SouthAsiaSource

This Week in South Asia: May 3 – May 9

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. PakistanAs the ruling party in Pakistan completes its first year in power, opposition parties are raising the issue of ‘election rigging’ again, and plan to launch nationwide protests in the coming weeks. The elections […]

This Week in South Asia: April 26 – May 2

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaAs India approaches its final phase of voting, two isolated incidents of violence erupted in the north east and southern regions of the country.  Separatist rebels opened fire on a Muslim village this week […]

This Week in South Asia: April 19 – 25

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. India The sixth phase of elections in India consolidated an increasingly apparent trend in the prior five phases which illustrated a distinct improvement in voter turnout as compared to the 2009 Lok-Sabha elections. Only […]

Things are Finally Looking up for Afghanistan. Here’s How to Keep it that Way

By Riaz Mohammad Khan

The April 5 election in Afghanistan to choose Hamid Karzai’s successor saw a voter turnout of about 58 percent or some 7 million people. While the vote represents an important transition, there’s another key change that occurs in Afghanistan later this year: the drawdown of foreign forces. Afghanistan is an uncertain picture, but it offers […]

This Week in South Asia: April 5 – 11

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. AfghanistanA large segment of the Afghan populace turned out to elect the country’s next President as 7 of the 12 million voters exercised their franchise this week. Unexpectedly, the overall turnout reported was close […]

No Canvassing Sir: At the Polls in India

By Mohan Guruswamy

I just returned having performed my democratic duty with my left index finger indelibly stained as proof of it. My polling booth was at the elite Shriram School and the people gathered in it looked like on their way to a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting. Most of them, men, boys and girls, were wearing […]

The BJP Election Manifesto: Could have been the Congress Party’s too

By Mohan Guruswamy

I have been a manifesto writer ever since I moved to Delhi in 1984 and should know what I am talking about on them.  Often it would seem that the preparation and release of a manifesto is considered just a part of the ritual with no real bearing on the outcome. Since manifestos are mostly […]

This Week in South Asia: March 29 – April 4

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaWith the world’s largest democracy set to head to the polls for national elections early next week, its relationship with the world’s oldest democracy took yet another unexpected turn as Nancy Powell, U.S. Ambassador […]

This Week in South Asia: March 8 – 14

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaA little over 3 months after Devyani Khobragade, India’s Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on charges of lying to the United States government to obtain a visa for her housekeeper, a […]