South Asian Digests
Taliban not to attend Turkey-led talks on Apr...
April 13, 2021
Turkey provides food packages to Rohingya in...
April 13, 2021
Retired judge, who gave Babri case verdict, m...
April 13, 2021
Have and will never sign off on losing the Ma...
April 13, 2021
Myanmar Junta files new charge against Daw Au...
April 13, 2021
Indian investment falls, Chinese investment r...
April 13, 2021
China and Sri Lanka sign USD 500 million loan...
April 13, 2021
Pakistan, China hold consultations on UN affa...
April 12, 2021
Top News
How Russia successfully restored balance to its South Asian strategy
April 13, 2021
| By: Andrew Korybko
The historic, special, and privileged Russian-Indian Strategic Partnership (as it’s officially referred to by both Moscow and New Delhi) has been a mainstay of South Asian geopolitics for decades but resulted in Moscow being a partisan player in the region. While the aforementioned relationship was reaffirmed during Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to South Asia last week, Russia also made enormous strides in advancing its fast-moving rapprochement with Pakistan. The end result is that Russia...
Morning Brief
MORNING NEWS BRIEF: 12 APRIL
PICTURE OF THE DAY
KHAN YUNIS, PALESTINE
A shopkeeper displays lanterns and other decorative items before the holy month of Ramadan. The crescent moon is a highly important symbol in Islam and is often seen displayed during Ramadan. Traditional decorations...
Reports
China-India border dispute: Latest round of talk...
April 13, 2021
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By: Rachel Zhang
Tensions continue to simmer along the disputed border between India and China after the latest round of talks ended with no sign of progress.
The latest negotiations between the two militaries took place at the Mordor/Chushule meeting point on the Indian side on Saturday and,...
'Nizamuddin Markaz can't have devotee cap if no...
April 13, 2021
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By: Sofi Ahsan
Observing that there cannot be a fixed list of devotees allowed to enter the Nizamuddin Markaz when no other religious place has such norms, the Delhi High Court Monday asked the Centre and Delhi Police to open Masjid Bangley Wali for prayers during Ramzan in...
Arakan Army Chief does not want Myanmar’s strike...
April 13, 2021
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By: SAM Staff
The Arakan Army (AA) chief, Major General Tun Myat Naing, says he does not want Myanmar’s civil disobedience movement (CDM) and street protests spreading to Rakhine, saying they will disrupt the armed group’s attempt to secure greater autonomy.
In his Rakhine-language address on the 12th...
US officials to meet with NATO as Afghanistan de...
April 13, 2021
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By: SAM Staff
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the Russian military buildup near Ukraine and other issues on Monday before the top US diplomat’s trip to Brussels this week.
Blinken and Stoltenberg discussed “the immediate need for Russia to cease...
SAM Special
What is behind the anti-Muslim measures in Sri Lanka?
April 13, 2021
| By: Farzana Haniffa
On March 13, Sarath Weerasekara, Sri Lanka’s minister of public security, announced that the government will ban wearing of the burqa and close more than 1,000 Islamic schools in the country. The minister was quoted as saying that “the burqa” was a “sign of religious extremism” and has a “direct impact on national security”.
The news was picked up internationally and resulted in several statements by human rights organisations and the UN special rapporteur on...
Issues
Why did the US conduct a freedom of navigation o...
April 13, 2021
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By: Kunal Purohit
A month after their leaders were among the participants in the first-ever Quad summit, a naval operation is threatening to drive a wedge between the United States and India.
Feathers were ruffled in New Delhi after the US Navy on Wednesday sent a warship into...
Myanmar coup reveals urgent need for ASEAN overh...
April 13, 2021
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By: Richard Heydarian
The Tatmadaw, as Myanmar's military is known, has reportedly killed 550 civilians, including more than 40 children, over the past two months as part of a brutal attempt to suppress nationwide protests against the Feb. 1 coup.
This is the same organization that has been accused of...
A second chance for Nepal’s young democracy
April 13, 2021
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By: Atul K. Thakur
It can be said that the only constant in Nepali politics is ‘unpredictability’. Nepal’s democratic transition has been shaped through the efforts and sacrifices of common citizens and leaders and the expectation was that the forgotten Nepali would soon get something better than the discriminatory...
Turkish N-Bomb: A new favorite of India’s propag...
April 13, 2021
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By: Samran Ali
Developing a nuclear bomb has become a difficult task, thanks to the strong non-proliferation norms and international control measures. A case in point is Iran’s nuclear program. Despite this, news and commentaries on Turkey getting nuclear technology and bomb have increased in recent years.
Turkish...
Interview
‘It’s not about charity, it’s all about busine...
April 12, 2021
| By: Raheed Ejaz
Defence
IAF brass to discuss operational strategies am...
April 13, 2021
| By: Rajat Pandit
After fresh allegations on Rafale deal, what n...
April 12, 2021
| By: Sudhansu Mohanty
Editor`s Choice
Quad lacks moral authority in South China Sea
By: Bhim Bhurtel
At the virtual summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue held on March 12, the Quad leaders reiterated their firm commitment that the rules-based international order...
Indonesia seeks to broker Taliban peace deal...
By: Randy Mulyanto
Former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said he has traveled to Afghanistan and Qatar several times in recent months to help broker a peace deal...
Biden’s Idea of India and Savarkar’s are pole...
According to media reports, the US President Joe Biden has picked as many as 20 Indian-Americans for senior positions in his government, and the common...
Focus
Myanmar
Myanmar has never been a nation. Could it become one now?
April 12, 2021
| By: Terese Gagnon and Andrew Paul
Since February 1, when the Myanmar military carried out a coup against the country’s civilian government, protests, strikes and other forms of civil disobedience have been taking place across the country. In response, the army, also known as Tatmadaw, has deployed brutal force to suppress dissent, killing over 600 people, at least 46 of them children.
Much of the violence has taken place in major cities, as well as the periphery of the country. Since...
Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan. Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement in Afghanistan.
Lloyd Austin, Defence Secretary at his US Senate confirmation hearing.
Video
Mother throws children to safety from burning building in Is... February 26, 2021
Pakistan hosts joint naval drills including the US, China an... February 19, 2021
Audio
JAISHANKAR AND BLINKEN DISCUSS MYANMAR SITUATION AND ISSUES... February 10, 2021
Goel’s visit indicates RAW’s bid to revive past links with O... October 26, 2020
Why Abdullah Abdullah visited Pakistan and India? November 4, 2020
Mystery over origins of Howard Hodgkin’s Indi...
April 12, 2021
How dangerous is India’s ‘double mutant’ COVI...
April 6, 2021
From kala bhuna to shatkora curry – let's all...
March 22, 2021
In Nepal and across the world, child marriage...
March 9, 2021
India: BJP’s rise in former communist bastion...
February 27, 2021
For H.M. Naqvi, COVID-19 is a creative spur
February 27, 2021
Young, creative and angry: Myanmar's youth pu...
February 22, 2021
How an ethnic Chinese teacher piqued Indian s...
February 22, 2021