In a remarkable development in the Indo-Pacific political puzzle, on August 20 this year Japan and India held a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi in which the foreign and defense ministers of both countries took part. It was the third meeting of its kind, the first of which took place in New Delhi in November 2019. The original decision to create this bilateral platform was taken following a series of reciprocal visits by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart at the time, Shinzo Abe.

A Separatist group in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has killed 74 people in multiple attacks within 24 hours. The militants specifically targeted the civilians belonging to Punjab after stopping vehicles on the national highway in Musa Khel district. They hold that their fight is against the country’s military. This has sparked outrage around the country and has spread fear among the citizens.

The situation in South Asia over the past few weeks has been marked by a number of notable events, of which the dramatic developments in Bangladesh deserve special attention. Her departure was provoked by mass demonstrations in which students and other young people played a decisive role…

Political uncertainty looms large over the South Asian region. Governments in all the regional countries are suspicious about their future. A massive uprising in Bangladesh and the consequent ouster of the country’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajid has significantly impacted the neighboring countries. This inculcated fear among the governments of the neighboring countries. In Pakistan, the government was already facing public backlash due to the alleged sham elections.

According to the assessment of the OXFAM International Foundation, which deals with the social contradictions between rich and poor, the biggest and most dangerous topic for all mankind is the explosive growth of inequality. Evidence shows that today’s labour struggles in a wide range of countries, whatever their slogans, are ultimately attributable primarily to the widening income gap between rich and poor.

India has had a historical and civilizational relationship with the South Caucasus for more than several millennia. In 1992, India recognized the independence of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the last decade, bilateral relations between the countries of Armenia and India…

In Pakistan, a de facto nuclear-armed state, there are growing signs of a sharp deterioration in the domestic political situation. Generally speaking, it is not easy to identify a period of at least a few years in Pakistan’s domestic political life over the past two to three decades that could not be defined as a “crisis”…

Bangladesh’s economic plight and stagnant employment growth in the private sector led to widespread dissatisfaction among the citizens. Almost 32 million Bengali citizens out of the total population of 170 million are jobless or uneducated. Dollar reserves in the country are shrinking, while inflation hovers at around 10 percent per annum. The Bangladeshi High Court’s decision in June to reinstate the quota system for government jobs further ignited the situation.

The International Transport Corridor (INSTC) was established in September 2000 by Iran, Russia, and India in St. Petersburg. The corridor expanded with the admission of 13 major corridor member countries such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkey. INSTC connects India to the Caspian Sea, Russia, and Northern Europe through Iran. By bypassing the Suez Canal, INSTC is 40% shorter and 30% cheaper than traditional routes in terms of distance and time.

The recent elections in different parts of the world are deciding factors in shaping the future of the globe. Various South Asian countries also held general elections during the first half of 2024. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India – some of the SAARC members, also held general elections during this time, while elections in Sri Lanka are also likely to be held before October this year. These general elections in the SAARC countries will not only decide the future trajectories of these countries but will also be the pivotal determinants of the fate of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Pakistan’s political culture has never been truly democratic since the country’s inception. Democracy has been derailed numerous times by the state’s establishment of the country since its creation. The non-democratic forces controlling the Pakistani state have been using different politicians and political parties to achieve their ambitions. Allegedly, the incumbent Pakistani government is also supported by the deep state.

Following India’s general elections in April-May, a new government led by the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi was formed in early June. The first days India’s “new” government have been marked by a number of notable foreign policy developments.