South Asian Digests
Two Bangladeshis get India's Padma Shri award
January 26, 2021
Bhutan identifies tourism as a key driver to...
January 26, 2021
India successfully test-fires new-generation...
January 26, 2021
Maldives, China to hold 7th round of bilatera...
January 26, 2021
Pakistan Taliban ‘commanders’ killed in north...
January 26, 2021
Afghan officials optimistic about ties with B...
January 25, 2021
Bangladesh to buy Myanmar rice, putting aside...
January 25, 2021
Prachanda-Nepal faction expels PM Oli from Ne...
January 25, 2021
Top News
With Biden in White House, it won’t be smooth sailing for Modi
January 26, 2021
| By: P.K. Balachandran
While Joe Biden, a liberal democrat and a secular integrationist, is the new tenant at the White House, Narendra Modi with an ideology diametrically opposed to Biden, is entrenched in New Delhi. Differences between the two are bound to arise as both are fiercely committed to their respective ideologies and political agendas.
Touted in the Trump era as “strategic partners”, India and the US will be two different kettles of fish from now on. While...
Morning Brief
MORNING NEWS BRIEF: 26 JANUARY
PICTURE OF THE DAY
ROME, ITALY
A woman looks at the graffiti depicting the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny behind bars with a dove freeing him from detention, by an unidentified street artist known as Harry...
Reports
India says troops had ‘minor face-off’ with Chin...
January 26, 2021
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By: Nirmala Ganapathy
China and India appear to have made progress in talks on Sunday to end the nine-month-border dispute, despite yet another clash between their border troops last week.
Yesterday, the Indian Army called the commander-level marathon discussion to work out plans for phased disengagement from different...
India’s Republic Day to be overshadowed by revol...
January 26, 2021
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By: SAM Staff
This year, Republic Day of India will be altogether different from history.
New Delhi will echo with rebellious and revolutionary songs instead of Vande Matram. Over two and half million tractors will overshadow the weaponry and military vehicles’ parade. Punjabi tableaus on trolleys will subdue...
Army, ISI chiefs discuss national security with...
January 26, 2021
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By: Kamran Yousaf
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday held a meeting with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed to discuss, as per the official handout, “matters pertaining to national security”.
No further details were provided by the...
Chinese firm opens assessment tender for strateg...
January 26, 2021
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By: Nan Lwin
A Chinese company has invited proposals by Feb. 8 to provide consultancy services and field investigations environmental and social impact assessments of its ambitious Kyaukphyu deep-sea port project in Rakhine State.
The move brings the Belt and Road Initiative project – which would open Chinese...
SAM Special
Myanmar's Rakhine problem is a domestic and international challenge
January 26, 2021
| By: Thomas Kean
Much about Myanmar's Nov. 8 general election was predictable: A landslide win for Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy; allegations of fraud from the military-aligned opposition; and disappointing results for most ethnic minority parties.
But no one expected the poll to trigger an opportunity to end the fighting in the country's most sustained and vicious conflict in decades.
Over the last two years, clashes between the military and the...
Issues
PM Modi can put lipstick on a pig but the fact i...
January 26, 2021
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By: Aakar Patel
We have entered the 13th consecutive quarter of economic slowdown in India. Gross Domestic Product, meaning the total value of services and goods produced in this country in the last 12 months, shrunk in 2020-2021 against 2019-2020. We made less than we did the previous...
Latest China-India military talks agree to push...
January 26, 2021
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By: Liu Xuanzun
China and India on Sunday held the ninth round of the Corps Commander Level Meeting, in which both sides agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops and continue to stabilize and control the border situation, China's defense ministry announced on Monday. ...
Myanmar military rolls out red carpet for Russia...
January 26, 2021
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By: SAM Report
Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu’s visit to Naypyitaw last week sends a signal that Myanmar and Russia intend to expand their defense cooperation. Myanmar’s generals have a long-term plan to modernize the military, and Russia is expected be a major partner in this process....
Biden should not scapegoat Russia if he reverses...
January 26, 2021
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By: Andrew Korybko
The Biden Administration is re-evaluating practically every element of foreign policy that it inherited from former President Donald Trump, but nowhere could this potentially impact Pakistani interests more than in Afghanistan. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne announced on Friday that the United States (US)...
RIGHTS
COVID-19 sharpened inequalities in India, bill...
January 26, 2021
| By: SAM Staff
Defence
Pakistan takes delivery of CH-4 drones from Ch...
January 26, 2021
| By: SAM Staff
Bangladesh Navy to participate in the internat...
January 26, 2021
| By: SAM Staff
Editor`s Choice
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...
India’s China conundrum
In a unilateral and a surprise move on the intervening night of June 16-17 2020, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Galwan Valley...
Kamala Harris and India's laws against "love...
By: Rajmohan Gandhi
The unpredictable impact of Trump's post-defeat temper on Georgia's January 6 Senate runoffs intrigues me as I wait and watch in Illinois. Also fascinating, and...
Focus
India
The mass radicalisation that India does not acknowledge
January 25, 2021
| By: Samar Halarnkar
It is now clear that if you are Muslim in Narendra Modi’s new India you can be arrested for selling shoes, taking part in a protest, talking to or walking with a Hindu girl, driving a cattle truck, cracking a joke – or not. If you are a Muslim in the wrong place at the wrong time, the Constitution means little and the law can be twisted in any manner to imprison you.
Criminality is...
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
South Asian Monitor news headlines 05 November 2020 November 5, 2020
This week’s guest Major General (Retd.) ANM Muniruzzaman fro... October 16, 2020
F2F with Afsan Chowdhury. This week’s guest Yubaraj Ghimire... October 4, 2020
Audio
Bihar elections: BJP uses the corona vaccine bait October 28, 2020
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
Bangladesh's first trans school ignites hope...
January 25, 2021
Pandemic worsens India's mental health misery
January 25, 2021
How a Pakistani folk band changed Pashtun nar...
January 22, 2021
How the Urdu language and literature slipped...
January 21, 2021
Saving a beloved icon: Growing drive in Kolka...
January 19, 2021
Life in Afghanistan amid pandemic
January 18, 2021
Making waves: the hit Indian island radio sta...
January 8, 2021
Empty grave for Kashmir teenager killed by In...
January 8, 2021