South Asia

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 […]

Stephan on an International Strategy to Support Good Governance

By Maria J. Stephan

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Maria Stephan co-writes for the New York Times on the need for international support for civil societies and good governance: 

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 […]

Nawaz: Demographics Play a Role in Afghan Transition

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Director is quoted by RIA Novosti on the role demographics have played in Afghanistan’s transition to democracy: