Neighborhood Studies looks at the range of cross-cutting issues such as political developments, economic activities, cross-border activities and foreign affairs related issues and security surfacing in its immediate neighbors – India and China – in addition to its extended neighbors such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. The study focuses to explore and identify emerging priorities in the neighborhood and generate evidence and analysis.
India should take lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic situation of the US and Europe. It should upgrade the existing health system with adequate equipment, staff and infrastructure. The Government should immediately scale up its expenditure in healthcare from 3.5 percent to 5 percent of its GDP. ...
India is an economic and military power, which can propel India in the direction of global power heterogeneity composing of multipolarity. India can also occupy the global supply chain of pharmaceutical production in the world ...
Perception towards China plays a great role in the spread of conspiracy theories, and reinforcement of counterknowledege. However, if we counter conspiracy theories with facts and logical question, they will fall flat. We should investigate mishandling of the situation by China initially, but at the same time we should be ready to hear the narrative of another side as well and extend help to other countries in this time of distress ...
The role of a global leader is to maintain status quo, global order, create institutions at the international level. While it is too early to predict who will emerge the global order post COVID-19, the world will be less open, less prosperous and less free. It is also evident that there will be a shift from the West to the East with China claiming greater role at global table ...
Stability of oil market and low Brent crude prices is always in favor of Indian economy because it is solely dependent upon imports of fuel. The current oil price war is significantly going to benefit India but government needs a comprehensive plan of actions to take advantage of this geopolitical spat between Riyadh and Moscow ...
Nepal needs to strike a balance between both the regional and the global power. It is crucial for Nepal to find the common grounds with India and China in such a way that it addresses their core concerns while allowing room for Nepal to exercise its independent foreign policy with other great powers ...
At the time when China has resolved its ‘land border’ with all its neighbours, debarring Bhutan and India, India having border disputes with many of its neighbour do not fit in its ambition to rise as a regional and global power. It is in mutual interest to resolve it through dialogue as soon as possible ...
India can play a bigger role in increasing the potential of its neighbouring countries, given its relative advances not only in modern healthcare system but also in traditional healing practices. Indian states that share open and porous borders with others South Asian countries should be equipped and encouraged to play a bigger role ...
The faith of Indians in Prime Minister Modi has helped a great deal. With one-sixth of the world population, India needs to learn a crucial lesson from this COVID-19 pandemic that public health is the utmost priority and adequate allocations of resources must be made as if it is defending the nation. Only hope is that, markets will find their equilibrium and India will not be so badly impacted by the disruption in global supply and value chains ...
February Flavour: The US-Taliban Agreement
The US-Taliban agreement has tough road ahead and needs cooperation from the entire Afghan section for it to result in peace in the country. The US has been at the forefront of the 'democracy drive' in West Asia, but surprisingly, they have not asked Taliban to distance itself from violence outside Afghanistan ...