Afghan talks widen US-UK rift
Political talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are likely to deepen the rift between the United States, with its preference for building up troop numbers in Afghanistan, and Britain, which sees talk offering a quicker exit opportunity than reliance on guns and bombs. - Gareth Porter (Oct 10, '08)

The savagery of a surge that failed
Death, fear and mayhem, spread by a failed coalition "surge" in Afghanistan in 2007, has brutalized the population and filled the ranks of the Taliban with enraged Afghans who've seen relatives eviscerated by coalition bombs. Amid countrywide starvation and poverty, listless and lawless Kabul lies in tatters. Hope is fading fast here, and once the Afghans lose all hope, the Americans will have lost this war. - Anand Gopal. (Oct 10, '08)

A long, hot winter for Pakistan
A bomb disguised as a gift basket of sweets has demolished the headquarters of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorist Force in Islamabad and set the tone for the Taliban's strategy to strike government and Western forces before they're dug in for all-out war. Western forces, meanwhile, are in a frenzy of preparation inside Pakistan, perhaps with an eye to November's presidential election. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Oct 10, '08)



SPEAKING FREELY
Making a mockery of jihad
Terrorist groups have given the false impression that jihad means war, and is somehow central to Koranic teaching. In fact, of the 41 times the word "jihad" occurs in the Koran not a single verse uses it in the sense of war. The true meaning of jihad is to spread goodness and contain evil. As the Prophet said, "The ink of a scholar is superior to the blood of the martyr." - Asghar Ali Engineer (Oct 9, '08)

US, Pakistan torn apart over terror
The "war on terror" in South Asia consists primarily of two battles, the first waged by United States-led forces against the Taliban inside Afghanistan and the second by the Pakistan military against militants in its tribal areas. Until these struggles are better coordinated, ties between Washington and Islamabad can only get worse. - Tariq Mahmud Ashraf (Oct 8, '08)

'Play or no pay' warning for Pakistan
The United States needs to rethink its entire approach to Pakistan, recommends a bipartisan report whose authors include those with links to both US presidential candidates. Washington has provided about US$11 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2001, and this "era of the blank check is over", the report suggests, given Islamabad's patchy record in the struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. - Jim Lobe (Oct 8, '08)

Taliban wake-up call for India
For the bulk of the Indian strategic community, the unthinkable is happening - there is the prospect of an Afghan settlement involving the Taliban. The ground is dramatically shifting in the neighborhood and Delhi can no longer afford to entirely conflate the Taliban movement with al-Qaeda. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct 8, '08)

New role for an old Indian road
India believes the reconstruction of the World War II-era Stilwell Road, which links its northeast regions to China and Southeast Asia, will create a land of economic opportunity in its troubled Assam region - if only militants in Myanmar's lawless Kachin province and Indian insurgents would play along. (Oct 8, '08)

S&P turns screw on Pakistan
The Pakistan economy, already beset on all sides as the country is riven by violence and runaway inflation, took another dent this week with a further downgrade of its foreign-currency rating. The government is now going cap-in-hand to international agencies and Gulf neighbors to keep going. - R M Cutler (Oct 8, '08)

Look who came to dinner ...
Former Taliban foreign minister Wakeel Ahmed Muttawakil was one of the special guests at a dinner hosted by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at which a peace process with the Taliban is said to have been discussed. Muttawakil tells Syed Saleem Shahzad of the good relations the Taliban once enjoyed with the Saudis, but won't be drawn further. If previous Saudi efforts are a guide, a Muslim peacekeeping force for Afghanistan is on the menu. (Oct 7, '08)

A fatal flaw in Afghan peace process
While the parties involved are playing coy, it is beyond doubt that Saudi Arabia-brokered Afghan peace talks have begun. Using a mix of the godly and the worldly, which is useful for finessing a movement like the Taliban that crisscrosses religion and politics, the United States aims to keep the process within a tiny, exclusive circle of friends and allies. This means no role for Iran and Russia. It also means failure. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct 7, '08)

Tata at a fork in the road
Ratan Tata is the philanthropic power house and septuagenarian driving force behind the award-winning Nano "people's car". How he emerges from the forced dismantling of Tata Motors' West Bengal Nano autoplant and other recent corporate setbacks may reveal how well he is attuned to modern India. - Raja Murthy
(Oct 7, '08)

Cornered Tigers bare their teeth
With government troops at the gates of their northern stronghold, the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Monday resorted to the deadliest weapon in their arsenal - a suicide bomber killed a former army chief and 24 other people. The Tigers are not yet ready for government offers of surrender and "rehabilitation". (Oct 7, '08)

SPEAKING FREELY
A way through the Afghan labyrinth
Seven years of international "nation-building" in Afghanistan have created a labyrinthine world of foreign non-profit and private-sector institutions engaged in fractious aid efforts which have left the country unable to deal with the creeping Taliban threat that now also threatens Pakistan. - M Ashraf Haidari (Oct 6, '08)

India's postcards from space
Defying gravity, skeptics and all the perils of a trip to space, India's first astro-tourist also plans to recapture part of his US$200,000 ticket by filming an out-of-this-world travel show and selling it to the highest bidder. Even then, Santosh George Kulangara believes he's paid a small sum to become part of aviation, and South Asian, history. - Raja Murthy (Oct 6, '08)

Pakistan, US await militant showdown
Britain's commander in Afghanistan admits the war against the Taliban can't be won, even as the Afghan government makes overtures to Taliban leader Mullah Omar to join the political process. It's not going to happen, and Pakistan and the United States are actively preparing for the inevitable - a clash with the Taliban inside Pakistan. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Oct 6, '08)

Road of hope for divided Kashmir
A long-closed road linking the administrative capitals of divided Kashmir may soon bring new opportunities for trade and wealth between the Pakistan- and India-controlled sides. Just how much trade will be decided by the cautious hands of the central governments. - Haroon Mirani (Oct 6, '08)

India and the US marching on
Wednesday's conclusion of a civilian nuclear deal between the United States and India has already been described as a "non-proliferation disaster". But for Washington and Delhi, apart from lucrative business opportunities, the accord is a major step in a military relationship that could blossom into a fully fledged alliance. - Jim Lobe (Oct 3, '08)

