Author: Chandrashekar TS

M.AM.PhiL/(PhD SNU South Korea)
China hobnobs with Taliban through Pakistan: Is this the emergence of the new ‘Axis of Evil’?
Analysis, Asia, Featured

China hobnobs with Taliban through Pakistan: Is this the emergence of the new ‘Axis of Evil’?

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held talks with the Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Sudden international political developments are happening in South Asia which has bilateral, regional and global ramifications, especially India . Until a few days back Taliban were pariah’s of the world but now are getting recognized and legitimized by few nations for their narrow political interests. World knew when in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Osama Bin Laden was exposed by American Seals and Pakistan sheltering Taliban leaders. Taliban who are in a medieval mindset with imposition of Sharia and Caliphate are a combination of Haqqani Network, LeT, HuM, JuD, Islamic State and Al Qaeda to name a few. They are also supported by Pakistan to capture Afghanistan with ISI and Army in L...
Unrest in South Africa: A Coordinated Strategy of Chaos
Africa, Analysis, Featured

Unrest in South Africa: A Coordinated Strategy of Chaos

Reasons for Unrest  There are two clear and opposing forces in the African National Congress. One is headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa (2018- Present), other, known as the RET faction, they are sympathetic and fiercely loyal to the Former president Jacob Zuma (2009-18). Jacob Zuma was the spymaster of the ANC for years after leaving office, and is believed to have maintained staunch allies in the intelligence services. The RET faction feels cornered by the momentum gained by the present President Ramaphosa faction. They wanted a change of guard urgently and hence stand to benefit if the current president is weakened.  The situation worsened when violence broke out after Former President Jacob Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. He had refuse...
Towards a Secure, Peaceful and Stable Jammu & Kashmir
Analysis, Featured, National

Towards a Secure, Peaceful and Stable Jammu & Kashmir

Women line-up to vote in the local body polls in a Kashmir village after the abrogation of Article 370 After the removal of Article 370 ‘Dilli ki Doori’ as well as ‘Dil Ki Doori’ have been successfully bridged with massive support of Kashmiris for Constitutional integration of India.Insurgency had ruined the normal functioning of the state, and had forced New Delhi to notify the erstwhile state of J&K as a “disturbed area” and invoke the AFSPAStatistics further show that there has been a 40% decrease of involvement of local youth in terrorist organizations as only 67 youths of Kashmir valley were brainwashed and made to pick up guns against India.After the abrogation of Article 370 due to PM Modi’s iron grip policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and strengthening of security a...
Japan and Australia Team up to counter unilateral attitude of China: Should India sign similar Reciprocal Access Agreements?
Analysis, Featured, Oceania

Japan and Australia Team up to counter unilateral attitude of China: Should India sign similar Reciprocal Access Agreements?

China has created unrest in the world due to its authoritarian military dictatorship and unilateral actions. It has directly attacked, threatened and ordered its neighbors and has changed land, air and water boundaries unilaterally. It has neither accepted international conventions nor respects international freedom of navigation.  Every neighbor of China feels threatened by its acts. Many countries are increasing their military spending to counter China’s military might and forming alliances to safeguard their national interests and security.  Recently Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, with Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton announced that Australian ships will be guaranteed protection if they request it from...
China Technological Breakthroughs: Should the World be elated or concerned?
Analysis, Asia, Featured

China Technological Breakthroughs: Should the World be elated or concerned?

China has taken a bold step forward with the recommendation of 178 technology innovations of centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs).China’s Centrally administered SOEs have rich resources, top talent, and sufficient capital. At any given time they can organize all kinds of market elements to improve the efficiency of tech R&D designState-owned enterprises (SOEs) are important components of the Chinese economy.  There were the days when Chinese products were cheap, of low quality, with no guarantee and were meant to be ‘use and throw’ products. China was the cheapest factory in the world and the label ‘Made in China’ itself was looked down upon and questioned. But today, China has transformed itself into a nation of cutting-edge technologies. It offers the be...
The Great Game over Rare Earth Minerals in Afghanistan
Analysis, Asia, Big Block of 4, Featured

