Int’l Affairs

Putin’s takeover of Crimea scares US leaders because it challenges America’s global dominance. This crisis is serious and threatening, so much so that some commentators even compare it to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Thanassis Cambanis has summarized the core issue succinctly in The Boston Globe: ‘Putin’s annexation of the Crimea is a break in the order that America …

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013, called for joint development of an ‘Economic Belt’ along the Silk Road. The proposal has been enthusiastically received both at home and abroad. The ‘Belt’ initiative is the continuation and development of the spirit of the ancient Silk Road. Over 2,000 years ago, the industrious and brave people …

At the League of Arab States’ (LAS) 25th summit, leaders gathered in Kuwait to address perennial concerns, ranging from the lingering Palestinian-Israeli dispute, to the more recent Arab uprisings and the devastating civil war in Syria. Inasmuch as significant differences remained, the delegates had considered not issuing a final communiqu’, although cooler heads prevailed and one was duly read out …

Ukraine, the terra incognita, once made world headlines in 1986 under Soviet rule, when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster claimed scores of dead, and thousands more suffered the long-term effects of nuclear radiation. This time, following political turmoil and the subsequent invasion and annexation of Crimea by Russian forces, Ukraine’s media infamy is part of a much larger situation. Though independent …

Afghanistan experienced yet another defining moment as millions of Afghans braved suicide attacks, roadside bombs, intimidations and even unexpected stormy weather conditions to take part in the presidential elections’ expected to produce the country’s first democratic and peaceful transfer of power. That is if, in spite of a possible run-off, the next steps in the electoral process will allow for …

Contest for Central Asia Both Putin and the West are wooing Central Asian leaders in energy-rich Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. If Russia weakens economically, they will want at least a foot in the Western camp. Russia Diminished Russia’s role in international affairs is diminished, at least temporarily. Moscow has been de facto excluded from the Group of Eight industrialised …

Will henceforth mob decide who is to rule the country, not the ballot box? Is mobocracy now going to be the order of the day, and not democracy? Perhaps yes, if some current events are any guide. In Ukraine, an elected president has been driven out by protestors holding the capital city of Kiev hostage to their months-long street protest. …

There is a notable difference between the intensity of support for Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Seven-in-ten Indians are dissatisfied with the way things are going in India today. The Indian public, by a margin of more than three-to-one, would prefer the Hindu-nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to lead the next Indian government rather than the Indian National Congress …

Afghanistan recently celebrated the 25th year of withdrawal former Soviet soldiers from its soil. Exactly 25 years later, forty other countries, combating with Taliban and al-Qaeda for over 12 years, are in a process to pull out. The withdrawal of last of Soviet troops from the Hairatan border brought huge joy among Mujahideen who viewed themselves as the winner of …

Three Gulf monarchies’ “ Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain – are so annoyed with a fellow member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar, that they have recalled their ambassadors from Doha. This was done in protest against Qatar’s interference in their internal affairs. It’s hard to believe that a pro-Western emirate like Qatar would interfere in the internal affairs …