always been either a game of betrayal, a game of trust, or a game of trust with a hidden agenda of betrayal. In 21st century, “building trust” sounds like just one of the many political rants that are being let off as media bytes after bilateral meetings between countries, especially in the South Asian context. It has become customary to talk of “bridging the trust deficit”

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-85656640751709767672009-10-27T14:55:00.000-07:002009-10-27T15:21:55.271-07:00

I don’t know where I am going but I am on my way. The 2008 hit song by Murray Hammond fits Pakistan to the tee and each one of us, except the country itself, can tell which way. A failed state, a nation still in the making, Taliban badland, a nation of zealots, jihad factory….One can give at least a hundred aliases to Pakistan and if it goes down the pages of history one will only remember it as

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-87499483169970689282009-10-20T23:46:00.000-07:002009-11-05T09:56:30.053-08:00

Branches and leaves will keep growing unless we uproot the tree. – Pervez Musharraf comparing terrorists to a tree, with terror outfits being its branches. Pervez Musharraf may not have been a perfect leader, but ever since he was forced out of office, the country’s democracy is still a far

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-90235668879400179702009-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:002009-10-05T12:00:57.330-07:00

The United Nations has been on a receiving end from Sri Lanka, literally. First the UN workers were banned from accessing the internment camps by Sri Lanka; then two of its employees were held by the government on suspicion of collaborating with the Tamil Tigers and now very recently, Unicef communications chief James Elder was sent packing. The explanation given by Sri Lanka is that the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-9283293318540931662009-08-21T22:14:00.000-07:002009-09-18T20:52:46.921-07:00

A reported five abductions take place daily in Sri Lanka, often perpetrated by government-funded paramilitaries. Reports also suggest that the military escalation has resulted in a corresponding rise in sexual assaults at checkpoints. Doctors and teachers face harassment on their way to work and there is no end to the fatalities in the Tamil refugee camps… Nearly two months have passed since

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-14224703091356791662009-08-02T22:38:00.000-07:002009-08-02T22:52:48.142-07:00

'Govt has destroyed evidence about Netaji's death'Sixty years, and India is still clueless about the man who gave his blood trying to secure freedom for the country. Commission after commission was formed, but there is no single, definitive version of the events that led to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's mysterious death...or disappearance.Did Netaji die in an air crash in 1945? Or was he alive and

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-31317551568626582942009-07-04T20:08:00.000-07:002009-07-13T21:22:31.405-07:00

Name one country that Indians are too keen to emulate, be it infrastructure, gadgets, athletes, foreign policy, missiles…did you guess it right?Indians are so thrilled by the Chinese model of growth that they never realise this imitation could jeopardise the country's social, economic and political fabric beyond repair. So we buy Chinese toys for our kids without knowing the toxic material could

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-86834657344236789542009-06-26T01:25:00.000-07:002009-09-24T12:42:57.707-07:00

A leaf through the pages of Love, Longing and Death reminds me of Mammo – a film by Shyam Benegal. Mammo, alias Mehmooda Begum, is one of the many of Muslims who left for Pakistan after Partition. Many years after her husband’s death in Pakistan, she comes to live with her widowed sister in Mumbai on a temporary visa. Childless Mammo grows fond of the sister’s 13-year-old grandson Riyaz and

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-53343614751824953932009-06-14T01:23:00.000-07:002009-07-01T10:27:30.579-07:00

That militancy in Jammu is an offshoot of terror in Kashmir, is a major misconception that most of us suffer from. Militancy in Jammu -- from its inception -- was a mix of religious extremism ethnic antagonism and at times, criminalization.Militancy started in Kashmir after the massive rigging of the March 1987 elections. People, who were fraudulently declared defeated, in sheer frustration

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-88813901141460837872009-05-18T22:36:00.000-07:002009-05-18T22:45:22.633-07:00

In Sri Lanka for once the guns have fallen silent. Celebrations have begun in the tear drop island, wrecked by decades of hostility, bloodshed and violence. Hard to believe but Prabhakaran - the man, who led a ruthless movement for a separate homeland for Tamils -- is dead.And it was not an easy trounce if one goes by Apratim Mukarji’s Sri Lanka: A dangerous interlude. The book traces the events

