Pipelines and Energy

Gal Luft, director at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) cautions the U.S. to curb its enthusiasm towards the Nabucco pipeline arguing that it served as Iran’s economic lifeline and would imperil American interests although it reduced European dependence on Russian gas. In an article for the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, “How to beat Iran’s pipeline strategy”, he also calls on the U.S. to cooperate with India on the development of a thorium nuclear fuel cycle.

Fighting corruption in Afghanistan

Christina Larson, editor at Foreign Policy states that China's handling of minority affairs had not changed since the days of Mao although every other aspect of life in the People's Republic had changed. In a Foreign Policy op-ed “China's Minority Problem--And Ours”, she states that Beijing may not have the option of plugging its ears to minority dissatisfaction for much longer arguing that the political system is not configured to protect minorities from abuse and may lead to worsening ethnic tensions unless Beijing relooked its policies on ethnic minorities.

Unconventional partners in nuclear sphere: India, Australia

Amandeep Gill, visiting fellow at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation and Rory Medcalf, director of International Security at the Lowy Institute argue that an innovative partnership between Australia and India would help erode the entrenched blocs that impede progress on nuclear disarmament. In a policy brief, "Unconventional partners: Australia-India cooperation in reducing nuclear dangers", they recommend a specialised bilateral dialogue, practical cooperation on non-proliferation export controls, promotion of Indian involvement in the so-called Australia Group to raise comfort levels between New Delhi and other such arrangements.

The nuclear headache

Bruce Riedel, senior fellow at Brookings' Saban Center for Middle East Policy claims that the Pakistan army’s offensive in Waziristan and the growing backlash among the public against the Taliban and al Qaeda offered Washington an opportunity to improve its image in Pakistan. In an article, "Pakistan, the next nuclear nightmare", he states that if the Obama administration showed continued resolve in Afghanistan, Pakistan would follow suit against the Taliban.

Insurgency's supply routes

Matthew Levitt, Director at The Washington Institute's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, analyzes the often-overlooked economic angle of insurgents' use of third party countries for training, fundraising, and transit using Syria as an example for Iragi insurgents. In a Perspectives of Terrorism article, Foreign Fighters and Their Economic Impact: A Case Study of Syria and al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), the author states that shutting down the facilitation networks to starve the insurgency of its supply of material, funds and manpower while expanding the legitimate economy to compensate for the contraction of the illicit economy were critical components of any counter-insurgency campaign.

Soft vs Hard power in Afghanistan

Harsh Pant of King's College, London claims that India’s attempt to leverage its ‘soft power’ in Afghanistan by focusing on civilian matters is becoming increasingly risky in the wake of the attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul and that could force a change in strategy. In a commentary for ISN Security Watch, "India in Afghanistan", he states that the debate on how to approach Afghanistan is not close to a resolution in Indian political corridors, any change in strategy will have serious implications for the future of India’s rise as global power and regional security in South Asia.

Trans-pacific partnership

Daniel Sneider, director of Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and Richard Katz, editor of the Oriental Economist Report state that U.S - Japan alliance would continue to be the cornerstone of the new DPJ Government. In an article in Foreign Policy, "The New Asianism", they seek to allay any fears of a fundamental shift in the DPJ stance towards security and economic affairs and highlight that Japan is taking steps to ensure that its not relegated as a regional leader in East Asia.