India and the temples of doom
Horrific temple stampedes have become an all too common occurrence at Hindu festivals in India, with the trampling to death of 147 pilgrims in Jodhpur on Tuesday the latest tragedy. Rudimentary or non-existent crowd management measures exacerbate the problem, yet instead of dealing with the issue, politicians tap the disasters for political capital. - Neeta Lal (Oct 3, '08)

India aglow as nuclear pact approved
The US Senate has ratified a long-delayed civilian nuclear pact with India, handing a rare foreign policy victory to President George W Bush and culminating a three-year debate that raised alarms about a new arms race and nearly toppled India's government. - Siddharth Srivastava
(Oct 2, '08)

In life, or death, Baitullah's fight endures
Reports of the death of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud may be premature, but they do raise the issue of how his demise will affect the struggle he has championed against foreign forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani troops in the tribal areas. If history is any indication, another leader will quickly emerge to replace the man described as "more dangerous than Osama bin Laden", and the battle will go even more global. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Oct 2, '08)

Bush had no plan to catch Bin Laden
The United States missed the opportunity to catch Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2001, new evidence reveals, because Washington was obsessed with starting the Iraq War and failed to allocate enough troops to the task. The blunder was allegedly compounded by a decision to turn down an offer of 60,000 Pakistani troops. - Gareth Porter (Sep 30, '08)

Why the US is losing in Afghanistan
Most of the literature on the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the "war on terror" focuses on the burden these conflicts place on the US federal budget. This is a very real issue, but it deflects attention from another key point: in Afghanistan, the US has consistently failed to provide the financial and military resources necessary to win the war. - Anthony H Cordesman (Sep 30, '08)

The fight goes on, militants tell Pakistan
The Taliban have officially rejected a Saudi Arabian-British backdoor initiative for Islamabad to strike peace deals with militants in Pakistan. The Taliban realize the aim is to separate them from al-Qaeda, and are having none of it. So the battle in the tribal areas continues apace, with the militants now attracting vital support from across the border in Afghanistan, as well as from previously pro-Pakistan tribal chiefs. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 30, '08) 

The tip of India's terror iceberg
Although inspired by pan-Islamic groups, the homegrown Indian Mujahideen's war is with the Indian state. The government is divided on how to tackle the new group, and poorly targeted police investigations are driving more disillusioned youth into its ranks. - Sudha Ramachandran (Sep 29, '08)

Militants shake off Pakistan's grip
Pakistan's tribal areas are steadily falling to a creeping Taliban-led militancy. Military operations have proved ineffective, while the militants have rejected offers of ceasefires. Islamabad and the United States are now getting what they initially set in motion - "conflict escalation". - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 24, '08)

A prisoner in 'pirate alley'
Despite increased attention from French commandos and the US and Indian navies, rocket-toting pirates run wild in the Gulf of Aden. Raking in tens of millions in ransom booty from companies operating ships in the vital oil route off the African coast, the pirates have made the waters their own, one victim tells Raja Murthy. (Sep 23, '08)

Marriott blast rips hole in Pakistan economy
The owner of Islamabad's Marriott has pledged to reopen the hotel, shattered in Saturday's weekend suicide blast, by the end of the year. Pakistan's fast-deteriorating economy may take longer to recover from this latest savage blow. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Sep 23, '08)

The gloves are off in Pakistan
Hundreds of American "training officials", with 20 large containers of "equipment", have taken over a large chunk of land at a base for Pakistani special forces. Their unstated targets are al-Qaeda leaders and Taliban militants. The militants have already responded to this new phase of the "war on terror" with the weekend  suicide truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 22, '08)

Islamabad rides a terror tiger
The cost of success in hiding Pakistan's hand in terror operations in India is Islamabad's growing lack of control over the targets, scale and pace of attacks by its Islamist and criminal allies in that country. This is a new and very dangerous level of unpredictability. - Michael Scheuer (Sep 19, '08)

All change in the US's Afghan mission
The United States admits it needs to speed up progress in Afghanistan, which in the past seven years has accounted for a hefty chunk of the US$752 billion bill for the "war on terror". US military forays into Pakistan are one aspect of a "new strategy" that could see Americans taking direct control of counter-insurgency activities. More troops and more resources have also been demanded, even as the Taliban consolidate their positions around Kabul. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 19, '08)

Tinsel politics return in India
The birth of superstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi's party has revived the trend of Tollywood icons taking center stage in Indian politics. His charismatic presence is expected to draw youngsters to polling booths, even though he lacks political experience and offers a vague platform. The implications do not bode well for the theory and practice of democracy. - Sreeram Chaulia (Sep 18, '08)

China, India resume Himalayan dance
After a year-long hiatus, and more than a quarter of a century of unfruitful discussions, border negotiations between India and China resume this week. The issue remains the "most important" in China-India ties and even booming trade cannot reduce its impact, along with other external matters, namely Tibet, Pakistan and the United States. - Pallavi Aiyar (Sep 18, '08)

Vested interests drive US's Pakistan policy
The George W Bush administration's decision to step up military operations inside Pakistan was more about institutional interests than strategy. The escalation ignores the fact that commando raids and missile strikes will not weaken the Taliban or al-Qaeda, and will certainly provoke reactions that could tilt the population further toward Islamic radicals. - Gareth Porter (Sep 18, '08)

Red-tape safety knot for India's bankers
India's financial sector, long labeled as overly bureaucratic and conservative, is acknowledging the benefit of red tape as it stands little-moved by shocks emanating from United States-based collapses. - Raja Murthy (Sep 18, '08)

US pushes Pakistan towards the brink
The George W Bush administration's decision to widen its Afghan war into Pakistan - striking repeatedly in the "badlands" on the Afghan border - is a perilous undertaking. For Pakistan, there could be a catastrophic crisis within the army - already it has fired its first warning shots at American troops - and even a disintegration of the state. But maybe this is the plan. - Tariq Ali (Sep 17, '08)

Roller-coaster rupee roils Indian markets
India's currency, which strengthened about 12% last year, is suddenly reversing those gains, confounding exporters and importers alike and helping to drag down share prices. - Raja Murthy (Sep 16, '08)

In Pakistan, sympathy for the Taliban
Despite attacks on schools, hospitals and fellow Muslims, the Taliban manage to retain widespread sympathy among Muslims in Pakistan. A major reason is the presence of foreign troops in the region who do not understand tribal politics. The inescapable message is that the Taliban may not be loved, but the real criminals are foreign interlopers. (Sep 16, '08)

Asia's pickle with people's power
Many of Asia's democracies were brought to life by people's-power struggles, but in recent weeks street demonstrations have become the norm. The rise of more representative "third force" parties presents a better route towards stability away from dynastic politics and feudal patronage. - Chietigj Bajpaee (Sep 16, '08)

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA
An anatomy of collateral damage
"Collateral damage" has been a central part of the George W Bush administration's "war on terror" for the past seven years, yet it rarely excites much attention in the West. That's why absurd accounts sometimes offered by the US military - as in the recent deaths of 60 Afghan children - go relatively unchallenged. - Tom Engelhardt (Sep 16, '08)

India in the dark over terror attack
In an all-too-familiar pattern, serial bomb blasts have rocked Delhi, claiming at least 25 lives. As with attacks in other cities this year, the perpetrators have claimed responsibility by hacking into a private e-mail address. Beyond this, the intelligence agencies remain clueless. - Siddharth Srivastava (Sep 15, '08)

Nepal-India ties enter the Prachanda era
Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda is in New Delhi amid increased scrutiny over the balance of bilateral relations. The recent collapse of a river embankment has raised long-simmering controversies over agreements that Nepalis feel need updating. Former rebel leader Prachanda says he'll do whatever it takes. - Dhruba Adhikary (Sep 15, '08)

US forces the terror issue with Pakistan
Much as the United States decision to bomb Laos and Cambodia in 1969 became a turning point in the Vietnam War, so its move to aggressively go after militants and al-Qaeda inside Pakistan could be a pivotal moment in the "war on terror", with Islamabad as an increasingly reluctant partner. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 15, '08)

Moscow eyes Afghanistan in fear
Russia has concerns not only over its relations with the West. As important, Moscow fears a Taliban victory in Afghanistan. This is not so much for the galvanizing effect this would have on regional jihadis, but for the economic mayhem that could be caused in Central Asian states. Moscow's planned military maneuvers with Kazakhstan are a preventative step. - Dmitry Shlapentokh (Sep 12, '08)

Dissension in Pakistan's ranks
Pakistan's political leaders are on board with the country's "joint venture" with the United States in which for the first time Taliban sanctuaries inside Pakistan will be vigorously attacked. The corps commanders - and even their chief - are not convinced. Heads will have to roll to bring them into step. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 12, '08)
 
Civilians ravaged by US-NATO bombs
Given a shortage of troops, the United States and NATO have dropped 362 tonnes of bombs on Afghanistan in the first seven months of the year. In turn, civilian deaths have tripled from last year, driving people into the Taliban camp and even forcing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to demand a change in US tactics. (Sep 11, '08)

THE ROVING EYE
Iran-bashing from al-Qaeda's corner
Al-Qaeda's leadership, in a battle to seduce Muslim hearts and minds, says its top strategic enemy is Shi'ites - be it Tehran or Hezbollah - and not the United States. Winning over Shi'ites will fuel al-Qaeda's objective of a "long war" in which the only winner will be the US military-industrial complex. That's the sorry legacy of 9/11, seven years on. - Pepe Escobar (Sep 11,  '08)

Zardari looks to US for cash lifeline
Newly elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected the option of International Monetary Fund assistance, with unpleasant strings attached, to revive his embattled economy. The prospect of US cash linked to fighting the "war on terror" is more appealing. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Sep 11,  '08)

Secrets of the Taliban's success
The Taliban's struggle is solely against the foreign occupiers in Afghanistan, not Pakistan or any other country, Mullah Abdul Jalil, a pioneer of the Taliban movement, tells Syed Saleem Shahzad. The former foreign minister of the Taliban regime explains the crucial role mass support plays in the resistance, and scoffs at suggestions the Taliban will ever make deals with the United States or Britain. Kabul, though, is safe for the time being. (Sep 10,'08)

Civilians caught in Sri Lanka's 'clean war'
Escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka continues to displace tens of thousands and has pushed the government to order all aid workers to vacate battle zones and rebel strongholds. Meanwhile, "warlordism" is rampant in newly "freed" areas and any thought of self-governance for Tamil-speaking people remains a sham. - Sreeram Chaulia (Sep 10,'08)

India throws open a $100bn nuclear bazaar
Indian, United States and other engineering firms are looking at a US$100 billion spending bonanza following the international go-ahead for India to engage in nuclear commerce. One hitch is a law banning private contractors from the field. - Raja Murthy (Sep 10,'08)

US's 'good' war hits Pakistan hard
US President George W Bush has for the first time explicitly named Pakistan as a new battleground in the "war on terror", and urged Islamabad to "defeat terrorists and extremists". To underline the point, the US has stepped up its own raids into Pakistan. Unfortunately, by targeting "good" Taliban with links to the Pakistani establishment, the US places Pakistan in even greater danger. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 9,'08)

US warned over raids in Pakistan
The George W Bush administration disregarded "clear" warnings from US intelligence agencies that raids into Pakistan's Taliban strongholds would dangerously destabilize the central government. Along with the political fallout, the attacks - and their civilian death toll - have caused anti-US sentiment to spike in the Pakistani army, threatening to deepen its tribal quagmire. - Gareth Porter (Sep 9,'08)

Hindu gods spike Chinese dragon
China has lambasted the United States for bending the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group to accommodate India, which has played on Beijing's unfriendliness to defend its partnership with Washington. Delhi hopes that the drummed-up jingoism will deflect attention now that its nuclear deal with the US has reached the US Congress. - M K Bhadrakumar (Sep 8,'08)

Militancy dogs Pakistan's new president
It is no coincidence that a massive and deadly suicide bombing took place on the day of the voting that confirmed Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's next president. Zardari might already have won a battle by bringing the country's military and intelligence to heel, but he and his backers in Washington know that the war against militancy is far from won. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 8,'08)

Afghanistan's war has a new battlefield
The raids this week by United States special forces into Pakistan in search of al-Qaeda and militant leaders mark a new era for Pakistan under president-in-waiting Asif Ali Zardari. In preparation for his expected anointment this weekend, "Iron Man" Zardari, with strong backing from the US, has skillfully consolidated his hold over the security and intelligence services and is ready to prosecute the "war on terror" with a vengeance. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 5, '08)