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-138251989164437002009-04-27T20:41:00.000-07:002009-09-24T12:44:28.994-07:00

New Delhi: A tiny and ever-shrinking strip of land between a lagoon and the sea is all that remains of the territory held by the LTTE. The bloody battle is nearly over according to the Sri Lankan army, but the end of war is not peace. The Tamil tigers are counting their days, but the Tamil cause is not. It was not the LTTE – now in its final lap – that created the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-69704907336010404692009-04-12T01:47:00.000-07:002009-04-12T03:20:21.698-07:00

It has become unusual to hear about a day minus bombings, protests and unrest in Pakistan, which began as an ally in the war on terror but ended up being an epicentre of terrorism. With the Taliban militant leader Baitullah Mehsud threatening two attacks per week and experts ‘prophesizing’ the end of Pakistan in six months, it is pertinent to ask whether the country has lost the will to take on

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-70086937427139778532009-03-22T06:12:00.000-07:002009-03-22T06:38:01.532-07:00

[The military intelligence officers] tied my hands together and hung me from the ceiling. They used sticks to beat me. They had a tub of water and they covered my face with a cloth and would dunk my head under the water until I fell unconscious. When I regained consciousness, they would do it again. For the entire week, they didn't give me any water for drinking. I was so thirsty so I told them I

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-83693002920352625952009-03-03T09:43:00.000-08:002009-07-23T21:49:35.842-07:00

The dastardly attack on Sri Lankan cricket team is just the latest sign of disintegration of security and inefficiency of the Zardari government. Can he atone for the damage caused to Pakistan?"It's not that Zardari's intentions are necessarily bad. It's just that he lacks the capacity to lead Pakistan. He may be an operator, and a smart one at that, but his outlook and capacity are both limited”

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-22945038115679515362009-03-02T06:16:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:22:39.263-08:00

A wily politician, Mr 10 per cent, American sycophant, a Nelson Mandela in the making. Of all the four adjectives attributed to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the last one amuses the most. Agreed that Mr Zardari refused to cut a deal with General Pervez Musharraf and spent almost a decade behind the bars, but does that make one a Nelson Mandela? Did he fight for his people, or for the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-5121448638992544612009-03-01T12:21:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:24:03.210-07:00

Western nations must prepare for a future dominated by China and India, whose rapid economic rise would soon fundamentally alter the balance of power.-James Wolfensohn, former World Bank PresidentThe aggregate economy of Latin America and the Caribbean in 1980 was twice that of China and India together, but by 2004, it was 20 per cent lower.The share of India and China in world exports is now 50

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-82200251518562829982009-03-01T02:12:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:24:10.785-08:00

Pakistan at the moment is no less than an ‘international migraine’ where nuclear weapons, terrorism, political instability and poverty all run into each other. Militancy in Pakistan has been spreading inward from the lawless tribal region along the Afghan border. Unlike the rest of South Asia, it has “ungoverned spaces” on its sovereign territory where non-state actors are setting up their own

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-41878629953170532522009-02-18T02:06:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:49:15.326-07:00

"Why do South Asians have to look up to the United States to solve their problems?" asks a very perplexed Naveen Thapa, a student of political science in Delhi University. "Why can't they take examples from Nepal? The decade-long Maoist conflict came to an end because people sorted it out themselves". Thapa echoes the view of many South Asians who believe that America still has not overcome its

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-20160252704685798292009-02-18T01:55:00.000-08:002009-05-18T23:20:25.184-07:00

“The second coming of Prabhakaran is possible through fable and legend in the form of fairy tale and folklore, mime and music.” -Asian Tribune (After Prabhakaran - what next?)The media in Sri Lanka has already started to write off the LTTE supremo. The government has started to blow its victory trumpet and the neighbours (India) are clamouring for his head… All this even before the man is caught!

