VOICES FROM THE REGION#04: 14 October 2016 Afghanistan: Myth of the Splendid Sisterhood – – Guest Writer: Heidi Kingstone – Stories of abuse and the mutilation of women in Afghanistan are so common we are almost desensitised to it. Violence against women and particularly domestic violence has fed the headlines certainly since […]
VOICES FROM THE REGION#03: 11 OCTOBER 2016 Police in Kashmir: Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea – – – — — — — Raja Muzaffar Bhat – Amid the controversy over the banning of circulation of newspapers in July 2016, the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Government transferred Fayaz Ahmad Lone, Senior Superintendent […]
MANTRAYA SPECIAL REPORT#07: 10 OCTOBER 2016 Why Kazakhstan learns from Singapore – Boh Ze Kai – Abstract Kazakhstan’s adoption of the Singaporean governance and economic model is a fascinating subject worth exploration. Focusing on the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, the civil service structure, and healthcare services in Kazakhstan, this article delves into examining how the […]
– MANTRAYA SPECIAL REPORT#06: 03 OCTOBER 2016 India: Lessons from ‘surgical strikes’ in Myanmar – Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract It is not a commentary on the ability of the Indian army to carry out surgical strikes. Such strikes do not come with an element of success woven into them. And yet before the first […]
– MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#10: 28 SEPTEMBER 2016 Economic Impact of OBOR on Afghanistan Nivedita Jayaram – Abstract Afghanistan has been presented a tremendous opportunity for economic development through the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, which will help it overcome bottlenecks to economic development through investment in transportation, energy and telecommunications infrastructure. Afghanistan’s advantageous geographical position […]
– MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#09: 05 SEPTEMBER 2016 Failure of institutionalised cooperation in South Asia Nivedita Jayaram – Abstract Regional integration in South Asia lags behind other regions in the world despite efforts at institutionalized cooperation through the SAARC. Economic cooperation and connectivity in South Asia can pave the way for shared problem solving and greater […]
VOICES FROM THE REGION#02: 22 AUGUST 2016 Kashmir: Blame game isn’t Policy – – – — — — — Raja Muzaffar Bhat — – Abstract Kashmir is on a boil. In the absence of political measures, the situation can further worsen. The discourse over bringing normalcy to Kashmir must be based on a meaningful […]
MANTRAYA BRIEF#19: 08 AUGUST 2016 Assam’s NDFB: A battered militancy that refuses to die Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract What enables a weak militant outfit with less than 50 cadres to be the most lethal in Assam? Is it due to complacent security forces or the enabling conditions that make even numerically insignificant armed formations […]
MANTRAYA BRIEF#18: 04 AUGUST 2016 An icon retires: Whither anti-AFSPA agitation? Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract Irom Sharmila’s decision to end her 16 year old fast demanding scrapping of the controversial AFSPA does raise several uncomfortable questions regarding the organisation of civil rights movements in conflict ridden states. – “The quality of a leader is […]
MANTRAYA BRIEF#17: 04 JULY 2016 Whats in a name? Unscrambling the Dhaka terror strike Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract Whether global or local jihad consumed the lives of the Bangladeshis and foreigners on 1 July 2016 is irrelevant. An effective counter-terrorism response is about the state’s demonstrated inclination to provide a honest assessment of the challenge […]