Dhaka urges SAARC and BIMSTEC to work together, renewing its push to revive the stalled regional bloc as India continues to prioritise BIMSTEC amid tensions with Pakistan.
Short of a big bang that throws off the best-laid plans of India’s decision-makers, the pros for attending SAARC summit in Pakistan are beginning to outweigh the cons.
With Afghanistan on the agenda, Pakistan has said it would be open to India participating in the summit virtually or in person, but sources said New Delhi is considering its options.
China is no longer the elephant in the SAARC room, it occupies the entire zoo. India would rather jump over its neighbourhood and build ties with US, France, UK, Russia, and the Quad.
Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties after India scrapped Article 370, but the countries could now reinstate high commissioners in each other’s capitals.
The coronavirus crisis left global leaders scratching their heads. But Modi saw an opportunity and launched a diplomatic blitzkrieg — first with SAARC, then with NAM.
Subcontinent’s political and security environment today is more suitable for a resolution than in 1988. But the most important difference is that the key interlocutors — IK Gujral and Nawaz Sharif — are no romantics.
The absence of a coherent national security strategy has contributed to a procurement system in which decisions are postponed until the capability gap is already visible at sea.
Ottawa has handed over execution functions of critical defence projects to a CEO-led organisation for reducing procurement timelines and making it solely accountable for outcomes.
Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj doesn’t blame any political party or individual politicians. We only know the demographic in Punjab it’s bound to trigger the most.
A thought which troubles me. All of India’s neighbours want SAARC to be revived. What if, in India’s absence after being invited to the summit, they all proceed to hold it. China has observer status. They could accord it the respect and importance due to a full member.
A thought which troubles me. All of India’s neighbours want SAARC to be revived. What if, in India’s absence after being invited to the summit, they all proceed to hold it. China has observer status. They could accord it the respect and importance due to a full member.