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Neighbourhood Studies
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nepal: Facts, Disputes, and the US-China Contest
Rishi Gupta, Research Associate, VIF

In the past two months, Nepal’s political space had been marred by upheavals and doubts over the future of the ruling alliance between the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center)/Maoist Party, and Communist Party of Nepal (...

April 19, 2022 Download
Tags: 12-Point Interpretive Declaration, Hydropowe, India, India-Nepal, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Intellectual Property Rights, KP Oli, MCC, MCC in Nepal, MCC Ratification, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Nepal Communist Party, Prachanda, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Three Supports, Tibet, UML, US-China, Wang Yi, Nepal, Neighbourhood Studies
India-Maldives Policy Brief
Cchavi Vasisht, Research Associate, VIF

The Maldives has attracted international attention due to the increased importance of the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region. India-Maldives relations have made immense progress in the past years. The relations have seen significant...

December 13, 2021 Download
Tags: China, Geostrategic, India in Maldives, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific, Maritime Security, OBOR, SLOCs, Tourism, Maldives, Neighbourhood Studies
Penpa Tsering, the New President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Calls on China to Grant ‘Genuine Autonomy’ to Tibet
Sarada Subhash, Research Assistant, VIF

Penpa Tsering has been elected as the new Sikyong or President of 17th Tibetan government-in-exile (TGiE), formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). This write-up explores the life and policy stance of the newly elected Sikyong...

June 7, 2021 Download
Tags: Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Genuine Autonomy, Penpa Tsering, Sikyong, Tibet, Neighbourhood Studies
Decoding the Turkey-Pakistan alliance
Dr Yatharth Kachiar

Over the years, Turkey-Pakistan relations have stood the precarious nature of global politics as well as the turbulence of their domestic politics. Since its creation in 1947, Pakistan has received uncritical support of Turkey irrespective of who...

January 8, 2021 Download
Tags: Economic, FATF, Kashmir, military, Pakistan, Political, Soft Power, Turkey, Pakistan, Neighbourhood Studies
Pakistan: Nuclear Deterrence and Ideology
Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

The nuclear age coincided with the advent of the Cold War. The concept of deterrence evolved in the background of ideological divide. However, both sides kept nuclear deterrence insulated from ideological considerations. This pragmatism was born...

March 16, 2020 Download
Tags: Cold War, Helsinki Accord, Pakistan Nuclear Deterrence, Pakistan’s nuclear policy, Pakistan, Neighbourhood Studies
Pakistan’s Nuclear and Missile Programme: An Assessment
Rana Banerji

Introduction

The closest formulation of Pakistan’s Nuclear Security doctrine, if any, was enunciated in an article appearing in The News, in October 1999, written by former Foreign Minister Agha Shahi, former Foreign Secretary Abdus...

February 4, 2019 Download
Tags: Ghauri, No War Pact, Nuclear Doctrine, Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme, Pakistan, Neighbourhood Studies
Revival of Peace Initiatives in Afghanistan: Implications for India
Col Shubhankar Basu, SM, VSM

Introduction

Seventeen years have passed since the American forces entered Afghanistan in October 2001 and ousted the Taliban. The massive crackdown forced the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban leaders to melt into Pakistan, where they...

January 31, 2019 Download
Tags: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Peace Initiatives in Afghanistan, Taliban, US, Neighbourhood Studies
Indian Engagement with Afghanistan: An Economic Perspective
Prof Nirmala Joshi

… Indian assistance in Afghanistan is focused on, ‘Afghan led, Afghan owned and controlled,’ projects … India’s Small Development Projects are spread all over the country … economic development is the basic foundation for peace in Afghanistan …...

August 31, 2018 Download
Tags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan politics, India-Afghan relations, Taliban insurgency, Neighbourhood Studies
Pakistan General Election 2018

Introduction
Pakistan’s electoral contest on 25 July 2018 has been billed as being between Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) - even though he is debarred from contesting or holding a party office – and Imran’s Khan Pakistan...

July 24, 2018 Download
Tags: Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan General Election 2018, Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan politics, Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan, Neighbourhood Studies
What is Happening in Tibet
Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

... Tibetans are imprisoned for expressing their opinions or beliefs ... monasteries are under police surveillance ... the Chinese Communist Party – not Tibetan Buddhists – has the authority to identify and appoint reincarnated Tibetan Lamas,...

April 20, 2018 Download
Tags: China, Chinese Communist Party, Dalai Lama, PLA, Tibet, Tibetan Buddhists, Tibetan Lamas, Tibet, Neighbourhood Studies
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