COMMENT 222 – Remember Mumbai! – Europe must not appease the sponsorship of terrorism
On November 26, 2008, terrorists belonging to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) conducted coordinated terrorist attacks against multiple targets in Mumbai. The three-day carnage in India’s financial and economic centre, principal port city and second-most populous urban area in the country led to the killing of around 165 people and...
COMMENT 221 – Tottering Taliban – leverage to improve the plight of the Afghan...
From blaming Washington alone for the dramatic developments in Afghanistan since the US withdrawal, most observers now focus on addressing the plight of the Afghan people and the puzzle of finding an appropriate approach towards the new Taliban government in Kabul. The question over the recognition of the Taliban...
Focus 77 – Technology Transfer in Bangladesh to Accelerate Energy Transition
Abstract
Retail manufacturing is an industry that puts high demand on energy resources. Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest garment exporters; its ready-made garment sector (RMG) accounts for 84% its exports. Nevertheless, in 2020, Bangladesh ranked only 87 out of 115 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition...
Focus 76 – SAARC’s dysfunctionality and China’s foot at South Asia’s Door
Abstract
The South Asian region is experiencing a shift in power dynamics. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has faced difficulties in reaching its potential, and India has played a great role in such difficulties. On the other hand, China’s involvement in the region creates new challenges for...
Focus 75 – India’s New Education Policy in 2020: Antinomies of progress
Abstract
This paper contains a comprehensive analysis of the New Education Policy of India (2020). For instance, it would be interesting to analyse, compare and understand whether the BJP-ruled Indian government passed the National Educational Policy (NEP; 2020) so as further privatize the nation’s educational system. What multidimensional impacts could...
Comment 220 – After Kabul – What next for Pakistan?
After the takeover of Kabul by the Pakistan-sponsored Taliban, one can speculate regarding which role will Islamabad play in Afghanistan’s future. This will depend of course on Islamabad’s ties with the wider Taliban in general and with the factions traditionally close to Pakistan in particular, namely the Haqqani Network....
COMMENT 219 – Beijing’s expansionism in the Himalayas
‘China Is Building Entire Villages in Another Country’s Territory’ is the title of a report by Robert Barnett, an eminent scholar on modern Tibetan history and politics. The report regarded an official visit by Chinese authorities to the new village of Gyalaphug (Jieluobu), ‘key to the settlement of the...
Focus 74 – Post-Taliban Takeover: What is at Stake for India in Afghanistan?
Abstract
India and Afghanistan share a long history of cultural and social linkages. Post-independence relations between India and Afghanistan were complicated by various power dynamics in the region. After 2001 India managed to have an amicable relationship with the Afghan government. However, after the Taliban took over, the future of...
COMMENT 218 – From Taliban 2.0 to EU DisInfolab – The outreach of Global...
here are no moderate Taliban – Dr Massouda Jalal so entitled her anticipatory 2011 Wall Street Journal article. Jalal, the first woman running for the Office of President, who also served as a minister for woman affairs in Afghanistan, highlighted that ‘eeking to negotiate with an implacable enemy could...
COMMENT 217 – Terrorism financing: Crypto-Taliban?
The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week in June 2021 focused on the financing of Islamist terror groups. The meeting zeroed in on the ‘misuse of digital space for terrorist financing purposes’. As noted in a statement following the meeting, ‘it was recognized that the pandemic enhanced opportunities for terrorist groups...