It has been 20 years since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. Marking its 20thanniversary, 2016 offers an opportunity to gauge the successes and failures of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). One of the greatest challenges facing the implementation of the CTBT is… Continue reading CTBT 20: Reflections on the CTBTO Youth Initiative
India has been busy in the eastern Indian Ocean of late. In early February, the country finished its second International Fleet Review, which brought together 52 countries and more than 100 warships for ceremonial inspections, underscoring the growing indispensability of the maritime posture in India’s eastward orientation. In March, India test-fired a ballistic missile from its soon-to-be inducted, nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant,… Continue reading India Sees a New Regional Role for Its Navy
In light of China and Pakistan’s all-weather friendship, regional analysts have written extensively about their military cooperation. However, South Asia watchers have devoted considerably less attention to their space association. This is despite the fact that as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Beijing and Islamabad recently agreed to prioritize space collaboration. Pakistan’s… Continue reading Beijing, Islamabad’s Upper-Atmospheric Friendship
President Obama’s Afghan policy has been decidedly mixed. Upon coming to power in 2009, he had vowed to “finish the job” in Afghanistan— after almost eight years, the job isn’t done. As he prepares to exit the Oval office in a few months, the country remains in a precarious situation. However, during his presidency, the… Continue reading Afghanistan: Obama’s Mixed Bag Legacy
The 2016 Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Security Index was released this week. A media frenzy and heated debates in many countries followed the report’s release in both 2012 and 2014. The same appears to be true this year, particularly in South Asia, where debates over nuclear security remain contentious. Despite India’s improved performance, the report… Continue reading NTI Index 2016: The View from India
November 2015 witnessed a multilateral discussion at the United Nations (UN) on the issue of autonomous killer robots, unmanned weapon systems that can independently select and engage targets without any humans in the loop. Several countries held extensive discussions in Geneva on the ramifications of this self-operating weapon system and deliberated over the proposal of… Continue reading Managing the Menace of Killer Robots
On July 14, after marathon negotiations, the world finally welcomed the nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the six world powers. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is set to tear down the walls of almost a decade old sanctions on Iran, in a graded manner. Although there were multiple voices expressing… Continue reading Iran Nuclear Deal and India – Economic Opportunities and Threats
Since April this year, news portals have been replete with developments regarding the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC project, which was originally proposed by China in May 2013 and inaugurated in August 2013, has once again come into the limelight. This is largely due to the recent signing of an agreement to commence work… Continue reading CPEC and China’s Western Development Strategy
Lausanne witnessed a historic moment on April 2, when Iran and the P5 + 1 (United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany) announced the interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme. The agreement is currently in progress and the final deal is scheduled to be signed on June 30 (fingers crossed). If the agreement… Continue reading P5 Plus 1 – Iran Nuclear Deal: What It Means for India
President Obama’s visit to India marks a crucial event, with hope of instilling a sense of dynamism in India-US relations. Interestingly, Barack Obama would be the first serving American President to ever attend India’s Republic Day celebrations and also the first to visit India twice. Beyond the high symbolism that dominates the visit, there are… Continue reading Obama’s India Visit: Opportunities & Challenges
Aditi Malhotra 