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-78569425381157724752009-02-18T01:36:00.000-08:002009-05-18T23:24:43.034-07:00

When he started off as the head of a motley group of eight in the 1970s, no one could believe that Velupillai Prabhakaran would one day be the world’s most dreaded terrorist. During his career, first as a rebel and then as the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), he suppressed all dissent within Lanka Tamil community and managed to bring the plight of the minority Tamils into

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-75988950838802735822009-02-18T01:21:00.000-08:002009-05-18T23:17:51.407-07:00

In Lanka, it's Tiger vs TigerLooks like one Tiger is set to tame another!Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, better known by the nom de guerre of "Col Karuna", raised the banner of revolt against the Tiger chieftain, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in March 2004.But the revolt collapsed like a house of cards in mid April. Karuna disbanded his 4,000-men well-equipped army, and left for the "safety" of the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-9617635094681233872009-02-18T01:17:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:11:48.965-08:00

President Pervez Musharraf didn't exactly have any skeletons tumbling out his recently released tales of wisdom, but it has opened a can of worms in regard to the Kargil 'misadventure'. Musharraf's autobiography in The Line of Fire followed closely by former PM Nawaz Sharif's, has made Pakistanis realise that it is time a commission was appointed to demystify the Kargil episode. An editorial in

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-72331682867947320232009-02-18T01:10:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:13:38.697-08:00

"Indo-Pak relations cannot be fully trouble-free, and such an expectation would be devoid of realism." - Daily Star, BangladeshIt is quite surprising that President Pervez Musharraf has give a clean chit to Afghanistan and squared up to India for fomenting trouble in his territory.

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-30179490111730843622009-02-18T01:07:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:14:24.004-08:00

"India and South Africa are two countries held so closely by bonds of sentiment, common values and shared experience, by affinity of cultures and traditions and by geography" -Nelson MandelaSouth Africa and India are inextricably bound to act in concert of each other's

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-2421507154564609092009-02-18T01:01:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:15:46.989-08:00

Muslims can now look to India: HakeemSri Lankan Muslims can now look to India for the protection of their interest because the Indian view of the Muslim question has undergone a sea change since the India-Sri Lanka Accord of July 1987, says Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the island nation's most influential Muslim political party. After his meeting with Minister of

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-84591333234845690222009-02-18T00:58:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:16:36.362-08:00

Prime Minister's Independence Day speech is seldom complete without a reference to terrorism -- the never-ceasing battle India has fought since 1947 -- be it within or outside. And since India has consistently believed that the subject has its roots in the foreign soil, Pakistan remains very much a part of the address to the nation on every August 15. In his 50-minute power-packed speech on this

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-28831814906851884172009-02-18T00:56:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:17:33.629-08:00

In a recent interview to the Indian media, General Pervez Musharraf says all the "right things, in the right vein, with sincerity" but ensures that the skeletons of the 2001 Agra Summit tumble out. In one of his most candid and forthright confessions, the Pakistan President blames Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President LK Advani for the failure of the July 14-16 summit. "I personally suspect it

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-85861033790205342032009-02-18T00:52:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:18:23.455-08:00

Both India and Pakistan have ensured time and again that they remain constantly engaged over one thing or the other. It's another matter that the engagement might not pertain to weighty issues! As it is the peace process has hit a rock bottom post 11/7 and with the recent expulsion of diplomats, the two neighbours -- fighting tooth-and-nail for peace -- couldn't have asked for more! Pakistan and

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-13371630223967627862009-02-18T00:48:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:36:01.324-07:00

It was in the year 2001 when the then Home Minister LK Advani had urged Indian forces to chase the terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Since then the top BJP brass has on and off maintained that the option of 'hot pursuit' is indeed a legitimate way of attacking terrorist camps outside a country. Raking up the issue recently after Mumbai blasts, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-37244873915435540512009-02-18T00:42:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:20:37.563-08:00

There can be no truce with terror: GillTo say that India faces a new terror threat everyday would be an understatement. Repeated terror attacks have forced the citizens to question the policies of the government. The worst has already happened to us in the form of 11/7 and it is high time the government bootstraps itself to fight terror. "What India lacks is a proper state-of-the art machinery to

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-26048195965027664382009-02-18T00:40:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:21:38.125-08:00

Despite the frequently-held CBMs between India and Pakistan, the issues between the two neighbours remain where they are -- be it Kashmir, Wullar barrage or the recently-raked up MFN status to India. The Indian government, last week, had challenged Islamabad's decision of not granting it MFN status under SAFTA agreement effective from July 1. But, Pakistan being Pakistan, remains tenacious. It

