The rising specter of the Islamic State in India
Amidst much speculation and contestation about the presence and strength of the Islamic State (IS)
In Depth
How Serious is Religious Radicalization in Turkmenistan?
The worsening economic situation, growing poverty and unemployment, inadequate and limited opportunities to gain both secular and religious education, tight control of all religious activities of the people, and numerous state restrictions on these activities are contributing to the increased religious radicalization.
Photo: RFE/RL
India – Iran: Riding the crest of political commotion
Though the overall history of Indo-Iranian relationship is not dull and unsavoury yet there have been intermittent periods of closeness as well as of distancing from each other temporarily.
Why Teheran should negotiate with Donald Trump
Washington is aiming to cut Iran’s oil sales to zero, accompanying these actions with the escalation of US threats to Tehran in the event of any attack on U.S. forces or America’s allies in the Middle East. But Trump has also opened the door to Iran to return to negotiations with his administration
24 billion tons of fertile land lost every year
In a video message released in advance of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world loses 24 billion tons of fertile land every year, and that the degradation in land quality is responsible for a reduction in the national domestic product of up to eight per cent every year.
Photo: Safalta
The rising specter of the Islamic State in India – II
The IS narrative in India appears to have gained a new meaning and importance after the Sri Lanka bombings which revealed complex networks through which the Islamic State tends to radicalize people and facilitates terror plots. Self-financed attacks carried out by a close-knit group of educated and computer savvy individuals without any criminal background are emerging as the newest set of perpetrators.
Photo: Agencies
The rising specter of the Islamic State in India – I
Indian Muslims in general and especially those in conflict theatres of Kashmir have not made common cause with the alleged sufferings of their fellow Muslims elsewhere in the world;, the prospect of living in a caliphate has also not held out much of an attraction for them.
Photo: Quartz
Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ 2.0
One fundamental change in India’s policy under Modi has been to avoid directly countering China’s expanding commercial footprint inside India’s neighbouring nations. China has created an added challenge for India in that the southern country’s work with its neighbours appears diminished, even disinterested, in comparison to the high speed delivery of China’s mega projects.
Racial Overtones of Chinese Development in Kenya
It is dubious that the Belt and Road Initiative is healthy for Kenya’s long-term development. People should pay close attention to the debt relation between China and Kenya, and above all should prioritize the treatment and welfare of Kenyan workers who are most directly affected by the two countries’ growing relationship.
Photo:PSCU
US-China Rivalry: What Response Should India Forge? – II
The US- China strategic brinkmanship presents India with a host of opportunities. India can emerge as a major manufacturing hub and a trading partner of choice for the US; broaden and deepen strategic relations bilaterally with the US as well as under a multi-lateral framework nudge China on the border issue and utilize China’s distraction to build capacity to bridge the power asymmetry
Photo: The Geopolitics