The Great Game over Rare Earth Minerals in Afghanistan

United States Geological Survey geological survey estimates that Afghanistan may hold 60 million metric tons of copper, 2.2 billion tons of iron ore, and 1.4 million tons of rare earth elements (REEs) such as lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and veins of aluminium, gold, silver, zinc, mercury, and lithium. The USGS estimates the Khanneshin deposits in Helmand province will yield 1.1.-1.4 million metric tons of REEs. Some reports estimate Afghanistan REE resources are among the largest on earth. China has won exploration rights for copper, coal, oil, and lithium deposits across Afghanistan, and there are reports that Beijing won the rights to develop a copper mine by bribing Afghan mining officials. America and NATO Troops are going to withdraw from Afghanistan this year. Soon ...
China’s Digital Currency: Purpose and Implication for the World
Analysis, Featured

China’s Digital Currency: Purpose and Implication for the World

China has a big weakness and that is its wish to dominate the World. It wants to be a super power and control land, air, sea and even space. After becoming the Cheap Factory of the World, from Telecommunications, High End Manufacturing revolution in Automotive, to IoT, AI, Robotics, China is making its presence felt everywhere. After gaining control over Macau and Hong Kong, it is now trying to take over Taiwan. With its Global Infrastructure Plans through its BRI, China’s ambition has no end. Now China’s Central Bank has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group, to help build a technical platform for its sovereign digital currency. China’s Digital Highway SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecom...
Assassination Attempt on Mohamed Nasheed – Can India and the World ignore the rise of Militant Islam in the Maldives?
Analysis, Asia, Featured

Assassination Attempt on Mohamed Nasheed – Can India and the World ignore the rise of Militant Islam in the Maldives?

Police inspect the area after a bomb exploded last week outside the home of former President Mohamed Nasheed On 6 May 2021, an assassination attempt was made against Maldivian speaker of the People's Majlis and former president Mohamed Nasheed near his home in Malé.  A homemade explosive device planted on a parked motorcycle exploded injuring Nasheed and four others. The explosion occurred while Nasheed was getting into his car. He sustained injuries and is currently undergoing surgery. Also injured were two of Nasheed's bodyguards and two bystanders, one of whom was a British national. Maldives authorities allege it to be a terrorist attack by religious 'extremists'. Three suspects have been arrested. Maldives Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed said at a news conference...
Chip Shortage in the World and Its Effect on India – Can India achieve Self-Sufficiency in Chip manufacturing?
Analysis, Featured, National

Chip Shortage in the World and Its Effect on India – Can India achieve Self-Sufficiency in Chip manufacturing?

Semiconductors are used in all modern electronic devices and technologies.Any disturbances in the supply chain of hardware including chips can have a great effect on the electronics industry in India.The world is facing a new threat due to a shortage of semiconductors or chips as Taiwan which is home to two-thirds of the world semiconductor manufacturing is severely affected by the worst drought in half a century.Governments across the world are subsidizing the construction of semiconductor plants to reduce the dependence on Taiwan for supplies.India has developed expertise in chip designing and in delivering technical services around microchip design but a lot needs to be done to achieve self-sufficiency.Even defence PSUs such as BEL rely on having the fabrication done abroad and not...
US Vaccine Nationalism and India’s Vaccine Diplomacy – Risking lives versus Saving lives
Analysis, Featured, World

US Vaccine Nationalism and India’s Vaccine Diplomacy – Risking lives versus Saving lives

The US that positions itself as the policeman of the world, has restricted even the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine to India, let alone dispatching vaccines to needy countries.The supplies of raw materials, which is in high demand globally and sought after by major Indian manufacturers are being forced by the Biden government to provide it only for domestic manufacturers in the US.Until recently India has administered more than 13.5 Crore COVID-19 vaccine shots to people across the country. At the same time, it had shipped over million doses to more than 80 nationsSome analysts say most developing countries wouldn't have received vaccine shots if India hadn't supplied them.Timely and equitable access to pandemic countermeasures, including vaccines i...