A recent attack in Assam suspected to have been carried out by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) killed 13 people. Had this happened in a more populated and economically potent region of India, it would have received far more coverage. Yet, the unfortunate truth is attacks of this nature are all too common…
Category: Asian Politics
The rise of China and its consequences
“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.” – Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon was correct with his prognosis made over 200 years ago – China is no longer sleeping she is awakening, she has not yet fully awoken and thus is yet to reach full economic and…
Syria is a lost cause until its underlying issues are addressed
When the government tells you that we can destroy Daesh by bombing them, do not take them at their word. Think about how Daesh came to exist. A group of dissatisfied Muslims who were not happy with the way the West had interfered in the Middle East and created chaos by setting up a group…
Airstrikes in Syria are wrong
Imagine you’re a teenage Syrian. You’ve been displaced from where you used to live, separated from your friends, and uncertain about what the future holds. Life in a refugee camp can barely be called a life. News arrives that the bodies of your parents have been found; they were “collateral damage” in what was an…
The Iran deal is progressive, not regressive
Last week’s United Nations General Assembly epitomised current relations between the USA and Iran. The handshake between Barack Obama and Mohammad Javad Zarif was the first between a US president and Iran’s top diplomat since 1979. But whilst it marked an historic step forward in Western-Iranian relations, it was nonetheless met with hostility from religious…
The fractious world of Indian Politics
In May of last year the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win a majority of seats in India’s Lok Sabha, a feat which previously happened back in 1984. However, it won only 31% of the popular vote and with in excess of 10 parties making up 544 seats, it can be seen quite quickly how gargantuan…
Reasons why Tibet should be free.
Tibet, a region spanning well over 1,000,000km², has often been a source of ire for the Chinese Government when it comes to internal dissidence. It asserts Tibet was only granted suzerainty at best in the past and that it has always been a part of China. Supporters of Tibetan Independence would contend that Tibet was officially made…
Jammu and Kashmir: a chronic dispute.
Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The Mughals, who once ruled the Indian Subcontinent, called it a ‘Paradise on Earth’. Throughout its colourful history, it has played host to a vast array of cultures and religions, coupled with a scenery like no other. However, in more recent history, Kashmir has been…
The plight of Raif Badawi.
Note- This is article is a bit of a tirade, if anything. Three years ago, a man by the name of Raif Badawi was arrested on a charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels. The reason I revisit this old case is that despite international outcry, the decision for his punishment to be carried out…
Pertinent Problems 