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-4538836092850287432009-02-18T00:36:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:22:27.495-08:00

With the success of the recently-concluded Indo-Bangla talks on trade, one hoped that the parleys on the boundary issue would make some headway, if not be a runaway success. But the two-day deliberations (July 16 - 17, 2006) by the Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) came to a close without any breakthrough on the longstanding issues of border demarcation, exchange of enclaves and construction of

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-69162482391076916362009-02-18T00:27:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:23:32.006-08:00

The Tamil Tiger's recent volte-face on Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination has shocked political analysts worldwide who know A to Z about LTTE. Ever since the killing of India's charismatic leader in 1991, the Tamil rebel group has never admitted its guilt. In fact, at one of the Oslo peace talks sessions in 2002, Anton Balasingham - the ideologue who did the needful for the LTTE this

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-4544485056784331122009-02-18T00:23:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:24:45.385-08:00

Tigers stand self-condemned: DR KaarthikeyanIt took 15 long years for one of the world's most dreaded terrorist groups -- the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- to come out with the truth on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991. The LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, told an Indian TV channel that his organisation "deeply regretted" the assassination of Rajiv

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-17035246822056435132009-02-18T00:20:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:26:01.161-08:00

Isn't it quite untimely on Bharatiya Janata Party's part to raise the Kashmir issue at this juncture?Considering the recent developments in India, one would have expected India's main Opposition to retort on issues like reservation, office of profit bill and the much-in-question oil price hike. But, leaving all the domestic troubles aside, suddenly India's main Opposition has raked up the Kashmir

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-33966980734281168272009-02-18T00:17:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:26:51.749-08:00

Years of anti-monarchy protests, massive killings, insurgent violence and a Nero-like monarch has left little hope for the cash-strapped Nepal. But now, with change of guard at the centre, things are finally looking up for the Himalayan Kingdom. With a country that cannot boast of a proper irrigation system, infrastructure and roads, it is going to be a hard task for the newly-crowned Prime

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-73439791789314430912009-02-18T00:13:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:27:41.882-08:00

Ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in September this year, the 116-member body touched up on a lot of issues and achieved quite a bit. Around 90 member countries sent delegations to attend the two-day meeting in the Malaysian administrative centre, Putrajaya. The group backed Iran in its present standoff against the UN over its nuclear ambitions and flayed Israel for occupation of

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-27389938272684012592009-02-18T00:10:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:28:27.958-08:00

Veteran actor Feroz Khan did what his brother Akbar Khan's magnum opus Taj Mahal failed to do in Pakistan. Generate publicity! The hot-headed stalwart's comments not only grabbed the attention of aficionados in Islamabad, but also forced President Musharraf to blacklist him from the country.The Jaanbaaz Khan, as he is fondly known in India, had gone to Pakistan on a promotional Bollywood tour.

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-72145027533032503912009-02-18T00:08:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:29:32.761-08:00

History records instances of the call for jihad being invoked by Islamic leaders to 'legitimate' wars of conquest. And history repeats itself. The wars of conquest may or may not be legitimate. In the context of India, Pakistan relations, Jihad has remained a crucial factor. Pakistan is not the original birth place of such organisations. Islamic fundamentalism had spread to Pakistan after the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-47933755581300709582009-02-18T00:02:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:34:22.516-07:00

When Mahatma Gandhi visited Sri Lanka in 1927, he referred to the then Ceylon as India's "daughter state". Even the Father of nation was amazed to see the cultural, spiritual and religious affinities that the two nations shared. Over the years, bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka have seen many ups and downs. There were instances that had the potential to transform the neighbours into

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-17278165334041457122009-02-17T23:59:00.001-08:002009-09-24T12:33:03.274-07:00

Was there a need for Shaukat Aziz to put his foot down?Going by the positive outcome of the recently concluded Indo-Pak talks on trading across the LoC, there wasn't any. The Pakistan Premier had clearly indicated that any development in bilateral trade would depend on India's willingness to resolve Kashmir. "Our trade relations with India are restricted due to the overall paradigm of our

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-56110606707992813852009-02-17T12:32:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:35:00.596-08:00

It all began in August 1993, when 16 Hindus were shot dead near Kishtwar in Doda. Since then the story of blood and gore in the Valley has continued. Kashmir remains as it was - the road less travelled. The recent massacre of 35 Hindu villagers is another addition to the chronology of militancy in the region and… Perhaps a cruel reminder of the fact that the recent confidence building measures,

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-91527938847126740152009-02-17T12:29:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:35:20.628-07:00

With the recent Iran-US nuclear standoff, an early implementation of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project now seems too far-fetched. Also, President Ahmadinejad's 'never-say-die attitude' towards Washington has only made matters worse for its other partners -- India and Pakistan. "The US does not want India and Pakistan to get involved with Iran on such a big project for it would blunt

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-12548314104137114322009-02-17T12:26:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:29:35.927-08:00

"Either Pakistan gets the same deal… or it does everything it can to ensure that the Bush administration's deal with India does not go through, or is at least amended by Congress in such a manner that India refuses to accept it." A leading daily in Pakistan had rightly analysed the implications of the Indo-US nuclear deal for Islamabad. That Pakistan is not happy with the deal is quite apparent

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-88752359656552767822009-02-17T12:24:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:26:51.458-08:00

By hinting that it may look forward to China for energy needs, Pakistan all of a sudden has raked up the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal again. The Indo-US nuclear deal was formalised last month during US President George W Bush's visit to South Asia. President Musharraf then had put to rest all issues of nuclear parity by saying that Pakistan should not be "India-centric". Now on one hand, as the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-84209627605705705162009-02-17T12:21:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:24:29.321-08:00

Is it the dragon's meteoric rise that worries US? Or as the Leftists say — it wants to create a unipolar world with its complete hegemony.Why else then would it hinge on an observer status in the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc)? While analysts continue to chafe the hidden agenda behind Uncle Sam's keenness for an observer status in Saarc, it comes as no surprise to the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-61723668761239338252009-02-17T12:18:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:21:10.796-08:00

That all "CBMs would go waste in case the Kashmir issue is ignored", is an indication enough for players in the Indo-Pak peace process to bootstrap themselves. Even though efforts from both sides are on, an amicable solution to the issue still appears far-fetched. "…What the final settlement is, should be, or can be, remains unclear. But that should not worry too many people because making the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-24712403153975947282009-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:17:51.766-08:00

Call her an epitome of sacrifice or a cunning strategist — Sonia Gandhi has not only turned tables in Indian politics but the lady in question has also managed to draw attention from world over. The Congress President announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha and the National Advisory Council on March 23 after Opposition sought her disqualification on the ground that she held an office of

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-68536257892771404052009-02-17T12:10:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:14:43.806-08:00

Last time it was Islamabad which said that India was not serious about resolving the Kashmir issue. This time, it is New Delhi which is saying that Pakistan is not serious. The blame game loop will probably continue to play on between India and Pakistan, sans new proposals and a looming reluctance to take up the issue seriously. Analysts, both from India and Pakistan will agree, there was nothing

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-20747892922646644292009-02-17T12:08:00.001-08:002009-02-17T12:10:46.628-08:00

It is after a gap of eight-long years that Khaleda Zia has arrived in India and it is her first visit after taking over as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. While a section describes the visit as purposeful and the "right time to correct old asymmetries" between the neighbours, the underlying question that props up is -- why has Zia planned visit now? Ordinarily, visits of such high profile nature

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-51093549442921447802009-02-17T12:05:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:08:07.585-08:00

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's high profile visit to India comes at a time when the relations between the two South Asian neighbours have hit a rock bottom. A whole range of contentious issues relating to security, trade, transit, water and defence exchanges have only added to years of apprehensions and mistrust between the two neighbours. Towing in the analysts' line, the media in Bangladesh too

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-60450347863876121452009-02-17T12:02:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:05:02.070-08:00

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has told his countrymen loud and clear to shun the India-centric approach. While the General feels that the government, foreign office and media should try to remove the India fixation from the minds of people, the media in Pakistan thinks otherwise. Surprised at the General's advice, leading daily Pakistan Observer asks: "Is this manifestation of psychological

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-24326752985112275602009-02-17T11:57:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:01:36.609-08:00

The implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal may well confirm the apprehensions of Indian scientists, says an American expert on South Asian affairs. If the deal is signed, "the Indian scientists will find themselves with less authority over the country's programmes as contractors/scientists get involved in the construction of nuclear facilities," Walter Andersen, a former South Asia Bureau

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-79542777050923058012009-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:57:27.875-08:00

There is more to US President George W Bush's visit to India than what meets the eye.It's not just the civilian nuclear deal, nor is it the "so called" friendship that the political pundits talk about. According to leading Bangladesh daily Daily Star, "The US is a South Asian player to secure its own geopolitical ends. As the lone superpower, it must ensure its status against all challengers,

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-438381483905528122009-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:47:48.670-08:00

US President George W Bush's remarks at the Asia Society in Washington and its impact on the Pakistan media definitely call for a dissection. While a section of the press acknowledges that Washington has played a key role in cementing ties between the nuclear-armed rivals, another believes that Uncle Sam is increasingly "tilting towards India"."By working for peace and insisting that the two

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-78072036639995209062009-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:43:46.631-08:00

'The US has consistently turned down Pakistan's call for mediation on the Kashmir issue and it will continue to do so, says an American expert on South Asian affairs. "The Pakistanis have historically called for mediation; the US has consistently turned it down and will continue to do so," says Walter Andersen, a former South Asia Bureau intelligence official in the State Department, in an

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-90640493753581359162009-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:002009-10-01T10:56:41.978-07:00

After decades of unrest, the province of Balochistan is in turmoil again. Meenakshi Iyer finds out why.What's the brouhaha about?(Project conceived, designed and developed by Meenakshi Iyer for Hindustan Times in January 2006).

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-54309186277735377382009-02-17T11:21:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:26:02.045-08:00

Lauding India’s democratic approach towards solving a crisis, leading Lankan dailies have said that Colombo should take a leaf out of New Delhi's experience to resolve the island's conflict by political means. An editorial in Daily News asserts, “…essentially, Lanka's preference has been to resolve the ethnic conflict, for instance, through the use of political means and this accords with our

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-90301817051327529282009-02-17T11:18:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:21:34.013-08:00

Extolling the Sri Lankan government for its efforts to control the present crisis in the island nation, India's super cop and counter-terror expert, KPS Gill, says that the LTTE will soon give up its fight. "With international pressure mounting and the European Union banning the group, the Tigers will soon have to bow down," Gill, who is credited with flushing out terrorism from Punjab, told this

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-78232963162766934392009-02-17T11:09:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:14:56.424-08:00

The main aim of the Tamil Tigers at the Geneva talks is to force the Sri Lankan Government to hand over Karuna, the renegade Tiger commander, and not search for peace, says a leading expert on South Asian Affairs. "The aim of the LTTE is to force the Sri Lankan government to hand over Karuna. This is their priority, not P-Toms (Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure) or the Interim

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-36565155842819806832009-02-17T11:04:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:18:20.337-07:00

Will it or won't -- that's the situation New Delhi faces at the moment over clinching the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. As hectic parleys proceed between the UPA government, its allies and the BJP-led opposition, US foreign policy expert Dennis Kux says New Delhi cannot blame Washington if the agreement fails to take off."I suspect the damage will be limited if India kills the deal. It is true

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-72073482511482718882009-02-17T11:01:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:31:59.915-07:00

Apart from a slew of proposals offered by Pakistan on solving the Kashmir issue, the option of third party mediation, it seems, still remains the one actively pursued. While Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has been making the right "peace" noises, his ministerial colleague, Junior Finance Minister Omar Ayub Khan, has suggested that an "external agency like UN should be roped in" to

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-78066740560824866242009-02-17T10:48:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:39:31.990-07:00

"No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live."- Mohammad Ali Jinnah, 1944 She can tame the tide and even lead a nation

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-79559687473369653842009-02-17T10:35:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:25:12.170-07:00

Allah, Army and America are the three pillars on which Pakistan rests today. But 60 years after its creation, these three elements haven't contributed much to the country's development. While critics have dismissed it as a failed state, it remains a nation still in the making, struggling to establish a viable democracy."Pakistan faces massive problems of human development: Poverty, nutrition,

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-41757404820408413532009-02-13T12:51:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:56:58.904-07:00

Edited by Saman KelegamaInstitute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka,Colombo / Sage2004Pages: 520Price: Rs 995ISBN 076193278XHardcoverDecades of civil war, a massive left wing uprising in the 1980s, and now the tsunami -- the Sri Lankan economy couldn't have asked for more trouble.Even though the $18 billion economy began to shift away from a socialist orientation in 1977, the pace of economic

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-11799950856845507932009-02-12T12:26:00.000-08:002009-09-24T12:30:44.436-07:00

Author: Romesh GunesekeraPrice: Rs 495Bloomsbury PublishingIn South Asia, we love to eat, sleep and drink cricket all the time. Be it Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, everything takes a backseat when it comes to cricket matches.So a book on the same by a Sri Lankan springs no surprise, but it's the treatment of the subject, which prompts the reader to take a second call.While most

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-28597181368627231102009-02-04T14:16:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:18:23.185-08:00

Members of Parliament from Denmark have asked their government to restrain from issuing European visas to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) activists. This was told by Peter Ellehoj, Counsellor at the Royal Danish Embassy in New Delhi.A report on the Asian Tribune website, dated September 23, had said that four political parties of Denmark had sought a ban on the LTTE, because ‘a top

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-62215709030924587632007-02-01T13:23:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:24:56.483-07:00

India is shining.To say that 2005 was a year of bull run for India, won't be an exaggeration. And as is evident from what our neighbours have to say, 2005 made India a force to reckon with.Pakistan's leading daily Dawn says in its editorial, "The year ending has been a successful one for India. It is now a recognised player on the world stage, influential both in the realm of politics as well as

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-10981735604231600952007-01-31T13:20:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:22:50.482-07:00

Just when we began to believe that nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan finally struck bonhomie after decades of military confrontation and mistrust, a sully has been fired.India's comments over spiralling violence in Balochistan have not gone down well with Pakistan, which calls its neighbour's concern as "unsolicited, unwise and unwarranted".Calling the statement from New Delhi as "extremely

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-13835224366896712332007-01-31T13:16:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:19:04.593-07:00

The strength of the diaspora is the strength of India and the strength of India will be the greatest source of strength and safety for the global Indian family. - LM SinghviAs the fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas closes in, the words of LM Singhvi still reverberate in our minds. The eventful day is not merely about the past and its problems or the present and its challenges...It's about our resolve

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-8032195053538009652006-07-21T12:51:00.000-07:002010-05-04T12:52:52.606-07:00

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India, Romesh Jayasinghe, rushed to Bodh Gaya on Friday, after it was reported in the media that a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Buddha secured Enlightenment 2,550 years ago had been chopped off."He first went to Patna and has just reached Bodh Gaya," the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi confirmed.The High Commissioner will be meeting

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-23393602362676485282006-06-20T12:53:00.000-07:002010-05-04T12:55:44.529-07:00

With India nominating its candidate, the race for the United Nations Secretary General's post is gaining momentum.And definitely, Shashi Tharoor's nomination for the top UN job by India should come as a surprise if not disappointment for Sri Lankan candidate Jayantha Dhanapala, who must have been looking forward to his India visit next month to seek support.During his visit to New Delhi last

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-80217444427651294592006-04-13T12:57:00.000-07:002010-05-04T13:00:21.247-07:00

With strikes, clashes and curfew being the order of the day in Kathmandu, the common man has lost faith in all the political forces of the kingdom, says editor of a leading weekly in Nepal."The common men and women are fed up of the violence, strikes and disruptions. They don't trust any of the political forces, be it King, parties or Maoists," Kunda Dixit, Chief Editor of Nepali Times told

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-26189477706046531882006-04-02T12:29:00.000-07:002010-05-04T12:32:49.889-07:00

Moments after being given the charge of petroleum ministry, this man stepped on the gas to ensure that energy hungry India's gas needs are met.And after vigorously pursuing the $7 billion Iran-India-Pakistan gas pipeline project, all that Mani Shankar Aiyar got at the end of the day was a red card from Sonia and clan.Leading Bangladesh daily New Age said that the "carelessness with which Aiyar

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-68116070794490094812006-02-23T13:01:00.001-08:002010-05-04T13:03:20.474-07:00

A political party in Pakistan has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to help alleviate the sugar crisis in Islamabad."Any gesture of generosity from India in alleviating the current sugar crisis in Pakistan would be a very sweet gesture and go a long way in boosting the morale of the people of Pakistan," founder of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain said in a letter to Manmohan on

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-72340861566521004602006-02-17T12:43:00.000-08:002010-05-04T12:45:10.987-07:00

Looks like any proclamation by President Pervez Musharraf is incomplete without the K-word.As he very aptly puts it: "Kashmir runs in my blood and I promise you we will make efforts to find a durable solution (to it)".Even before US President George Bush's visit to the subcontinent next month, Musharraf has already said that the Big Brother should mediate in Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir.And in a

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-8678569829935468152006-02-15T12:37:00.000-08:002010-05-04T12:39:03.572-07:00

Even before President George W Bush's visit to India, the agenda for discussion has already been set - the much discussed Indo-US nuclear deal.While reports here have already said that it may take a while before the deal is sealed, media in Pakistan too feels that the much touted deal is unlikely to be finalised during Bush's visit."As things stand, India is at crossroads on the nuclear deal…it

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-15598105461828103982006-01-30T12:39:00.000-08:002010-05-04T12:41:45.071-07:00

Saudi King Abdullah's recent official visit to India for sure raised eyebrows in Pakistan and the reason is not too far to seek.Abdullah, who was the chief guest of the Republic Day on January 26, said that he was keen to see India play an active role in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).Despite knowing that Pakistan has always been a strong opponent to India's entry into the OIC,

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-26055244954535627322006-01-25T12:33:00.000-08:002010-05-04T12:36:21.961-07:00

Trade has always been a concern as regards India Bangladesh relations. Huge trade imbalances with India, it is said, assumes both economic and political stings in Bangladesh.Even though forums like South Asia Enterprise Development Facility remain strongly committed to fostering better cooperation between Bangladesh and India, loopholes stay put.According to Bangladesh daily Daily Star, "Despite

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-30245983831993922432006-01-20T13:03:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:05:48.585-07:00

Before the just concluded third round of confidence building measures, the media in Pakistan found the talks to be praiseworthy.Leading daily Dawn, in its editorial, said that "in the last two years, New Delhi and Islamabad have at least stopped brandishing the sword and threatening to wage a war against each other".Now, after the talks, some have just dismissed the initiative taken by both the

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-64957838483942938762006-01-17T13:06:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:07:55.961-07:00

The cynics are not too pleased with it.Analysts feel that the crucial India, Pakistan talks that began in 2004, hardly made any headway.And as regards the Kashmir issue, there are hardly any "tangible achievements" to show.But at least, as Pakistan leading daily Dawn in its editorial puts it, "…In the last two years, New Delhi and Islamabad have stopped brandishing the sword and threatening to

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-56073916128190327062006-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:13:07.668-07:00

Pakistan seems to be having a tough time battling the brouhaha over Balochistan.As if its neighbour's 'friendly' concern over the restive province was not enough to irk the nuclear nation, the trouble has come knocking from inner circles.The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a key party allied to Musharraf, threatened to quit the ruling coalition if a military crackdown in troubled Balochistan

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-30272380182486282192006-01-11T13:13:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:15:32.909-07:00

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's disenchantment over the so-called 'lack of progress' in peace process is showing up and this explains the reason for his recent demilitarisation proposal.Towing in with the General, leading Pakistan daily Dawn says: "The basic reason behind new ideas floated by Islamabad is to show India that Pakistan's approach to Kashmir is not hide-bound, that it is

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695454222067840404.post-63411859375528258282004-03-15T13:28:00.000-08:002010-05-04T13:29:32.033-07:00

The rift between the two factions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) can kill the peace process in Sri Lanka, Indian experts have said."Both factions are espousing the same cause - that of Tamil nationality," Dr S Chandrasekharan, director of the South Asia Analysis Group, a New Delhi-based think tank, told HindustanTimes.com. "Now that they are divided, they will harden their stance

South Asia Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409794748992575956noreply@blogger.com0