CHAN AKYA
Triangulating an Asian conflict
It's possible that in the near future Islamic extremists will have their finger on the Pakistani nuclear trigger, while Han nationalists in China and Hindu fundamentalists in India likewise control their nuclear-armed countries. These are the trends shaping tomorrow's world, writes Chan Akya, who does not see the avalanche of words about a US vice-presidential candidate as particularly relevant. (Sep 5, '08)

BOOK REVIEW
The ashes of American morality
The Dark Side by Jane Mayer
The core of the book is a dissection of the United States' reaction to the September 11 attacks and how it led to the "war on terror" - a war the author describes in all its sordid details. The deduction drawn is that the US has seen many of its core values eroded to the point of endangering the very principals on which American society is allegedly based. - Alexander Casella (Sep 5, '08)

Time for Zardari to meet challenge
After months of grim political infighting, the likely election on Saturday of Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's president gives the country's leaders a chance to turn their attention to an economy beset by soaring prices, a crashing stock market and a widening trade deficit. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Sep 4, '08)

For Prachanda, a tale of two cities
Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda broke tradition and made his first state visit to Beijing, instead of Delhi. It was controversial until a devastating flood hit Nepal and exposed unfavorable pacts, such as the Koshi Agreement with India. Now the ex-Maoist is pushing to renegotiate the deals and is gaining support for his rebalancing act with Nepal's two neighbors. - Dhruba Adhikary (Sep 4, '08)

How the Taliban gave a French lesson
France has admitted its troops were guilty of overconfidence ahead of walking into a "well-organized Taliban trap" in Afghanistan last month that killed 10 of its soldiers and wounded 21. The ambush quickly led to a breakdown in the French troops' command and communications, and the repercussions are reverberating in Paris. (Sep 3, '08)

A sting in Pakistan's al-Qaeda mission
After pounding Bajaur Agency for three weeks, the Pakistani military has called off its operation, claiming "mission accomplished" against militants. The offensive was in fact a smoke screen for Islamabad and its NATO allies across the border in Afghanistan to flush out Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, and it failed dismally. The militants have already started taking revenge, the latest attack being on the premier's motorcade on Wednesday. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Sep 3, '08)

Extraordinary rendition, extraordinary error
Mamdouh Habib, an Australian citizen, is yet another instance of the United States "outsourcing" torture by transferring terrorism suspects to countries that violate human rights norms. The policy relies on disingenuous diplomatic deals, and such cases have become an al-Qaeda recruiting tool. (Sep 3, '08)

Tigers' backs to the wall
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have once again shown their aerial capabilities by bombing a Sri Lankan naval base. But on the ground they are taking a beating, so much so that India could be tempted to pressurize Colombo not to go for an all-out military victory, given the likelihood of high civilian casualties. - Sudha Ramachandran (Sep 2, '08)

India's little car on crash course
Tata Motors' plans to roll out the world's cheapest car by October are threatened by protesting farmers demanding back their land. That isn't the only reason investors are dumping stock in the new owner of Jaguar and Range Rover. - Raja Murthy (Aug 29, '08)

Afghan violence hits home in Japan
The killing of a young Japanese aid worker in Afghanistan at the hands of the Taliban will raise serious questions about Tokyo's refueling mission for United States-led coalition vessels in the Indian Ocean. Early elections for the Lower House are likely, and they could even lead to a change in government. - Kosuke Takahashi (Aug 28, '08)

India's nuclear deal headed for fiasco
Delhi seriously underestimated the opposition the United States-India nuclear deal would arouse in the international Nuclear Suppliers' Group, which must grant India a waiver from its tough rules on nuclear trade. The frantic scramble for a compromise US-drafted waiver motion leaves Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a lose-lose position. (Aug 28, '08)

Politics hold Pakistan economy hostage
The breakup of Pakistan's short-lived ruling coalition adds to concerns for the economy, with foreign investors already pulling out funds and the risk of debt default growing. Islamabad may yet have to go with begging bowl in hand to the International Monetary Fund. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Aug 27, '08)

Recycling the Himalayas
India's has a trash crisis, while rapidly growing wealth levels have kick-started rampant regional construction. Both have encroached on the sacred landscape of the Himalayas and the Ganges River. A rag-tag bunch of volunteers has stepped in with a "devotional" response, which they aim to replicate nationwide. - Raja Murthy (Aug 27, '08)

Setback for Pakistan's terror drive
The defection to the opposition of the second-largest party in the ruling coalition in Pakistan will not immediately bring down the government. It will, however, significantly strengthen the forces opposed to Islamabad's participation in the "war on terror", and make the military less willing than ever to crack down on Taliban and al-Qaeda militants. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 26, '08)

False notes threaten India's economy
The Indian government is dragging its heels in combating the spread of counterfeit rupees worth billions of US dollars. Alleged culprits range from criminal gangs to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. As inflation passes 12%, the threat to the economy grows. - Raja Murthy (Aug 25, '08)

Georgia war rooted in US 'self-deceit'
Whether Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had encouragement from his "buddies in the White House" or not, the deeper roots of the Russia-Georgia war lie in US bureaucratic self-deceit about the objective of expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization up to the borders of a highly suspicious and proud Russia in the context of an old and volatile ethnic conflict. - Gareth Porter (Aug 25, '08)

Low-profile president stirs India
Apart from toting an AK-47 and telling women to learn karate, India's 73-year-old first female president, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, has had a quiet first year. Wisely reticent amid political crises and overcoming diplomatic gaffes, Patil has generated immense public curiosity. But a potentially explosive national election may test her political expediency. - Neeta Lal (Aug 22, '08)

Militants ready for Pakistan's war
Pakistan has declared all-out war on militants. This will delight the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Washington, which for many years have complained of the country's spotty record. Militants previously allowed to operate under the radar will now have to fight back. Thursday's suicide attack on an ordnance factory in which scores of people died is a portent of things to come. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 22, '08)

The mystery of Aafia Siddiqi
The resurfacing in a United States jail of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqi, who inexplicably vanished along with her three children in Karachi in 2003, has only deepened the mystery of her absence. The US believes she's a terrorist caught red-handed in Afghanistan. Her family see her as a "fun-loving people's person" caught in a bizarre nightmare. (Aug 21, '08)

Musharraf not the problem, or solution
Washington has shown with India it doesn't need a military dictator to influence a South Asian country's policies or power. It can do the same with the civilian government in Pakistan now that former president Pervez Musharraf is out of the picture. In the case of Afghanistan and the Taliban-led insurgency, it is the US's policies that dictate events, with or without Musharraf. - M K Bhadrakumar (Aug 21, '08)

Prachanda's journey begins in Beijing
By attending the Summer Olympic's closing ceremony in Beijing, Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda will set a precedent for relations between his country and its two most powerful neighbors. The newly appointed former revolutionary may have embarked on a course to reduce Nepal's dependence on India, but his sincerity is another matter. - Dhruba Adhikary (Aug 21, '08)

Afghan numbers don't add up
From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to think-tanks, the consensus is that more troops must be sent to Afghanistan to counter the spiraling insurgency. The emergence of warlords on the side of the Taliban, though, has added a new dimension to the struggle, and one which cannot easily be countered by placing more boots on the battlefield. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 21, '08)

Bush buried Musharraf's al-Qaeda links
Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf's cozy relationship with the US earned him lavish political and economic benefits. But behind the public support, the George W Bush administration covered up the Musharraf regime's involvement in the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear export scandal and its deals with al-Qaeda.- Gareth Porter (Aug 20, '08)

Goodbye Musharraf, hello Taliban
As if to reinforce an influential think-tank's latest warning that efforts to contain the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan are failing, 10 French soldiers have been killed and a US base brazenly attacked. The roots of the problem can be traced to Pakistan, where, during the watch of pro-West Pervez Musharraf, militants gained a solid foothold. With the former president gone, and the government in Islamabad virtually paralyzed, the militants can only get stronger. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 20, '08)

US faces up to life without Musharraf
Cornered by politicians baying for his blood and out of favor with the George W Bush administration, Pervez Musharraf had little option but to serve the "supreme national interest" and vacate the presidential palace. Washington believes it already has the Pakistani military and political leaders in Islamabad on side. Now it needs to ensure that the third asset needed in this crucial "war on terror" region - the presidency - is filled by "their" man. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 19, '08)

In Afghanistan, blurred lines cost lives
Killings of aid workers have moved Afghanistan's civilian and military groups, both national and international, to sign an unprecedented agreement on their roles and functions. The pact could be a huge step for civil-military relations in conflict situations or, like hundreds of other documents produced by the international community, it could gather dust in academic archives. - Aunohita Mojumdar (Aug 19, '08)

Security fears paralyze Kabul
A summer of rising insurgent violence and suicide bombings has prompted Afghan police to shut down nearly half of Kabul's major roadways. Many blame the ubiquitous checkpoints and constantly closed roads for slumping business - and the heightened security does not make them feel safe. (Aug 15, '08)

Huawei's perfect Indian marriage
China's emergence as the world's factory has not been matched by the development of global-standard brand-name companies. A notable exception is Huawei, whose growth, aided by tapping into Indian software skills, is helping to shape the market for telecommunication equipment. - Pallavi Aiyar (Aug 15, '08)

India-Pakistan relations in free fall
The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is back on a razor's edge, with huge Muslim protests and a Hindu backlash stoking violence. Pakistan has internationalized the issue, just as Delhi works with the United States to pressure Islamabad over its commitment to the "war on terror". The peace process between India and Pakistan is on hold, and given the volatility of the political situation in both countries, Kashmir will continue to burn. - M K Bhadrakumar (Aug 14, '08)

Taliban win a fight - and settle scores
When the Pakistani military launched operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in Bajaur Agency, their opponents were more than ready, having been briefed by well-placed informants. Under the unified command of radical leader Baitullah Mehsud, the militants repulsed the offensive and are already planning retaliatory attacks in other parts of the country. And on Wednesday, Baitullah settled a score with one of Islamabad's last remaining "precious assets". - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 13, '08)

Indian bombs shake diamond trade
The discovery of more than 20 bombs in Surat in India, the center of the world's diamond cutting and polishing business, has shaken the local industry, already rattled by the weakening global economy and violent demands for higher pay. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 13, '08)

Chaos descends on Nepal
The main task of post-monarchy Nepal - the drafting of a new constitution - has being pushed to the sidelines after Maoist leaders were unable to cobble together a consensus government. Meanwhile, the country is volatile and vulnerable with violence and crime on the rise, hunger worsening and travel increasingly unsafe. - Dhruba Adhikary (Aug 12, '08)

New al-Qaeda focus on NATO supplies
Almost 90% of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's shipments for Afghanistan land at the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Rather than wait for the supplies to reach the border areas, al-Qaeda and Taliban militants now plan to target them in Karachi. Their cause is aided by political turmoil in Islamabad. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 11, '08)

All downhill for Pakistan's economy
President Pervez Musharraf may use the country's deteriorating economy, racked by rising prices, withdrawal of foreign funds and a weakening currency, to dissolve parliament. The open fight between president and government will bring even further uncertainty to the economy. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Aug 11, '08)
Battle lines move from Kashmir to Kabul
On the surface, India appears to have scored a major diplomatic victory in Afghanistan. This has come with the blessing of the US, which has embarked on an unprecedented pro-India tilt in its regional policy. Washington's other major ally in the region, Pakistan, is naturally not impressed and sees Kabul replacing Kashmir as the main area of antagonism with New Delhi. How Washington benefits from this is unclear, but India would do well to remember the history of its involvement in Afghanistan - and prepare for a Pakistani backlash. - M K Bhadrakumar (Aug 8, '08)

BOOK REVIEW
Chronicle of errors
Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid
Hopes that the US's direct involvement in Afghanistan would lead to a terrorism-free region have gone. Rashid, an insightful and revealing chronicler, rightly identifies the need for a reshaped Pakistan if peace in the region is to be found. - Sreeram Chaulia (Aug 8, '08)

US hopes pinned on Musharraf
President Pervez Musharraf's fate hangs in the balance. The general who ruled Pakistan for eight years faces impeachment by the civilian government elected in February. If Musharraf falls, grand United States plans to tackle militancy in the country's tribal areas will also come tumbling down. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 7, '08)

India's failure of Olympic proportions
Since its Olympic debut in 1900, India has won only 17 medals, 11 of which came in its national sport of field hockey. In Athens 2004, India brought home just one silver, and this year Delhi is sending almost as many officials as athletes. Poor funding, cronyism and an emphasis on education keep populous India off the podium. - Neeta Lal (Aug 7, '08)

