‘Strategic realism’ with ‘economic pragmatism’ — a former diplomat on ‘creative’ economic diplomacy
In fact, the larger framework for economic diplomacy should seek to balance commercial outreach with broader strategic foreign policy aims. Diplomats have moved from promoting trade agreements to more innovative means of dealing with a world in flux. The traditional instruments of promoting investment, exports and tourism have to be supplemented with additional pathways for achieving the national interest.
Why Modi must try & make peace
The planetary turmoil is not new. India has deftly navigated a world where power dynamics have shifted from bipolarity to unipolarity to the current multipolarity of sorts, where India also aspires to be a pole. But the current decade has frontloaded the shocks: a global pandemic; an economic meltdown; wars in Ukraine and Gaza; and the looming threat of another conflict theatre around Taiwan.
Why Modi’s in Moscow
For Delhi, Moscow will remain an important strategic, defence and energy partner. India’s historical investments in the Russia relationship do not just make for a ‘legacy factor’, they are essential to sustain defence preparedness, to ensure an alternate source for energy and technology, and even to serve as a geopolitical hedge in a world between orders.
Hybrid Pakistan
In the aftermath of brazenly rigged elections of 8 February, Pakistan has unveiled a new parliament, government, and cabinet of ministers, in a spectacle carefully choreographed by its military establishment.
Khan’s out of jail, but it’s still advantage generals
Ever since his famous breakup with former army chief Bajwa- and public revelations by both about their rocky ‘same page’ government of three years- it was clear that the army could not afford an Imran 2.0 regime.
Pakistan back to being Pakistan
The trial court judge showed extraordinary alacrity in convicting Imran on the weekend, in what was seen in Pakistan as a ‘fixed match’. The ruling dispensation wanted the Imran problem out of the way before the assemblies are dissolved on August 9 and a caretaker setup takes over.
Nawaz May Be Just Awaz
Nawaz Sharif, punished for questioning the army’s primacy, had been removed under a ‘minus Nawaz’ formula designed by Pakistan’s establishment, which allowed the PML-N to complete its parliamentary term, as long as Nawaz himself was kept out of the fray, with a choice of prison or exile.
Pak set for another selection
The most critical element of the polycrisis is the economic meltdown that the country faces, with inflation close to 40 percent, growing deficits, absent investment, stunted growth and mounting public anger. All this will require the new civilian regime to start knocking on the doors of the IMF for a grim 24th bailout program from June 2024.
Vox Militum beats Vox Populi
While the PML-N ended up as the largest federal party (with 75 of 266 national assembly seats), but no majority in its home base of Punjab, and the Zardari-Bhutto PPP claimed 54 seats and the home province of Sindh, it was the independents (mostly) backed by the PTI that surprised Pakistanis with over 100 seats.