South Asia

About Centre

South Asia is one of the main areas of research focus at IDSA. The region has been going through a period of turmoil over the last few years. Definitive steps have been taken in the recent past towards the establishment of democratic governments in the region. Given the importance of developments in the region for Indian security, experts at IDSA keenly watch and analyse unfolding developments in each South Asian country.

Two projects that are currently under progress are ‘Developments in Pakistan’ and ‘Pakistan Occupied Kashmir’. In addition, individual scholars are engaged in researching various security related aspects pertaining to South Asian countries. The Centre has established bilateral institutional relations with leading think tanks in the region and proposes to undertake joint studies.

Minutes of South Asia Centre Meetings

2012: The Changing Geopolitical Environment and Tasks before Indian foreign policy

While India’s ability to handle the challenges may be constrained by a slowing economy, it would need to manage them through requisite diplomatic skill and finesse.

Arvind Gupta
January 03, 2012
IDSA Comments

The Difa-e Pakistan Rally in Lahore and its Implications for Pakistan

By staging such a massive gathering in Lahore, it appears that the military is trying to bring JuD into mainstream politics, which is clearly an ominous sign of the times to come.

Amit Julka
December 23, 2011
IDSA Comments

The Bonn II Conference on Afghanistan: A Step Forward Amidst Uncertainty

Bonn II made it somewhat clear that there is at least an evolving discourse and a fleeting sense of realisation in Western capitals that Afghanistan cannot simply be abandoned once again.

Vishal Chandra
December 19, 2011
IDSA Comments

Prognosis for Pakistan 2012

The outlook for Pakistan in the year 2012 is rather negative diplomatically, economically, politically, socially, culturally, and militarily.

Sushant Sareen
December 13, 2011
IDSA Comments

A Rejoinder to John R. Schmidt, ‘Pakistan’s Alternate Universe’

Whatever John R. Schmidt’s aims, the arguments that he has employed do not stand the test of casual perusal leave alone scrutiny.

Amit Julka
December 12, 2011
IDSA Comments

The MFN Debate in Pakistan’s Urdu Press: Sign of cracks?

The importance of the MFN status issue lies in the debate that the agreement has initiated in Pakistan, which could influence both the internal political structures of the country as well as the way it deals with its neighbours.

The Miasmic Memo

Byzantine intrigues are nothing new in the sordid world of Pakistan’s power politics.

Sushant Sareen
November 23, 2011
IDSA Comments

The Olive Branch from Pakistan, in its Time of Crises

India’s recent encounters with Pakistan show surprisingly warm diplomacy, with an open declaration from Islamabad of “mending the trust deficit.” This upswing in relations however comes with no guarantees.

Shruti Pandalai
November 17, 2011
IDSA Comments

Will Cooperative Security Work in South Asia?

While the cooperative security approach has not succeeded in resolving conflicts in South Asia, it might work when it comes to resolving human security related issues.

Arvind Gupta
November 13, 2011
IDSA Comments

Queering the ‘Pitch’ of Pakistan Politics

At a time of such monumental, even existential, challenges, if all that Pakistan can come up with is a vacuous demagogue like Imran Khan, then its future is pretty bleak.