CHAN AKYA
The anatomy of an Olympic winner
Sporting success is a source of nationalist pride, an avenue for chest thumping or more usually an opportunity to make money. Americans love and respect sportsmen, which is why they consistently produce some of the world's best athletes. Perverse incentives force ex-communist countries to rely on producing the world's best chemists. India doesn't win medals because it simply isn't profitable for individuals to do so. (Aug 7, '08)

India's reforms look forlorn
The opportunity won by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following his split with the communist parties to drive through economic reforms may be lost due to opposition elsewhere and better vote-winning alternatives as elections approach. (Aug 7, '08)

Pakistan's problems spill into India
Pakistan's recent incursion into Indian territory - the first since 1999 - has placed the five-year-old ceasefire between the countries in jeopardy. All the same, Delhi is aware that Pakistan's compulsions possibly have more to do with its problems with Taliban militants and al-Qaeda in its tribal areas than with antagonism towards India. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 6, '08)

SPEAKING FREELY
India as a US hedge against China
As the race to conclude the United States-India civil nuclear agreement presses on, its advocates are peddling one selling point that appeals to both sides in the US Congress, which has to approve the deal: America must recruit the Indian tiger to hedge against the rising Chinese dragon. Yet despite its broad popularity, this strategy is completely untested. - Jeff M Smith (Aug 6, '08)

Truth and graft in Bangladesh
The interim Bangladeshi government's Truth and Accountability Commission, formed this week, will allow people to voluntarily disclose ill-gotten wealth in return for exemption from prosecution and imprisonment. As in a previous anti-corruption drive, the biggest casualty is likely to be the economy. (Aug 5, '08)

Delhi risks a stumble at the finish line
Now that its nuclear accord with the United States has been endorsed by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, India has only the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group to win over. Any obstacles here will be made worse if Delhi insists on gaining "clean and unconditional" approval. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 4, '08)

Iran heartened by India's nuclear vote
The United States-India nuclear agreement, which has been endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, represents a timely diplomatic boon for Iran, which can now point at the US's flexible application of its nuclear policies with regard to Delhi as a reference point in Tehran's nuclear negotiations. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug 4, '08)

The bad side to the 'good war'
From the outset in 2001, the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan has been the "good war", fought against the Taliban and their al-Qaeda guests. This belief prevailed, even as the war in Iraq turned "bad". Now, the weight of occupation and the rising number of civilian deaths is shifting the resistance toward a war of national liberation, and no foreign power has ever won that battle in Afghanistan. - Conn Hallinan (Jul 31, '08)

Al-Qaeda hails 'revival' in Afghanistan
Oozing confidence, al-Qaeda's operations commander in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu-al-Yazid, talks of the progress al-Qaeda is making in consolidating its position in Afghanistan and in attracting foreign jihadis to join the Taliban-led struggle against "infidel" invaders. Abu-Yazid's assessment is backed by Pakistan's eroding commitment to battle Afghan and Pakistani insurgents, to the extent that Islamabad is expected to redeploy troops to the Pakistan-India border. - Michael Scheuer (Jul 31, '08)

Tooth and nail in Delhi's tiger trade
A grisly stash of tiger parts - bones, skins and testicles - discovered in Delhi underscores India's increasing role in supplying Asia's insatiable appetite for exotic animals. Meanwhile, slack implementation of wildlife laws and astronomical profits push India's poachers to adopt audacious tactics. - Neeta Lal (Jul 30, '08)

Obama and the Taliban
United States presidential hopeful Barack Obama's has spoken of the close association between al-Qaeda and the Taliban. His linkage of the two groups mirrors the George W Bush administration's policy and over-simplifies a far more complex reality, against which force and violence will likely fail. - Mark LeVine (Jul 29, '08)

Good cop, bad cop: Pakistan reels
Even as the United States rebukes Pakistan over its performance in the "war on terror", it hands Islamabad four F-16 fighter jets as a reward for siding with Washington. Then the US launches a missile attack into Pakistani territory, killing an al-Qaeda commander. These contradictions test Islamabad's will, to the advantage of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 29, '08)

India ripe for more attacks
Deadly bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, two cities that symbolize India's growing economic might, appear also to have been aimed at stirring communal riots. And all indications are that more attacks will follow if these ones don't succeed in that goal. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 28, '08)

Pakistan feels the heat in Washington
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani can expect a heated reception during his meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington, given the many top US policymakers who blame Islamabad for the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The Pakistan government's bungled attempt to control its rogue intelligence agency won't ease the atmosphere. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 28, '08)

Pakistan draws a bead on Baitullah
After eliminating all opposition and consolidating his power in the South Waziristan tribal area, hardline Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud is extending his reach into other tribal areas. And to the major consternation of leaders in Pakistan and coalition forces in Afghanistan, jihadis from around the world are flocking to his cause. He's now a marked man. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 25, '08)

Taliban winning the war of words
The media battle in Afghanistan between Taliban-led anti-government militants and pro-government forces has claimed a victim, that of credibility. All the same, a new report shows, the Taliban are winning the propaganda battle hands down, with dire ramifications for the embattled government of President Hamid Karzai. - Aunohita Mojumdar (Jul 25, '08)

Yarchagumba! It's caterpillar cocktail time
A high-altitude caterpillar fungus is being smuggled out of the Himalayas to China, where it is believed to enhance athletic performance and fetches up to US$23,000 per kilogram. But this alleged elixir has a cocoon of controversy, and its sale has funded insurgencies, motivated murders and launched a "fungus rush" in the mountains. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 25, '08)

Sri Lanka marks a dark anniversary
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 1983 anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka, the country remains in conflict and people can only dream of what might have been for the blighted island. And a rising level of lawlessness has done little to help Tamil-Sinhalese amity. (Jul 24, '08)

A glimmer of hope for Nepal
Ram Baran Yadav, the first president of the new republic of Nepal and born into a farmer's family in the impoverished Terai highlands, brings with him first-hand knowledge of the woes of rural Nepalis and many see him as a light amid anarchy and uncertainty. - Dhruba Adhikary
(Jul 24, '08)

Indian airlines flush out costs
India's airlines are taking all measures possible, from cutting routes to charging for drinking water, to reduce the impact of rising fuel costs. Mid-flight toilet use may also be under scrutiny. - Neeta Lal (Jul 23, '08)

