Category: South Asia

News and Analyses of events in South Asia

India and Pakistan

India-Pakistan’s Deep-Rooted Rivalry Shaping South Asia

The ongoing tension between India and Pakistan isn’t just a political and military issue—it carries a massive economic price tag. Research shows that if both nations normalized trade, Pakistan’s exports could surge by 80%, adding a potential $25 billion to its economy based on 2022 figures. India alone accounts for 85% of Pakistan’s untapped trade potential, making the economic loss even more glaring.

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Categories: Indo-Pacific regions / America / China and Pacific region / South Asia
Trump Geopolitics

Trump’s Geopolitics in a 2nd Term is a Strategic Reckoning

Trump’s foreign policy, outlined in the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, represents a bold shift in American power. By focusing on China and the Indo-Pacific, he aims to address what he sees as the biggest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century, believing that pulling back from other regions will be worth it.

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Categories: America / Africa / Arctic / Australia / Central Asia / China and Pacific region / East Asia / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia / Western Europe
China

A Closer Look at China-Bangladesh Relations through the Joint Press Release

Behind the promises of cooperation, China has its own long-term goals. One key objective is securing a strong position in the Bay of Bengal. By modernising Mongla Port and expanding BRI-related projects, China is making sure it has better trade and possibly even military access to the Indian Ocean. The statement’s talk about “smart port construction” and “logistics connectivity” could mean that China is planning to develop dual-use infrastructure, similar to what it did in Gwadar (Pakistan) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka). This could make Bangladesh a central part of China’s regional strategy, but it also risks dragging Dhaka into the China-India rivalry.

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Categories: America / China and Pacific region / Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia
Deep State and Western Media

The Legacy Western Media is a Tool of the Deep State Undermining Society

Governance becomes untenable when media prioritizes sensationalism over facts. The Iraq War provides a stark example. Legacy media uncritically amplified fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), with The New York Times running front-page articles based on anonymous intelligence sources. The truth was different: UN inspector Hans Blix found no WMDs before the 2003 invasion, yet by 2004, a PIPA study showed 57% of Americans still believed Iraq possessed such weapons—a testament to the media’s influence. The consequence? Over 4,000 US troops and 100,000+ Iraqi civilians perished, while trust in Western governance eroded. By 2007, only 19% of Britons trusted their government, per Ipsos Mori.

The media’s role in exacerbating racial tensions became glaring in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd riots. While outlets like CNN and The Guardian highlighted police brutality, they largely ignored the widespread rioting that caused $2 billion in damages, as estimated by AXA Insurance. The selective narrative deepened racial divisions; a Pew Research poll found that by year’s end, 73% of white Americans felt race relations had worsened, up from 44% before Floyd’s death. Rather than fostering understanding, the media amplified discord.

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Categories: Africa / America / Australia / Central Asia / China and Pacific region / East Asia / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia / Western Europe
China, Yunus

Yunus’s China Visit, Power, Betrayal, and the Battle for Geostrategic Survival of Bangladesh

Beyond the Asian giants, the Middle East stands as Bangladesh’s quiet yet crucial economic anchor. With over 2 million Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, the region’s remittances total £12 billion annually, forming 15% of Bangladesh’s GDP. Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) meets 20% of Dhaka’s energy needs, reinforcing an economic lifeline that predates Bangladesh’s independence. Early diplomatic recognition from Gulf states and humanitarian assistance during crises like the 1974 famine have solidified ties, yet the relationship remains largely transactional.

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Categories: Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia / Western Europe
India

India’s Geopolitical Tightrope is Balancing the US and Russia Amidst a Shifting Global Order

India’s refusal to fully capitulate to US pressure is less a triumph of strategic autonomy than a desperate clinging to a crumbling status quo. By expanding its oil basket to 39 countries (up from 29), including Iraq and Nigeria, India dilutes its reliance on any single supplier—but this diversification is a Band-Aid, not a cure. The lack of a coherent energy strategy leaves India vulnerable to both American retaliation and Russian leverage, undermining its claims of geopolitical resilience.

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Categories: Africa / America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia
International Crisis Group

The Hidden Agenda of the International Crisis Group

Its image of neutrality is an illusion, masking its role in advancing the interests of powerful nations under the banner of humanitarianism. Far from resolving conflicts, its interventions have often deepened instability, leaving behind fractured societies, economic collapse, and prolonged violence. The organization’s reliance on Western funding is not a minor issue but a fundamental flaw that compromises its credibility. To portray the ICG as a beacon of peace is to ignore the destruction it has facilitated in the name of its so-called expertise.

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Categories: America / Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia

The Sea Gives, the Sea Takes, But the System Takes More

Belal’s easy smile masked a lifetime of struggle. He wasn’t naive—he simply had no other choice. He had learned to survive in a world driven by greed, deception, and the hunger for control. As we walked along the shore, the waves touching our feet, I reflected on the true dangers here—not the storms or the wild animals, but human greed and the systems built to exploit the powerless.
Interestingly, amid the darkness, there was a hint of hope. Technology had the potential to break these chains—if only it were used by the right people. It was a tempting idea: tools designed to help, guided by a fairer society. But that was the problem—those in power believed they were above corruption, a belief as old as time itself.

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Categories: Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia
ASEAN

Why ASEAN is More Important Than an Asian NATO for Bangladesh

In this geopolitical performance, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue—referred to as the Quad—might find itself overshadowed. Consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, the Quad was envisioned to contain Chinese rise in Indo-Pacific. However, Trump, always the unconventional director, appears inclined to bypass this group, opting instead for individual negotiations with key Pacific players such as Japan and the Philippines. Envision a series of clandestine gatherings in elegantly decorated chambers adorned with bamboo, where offerings of military prowess and economic incentives are presented like scrumptious tropical fruits. The objective? To establish a new military alliance, often likened to an “Asian NATO,” serving as a barrier against the expanding influence of China. This development unfolds akin to a captivating plot twist in a sophisticated theatrical production, holding the potential to significantly alter the geopolitical landscape of the region.

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Categories: America / China and Pacific region / East Asia / Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia