Cautious optimism best for India
The Kashmir bus service is a nice confidence building measure, but nothing more. India should remain cautious, as such signs of good will have, in the past, led to brutal conflicts.
India’s Development Diplomacy: Re-Engaging Afghanistan
The present approach of engaging regional players in Afghanistan by the United States could be scuttled by the bargaining postures of Iran, Russia, Pakistan, India and China on various issues of mutual concern. Rather than overtly depending on United States for guiding India through its AfPak strategy, India needs to proactively engage regional players- Iran, Russia and China through pro-active diplomacy, which could lead to potential joint problem solving initiatives. Also Indian initiatives could help defining issues in Afghanistan more in terms of creating value and bringing stability and security for all the concerned state parties.
Shifting Sands: Instability in Undefined Asia
Shifting Sands: Instability in Undefined Asia Author: Strategic Foresight Group Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 04/28/2003 Category: Special Report There are periods in history when the world changes. The Second World War from 1939 to 1945, and the end of Cold War and apartheid from 1989 to 1992 were the last two […]
Potential gains from Peace in the Indian-Pakistan Conflict
A new report provides clear and graphic estimates of the gains from peace and the losses that accrue from violent conflict.
Malala and the Children of Syria
Jahan Zeb writes us about Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousofzai, who recently visited the Syrian-Jordanian border to meet with people fleeing the conflict in Syria, and to draw international attention to the needs of refugees — especially refugee children.
Hopes and Challenges Facing Emerging Democracies in Africa and Asia
The best hope for a peaceful world where fundamental human
rights are respected is for democracy to ultimately triumph in fractured societies. However, for that to happen, certain
preconditions must be established including the rule of law, an independent judiciary and
media, a culture that begins to ferociously resists corruption and the
establishment of truly independent organs of government that can ensure a fair democratic processes.
Nuclear Dangers and Challenges to a New Nuclear Policy
Nuclear Dangers and Challenges to a New Nuclear Policy Author: David Krieger Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 01/04/2008 Category: Policy It is worthwhile asking the question: What are nuclear weapons? In some respects the answer to this question may seem obvious, but this is not necessarily the case. To some, nuclear weapons […]
Nukes Worldwide: Disarmament, Iran, and New Military Doctrines
Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, says that there is a need for political solutions to resolve the nuclear proliferation in recent times.
Dhanapala is now the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordination of the Peace Process in Sri Lanka. He has also served as a Commissioner in UNSCOM and the Head of the Special Group visiting the Presidential Sites in Iraq in addition to his duties as Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs.
In 2006 he will likely be Asia’s candidate for the post of the United Nations Secretary General.
Dhanapala feels passionately about disarmament. He spoke to Ravi R. Prasad at his office in Colombo.
Rescuing Afghanistan from Terror: Recommendations for Recovery
The undetermined question: where will Afghanistan go next? Taking a step forward – Al Santoli provides a solution oriented analysis of the insurgency in Afghanistan. Treading through a mud thick of strife, other options must be considered to overcome the increasing number of attacks on civilians and foreign parties and the ever-growing opium industry.
Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiative (GRBI) in Pakistan: Needs, Initiatives and Challenges – A Contextual Analysis
Dr. Shahbaz Israr Khan examines the ways in which gender-neutral approaches to budgeting are highly discriminatory against woman, especially in neoliberal economies and the globalized world context. He concludes that in a highly patriarchal environment, gender neutral budgets, without assessing their implications for women, men, boys and girls, can have a very negative impact on the society and especially on women’s lives. The paper presents needs, initiatives and challenges of Gender Budget Initiatives, and also addresses the issues related to the Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiative in Pakistan.