Reluctant gambler hits Indian jackpot
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, generally viewed as over-cautious and unassertive, has won the biggest political gamble of his life by squeaking through in a no-confidence vote in parliament that centered on Delhi's pending nuclear deal with the United States. But he and his government have not emerged unscathed and their days may still be numbered. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 23, '08)

Plot to divide the Taliban foiled
A plan by the Pakistan government, with connivance from Saudi Arabia, to split the Taliban operating in Pakistan's tribal areas has failed spectacularly, with the "renegade" Taliban leader and his network wiped out by al-Qaeda-backed militants. The incident has consolidated the hold of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, while al-Qaeda is benefiting through a sharp increase in jihadis from around the world heading for the tribal regions. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 22, '08)

A deal-breaker for India
The Indian government faces a no confidence vote on Tuesday that could see it prematurely thrown out of power, the catalyst for discontent being Delhi's planned nuclear deal with the United States. There is however much more at stake: a massive realignment of forces is taking place that could profoundly remake India's political landscape. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul 21, '08)

CHAN AKYA
A stone for Chris Cox
Investors in the United States might wish they, like Pakistanis, could stone their stock exchange. New rules designed to reduce market volatility will have the exact opposite effect by locking in unsophisticated investors into a permanent downward spiral. (Jul 18, '08)

Dining with the dacoits
The next time you visit India, forget visiting the Taj Mahal, the Kerala backwaters or Kashmir. Instead, travel to Rajasthan's notoriously bandit-infested hinterlands and get to know a mustachioed, gun-strapped dacoit along the banks of River Chambal. A new plan is redefining "adventure tourism". - Neeta Lal (Jul 17, '08)

THE ROVING EYE
Obama's brave (new?) world
At first glance, Democratic Senator Barack Obama's "new overarching strategy" for Iraq and Afghanistan is streets ahead of the approach proposed by his US presidential rival, Republican Senator John McCain. But from the planned withdrawal of troops from Iraq to dealing with the Taliban, Obama's vision, when it comes to implementation, will likely founder on the harsh realities that have so frustrated the George W Bush administration. - Pepe Escobar (Jul 16, '08)

Militants ready for a war without borders
Coalition forces expect it. Al-Qaeda and the Pakistan Taliban expect it: the war in Afghanistan will soon spill over into Pakistani territory. Washington is banking on Islamabad helping out from its side, but the militants have other ideas. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 16, '08)

The final countdown for India
India's ruling United Progressive Alliance faces a crucial vote in parliament that will determine not only the fate of the government but also the long-stalled civilian nuclear deal with the United States. With every vote counting, hectic efforts are on to poach support and ensure loyalty. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 16, '08)

Karzai nods to US, winks to Iran
Afghan President Hamid Karzai uses cautious language to give praise equally to the United States and Iran for their roles in his embattled nation. Even with US officials pointing to Iranian-made weapons bound for Taliban militants, Karzai says "both countries have helped us in our reconstruction" and vows his government does not want its "soil to be used" in any conflict between other countries. (Jul 15, '08)

Afghan attack resonates in Washington
The deaths of nine United States soldiers at the hands of the Taliban at a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan is a sharp reminder that the central front in Washington's "war on terror" has moved from Iraq. This realization has already had a major impact on the US presidential elections. - Jim Lobe (Jul 15, '08)

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA
Five weddings and many funerals
The bombing of a wedding party in Afghanistan on July 6 brings to five the number of such gatherings hit by United States air power since 2001, including in Iraq, with cumulatively hundreds of dead and wounded. - Tom Engelhardt (Jul 14, '08)

Afghanistan's 'sons of the soil' rise up
With the Taliban proving increasingly difficult to defeat militarily, and with the Western coalition reluctant to negotiate with any Taliban or al-Qaeda radicals, an uneasy stalemate has been reached in Afghanistan. Pakistan sees this as an opportunity to regain its position as a key player in the affairs of its neighbor by elevating moderate "sons of the soil" Taliban as the people to negotiate with. This is already happening in Pakistan's tribal areas. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 11, '08)

Disturbing signs for Nepal
Astrologers predict a rough time ahead for Nepal, with floods and famine. Bickering politicians are not making matters any better - a new prime minister and a president still have to be elected. If it carries on like this, warn some, the country could even break apart. - Dhruba Adhikary (Jul 10, '08)

India caught in the Taliban myth
India's reaction to the deadly bombing of its embassy in Kabul is one of outrage and the calls for retaliatory action are vigorous. On the complex Afghan stage, though, this is not a simple morality play of good versus evil. Something has gone very wrong with India's attitude to the Taliban and instead of a knee-jerk "war on terror" response, a comprehensive examination of exactly what India is doing in Afghanistan could better serve the country. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul 9, '08)

India chases the Dragon in Sri Lanka
China is steadily increasing its activities in Sri Lanka through the sale of arms and with development projects, including the building of a key port. India, fearing it is being left behind in its own neighborhood, has increased its support to the Sri Lankan armed forces. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 9, '08)

Myanmar signs up energy partners
Companies from India's Bharat Heavy Electricals to Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production are securing multimillion-dollar deals with Myanmar's military junta, even as its rulers seek billions of dollars in emergency aid from international donors in the wake of the Cyclone Nargis disaster. - Brian McCartan (Jul 9, '08)

Now it's war against India in Afghanistan
The Taliban and Pakistan have denied responsibility for the devastating suicide attack on the Indian Embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday. Delhi doesn't believe a word of it. The Taliban have frequently targeted projects sponsored and constructed by India in Afghanistan, fearing India's growing influence at the expense of Pakistan. Delhi is being urged to send troops into Afghanistan. This might add to India's stature, but it would be a disaster. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul 8, '08)

    UN leads global condemnation (AFP)

COMMENT
Delhi carries a small stick
India talks a good game, but it could play a much more proactive role in regional and international security, if not for the greater good, then for its own motives to stabilize its periphery and gain access to the natural resources and markets on its doorstep. The attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul could be the spur Delhi needs. - Chietigj Bajpaee (Jul 8, '08)

COMMENT
Islamism shakes Kashmir
After decades without large-scale popular movements, Indian-administered Kashmir exploded into virtual anarchy last month over moves to allow Hindu pilgrims temporary sanctuary on forest land. Clearly, the alienation of ordinary Muslim Kashmiris from the Indian government did not subside with the decline of violence by Pakistani jihadis - they were just waiting for an opportune symbolic issue to latch onto. - Sreeram Chaulia (Jul 7, '08)

