Int’l Affairs

On March 3, the US capital Washington D.C. witnessed an absurd political theatre when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before a joint session of Congress — not the Knesset — to give a speech on the dangers of Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and used his podium in the US Congress to criticize the US President. How ironic, the political …

Fifteenth century was a critical juncture in world history because since then man has not been able to comprehend as to what “development” actually is. Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World” of the Americas on 12th of October 1492 in an expedition that was sponsored by Isabella, the Queen of Castile and León — the lady who, with the help …

Does Davos Actually Do Anything? Every year since 1971, political, academic and corporate leaders from across the globe gather at Swiss ski resort Davos, for a four-day conference to chew over the critical issues facing the year ahead. This year more than 2,500 leaders attended the Forum. Although the forum boasts delegates from more than 100 countries, the largest number …

From the Perspective of International Nuclear Law INTRODUCTION The civil nuclear deal between the US and India is being treated as a waterline of a ship by media in Pakistan. The framework of most analyses hovers around the military and security aspects of the deal but the legal, commercial and technological dimensions have not received much attention. The instant write-up …

A Crucial Test for the World The year 2014 ended with a cliff-hanger for the Israeli-Palestinian question. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed the Rome Statute on New Year’s eve. His move followed a vote against a Palestinian attempt to have the UN Security Council set a deadline for Israel to end its occupation of territories it captured in 1967. …

Have you ever wondered why the United States jumps through many hoops to accommodate the brutal whims of Israel? Why the world’s only ‘superpower’ becomes servile to the Israel’s diktats? Why a country like the US which champions democracy and human rights across the world is not willing to listen to the cries of the innocent Palestinians? Actually, it is …

What’s the future of oil geopolitics? On January 23rd, Saudi Arabia’s gerontocrat King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz passed away ta the age of 90 years. He was just shy of reaching the 10th anniversary of his accession to the Saudi throne — he took over in August 2005. Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the new king of the Saudi …

The year 2014 culminated in Afghanistan leaving the country in two important transitions. First is the political transition where a new government has been installed, though after a laborious and lengthy election process. Second is the end of the Isaf’s 13-year-long ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ ergo transferring of primary responsibility for security to the Afghan National Army and Afghan police force. …

Russia is a country with which India has had a strategic relationship since decades. America is a place where Indians migrate to for a better life. That is how Indians view the world’s two leading powers. It’s as simple as that. US President Barrack Obama’s recent visit to India will not change that reality, and those speculating about dramatic changes …

The winners and losers after 13 years of combat The war in Afghanistan — the longest war in United States history — has ended. In a small and quiet ceremony in the presence of dozens of handpicked Afghan and international officials, the US and its Nato allies lowered the flag of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and replaced it with …