Bush carves out a legacy in Asia
With President George W Bush's "war on terror" mostly discredited, it is in Asia where the United States, instead of being rendered a sub-theme to China's historic rise, is totting up success stories, from North Korea to a potential breakthrough in India-Pakistan ties. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul 7, '08)

India blows up a monsoon
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made a very calculated political - and potentially dangerous - move to seal the much-delayed civilian nuclear accord with the United States. The deal, though, is only one piece on the chessboard of India's global ambitions that includes the key players of Pakistan, Iran and the United States. But it's the weather that could decide Manmohan's and the chess game's fate. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul 3, '08)

India hurt by torture claims
A first-ever nationwide assessment has found that the use of torture is blatant and widespread in India's prisons and police custody, with an average of four persons dying each day. In the broader sense, says the report, torture reduces the effectiveness of the country's counter-insurgency operations. - Neeta Lal (Jul 1, '08)

Smoke and mirrors in the Khyber Valley
Pakistan is trumpeting the success of military operations at the weekend in the Khyber Agency against the Taliban, and Washington will be pleased that Islamabad is finally taking action. The trouble is, the offensive was launched in the wrong area and against the wrong people, leaving the "real" Taliban well alone. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 30, '08)

Desperate Delhi wheels and deals
The Indian coalition government has made friends with former foes in a final bid to move ahead with a civilian nuclear deal with the United States. The high-risk move could end in early general elections, and might already be too late. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 30, '08)

CHAN AKYA
Incredible India, indeed
While its neighbors blissfully ignore bigger economic trends, India's policymakers have made a series of poor strategic choices for the country, in effect pushing the economy into the eye of the global storm. As the government grapples with inflation and contends with a fractious coalition, the outlook is murky. (Jun 30, '08)

Islamabad blinks at Taliban threat
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's response to the consolidation of the Taliban in Kandahar and Khost provinces in Afghanistan is to squeeze the supply lines of the militants across the border in Pakistan. Islamabad, in the face of a startling show of strength by the Taliban this week, is reluctant to play along. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 27, '08)

Huge case backlog clogs India's courts
A massive shortage of qualified judges has brought the Indian judiciary to a virtual standstill and tens of millions are waiting for justice. Meager salaries, such as the chief justice's US$800 monthly pay, have also led to widespread bribery and political interference, with 77% of Indians believing their court system is corrupt. - Neeta Lal (Jun 27, '08)

Firing blanks in Afghanistan
The saga of the youthful United States entrepreneur whose company won millions of dollars in contracts from the Pentagon to supply ammunition to the Afghan security forces has caught the eye of prosecutors as well as the US Congress. Most of the ordinance - from old communist bloc stockpiles - was substandard, if not plain useless, highlighting the "dysfunctional" procurement process at the Department of Defense. - David Isenberg (Jun 26, '08)

China toys with India's border
China's incursions into India's Sikkim state are becoming more frequent and more penetrating, the most recent one this month going a kilometer into Indian territory. Delhi fears it is all about Tibet: Beijing is laying claim to Indian territories in the name of their vital role to Tibetan Buddhist culture. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 26, '08)

Russia joins the war in Afghanistan
With its profound hindsight into its former performance in Afghanistan, it is strange that Russia is again wading into its southern neighbor by agreeing to supply weapons to the Afghan army in the fight against the Taliban. Moscow is looking at the bigger picture, though. It has put the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the defensive and sidestepped United States-led (and Chinese) efforts to undercut its influence in Central Asia. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jun 24, '08)

Pakistan calls the shots
Washington's grand plan for a compliant Pakistani government and military is in tatters, and its carrot of economic aid may no longer be enough to secure Islamabad's cooperation in the "war on terror" against the Taliban, with dire consequences. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 24, '08)

India takes glacier politics to new high
By embarking on a series of civilian and military mountaineering treks to the Siachen Glacier, India is reasserting its claim over a high-altitude swath of its tri-junction with Pakistan and China. But Siachen has been hotly contested for decades and the intrepid expeditions could aggravate an icy stalemate atop the Himalayas. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 24, '08) 

New Delhi airport, what a zoo
"This is your captain speaking: there will be a three-hour delay in our arrival in New Delhi because the runway is invested with meter-long lizards, antelope and hyenas." If such an in-flight announcement seems silly, you haven't flown into the Indian capital recently. New construction has moved an odd menagerie of critters to the airstrips, where they are clawing into flight schedules. - Neeta Lal (Jun 20, '08)

India tiptoes to the new Middle East
Israel is in peace negotiations with the Syrians and the Palestinians and is also hinting at peace with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In this "changed constellation", a new Middle East is struggling to be born, which is, paradoxically, a legacy of the George W Bush era, except it is far different from what the US president had in mind. India, with China on its mind, is in the midst of a flurry of Middle East activity to better place itself in what it considers its extended neighborhood. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jun 20, '08)

Taliban raise a storm in Kandahar
As the United States admits, the Taliban "can raise a lot of dust at any given moment", as they are doing now in the southern province of Kandahar, drawing a massed response from North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Afghan army forces. More than dust is being raised, though. This is just one aspect of the Taliban's military and political plan, hoped to bring down a veritable sandstorm. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jun 19, '08)

AUDIO: The fight for Kandahar
A Taliban spokesman talks to Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Jun 19, '08)
MP3        Podcast

Ranbaxy sale a perfect match
The purchase by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo of Indian generic-drugs maker Ranbaxy induced smiles all round. Investors bought into the two companies' shares, delighted at the market fit, while young Ranbaxy boss Malvinder Singh and his family can look forward to his 36th birthday US$2.3 billion richer. - Neeta Lal (Jun 18, '08)

India-Pakistan peace on track, somehow
With Pakistan mired in political uncertainty and security problems, there is still wide public sentiment in favor of peace with old foe India. Citing a generational shift, experts say Pakistani hostility towards India is waning, as are bitter memories of partition and religious differences. Delhi's role in the democratization of its neighbor now depends on talks this month. (Jun 18, '08)

India goes to war in space
Concerned over "the growing threat" to its space assets - especially its lucrative satellite program - India has established an Integrated Space Cell jointly run by military and civilian officials. The cell will attempt to more effectively utilize space-based assets for military purposes and look to protect these assets, such as against China's anti-satellite weaponry. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jun 17, '08)