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Interview | How To Bridge India’s Great Neighbourhood Divide
Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha discuss how India can foster economic corridors and bridge the gap with its neighbours.Beyond the Coastline: India’s Land Connectivity Options around the Bay...
This paper argues that India must prioritise the development of multimodal transportation infrastructure beyond coastal areas to bridge the current gap between maritime and land-based initiatives around the Bay of Bengal and spur the creation of sub regional, regional, and inter-regional economic corridors.Interview | The outlook for India’s Economy Shines Bright
Riya Sinha talks about India’s connectivity with neighboring countries, liberalization of the economy, and strategies to attract foreign direct investment.A Case for Greater US Focus on Infrastructure Development in South Asia
The United States would benefit from working with India to help address the infrastructure needs of smaller South Asian countries, writes Riya Sinha.An Opportunity and a Challenge in Northeast
In the last few years, India prioritised enhancing railway development in Manipur and Mizoram, inching closer to the border with Myanmar, writes Riya Sinha.Developing a Regional Single Window System in the Indian Ocean Region
India and Australia can support the development of a Single Widow System in fellow Indian Ocean Region states for trade facilitation at the regional level, writes Riya Sinha. This article was also co-published by Observer Research Foundation.India’s vishwa guru ambitions need to be backed by resources,...
Man power and resources can strengthen India's vishwa guru ambition. It will need those resources for cooperation and competition with other countries.How India Budgets to Become a Leading Power
Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha comment on the MEA Budget and how India can become a leading power in an increasingly uncertain, competitive and complex international arena.Decoding the Pashtuns in the Afghanistan–Pakistan Region
Riya Sinha interviews Tilak Devasher, Member, National Security Advisory Board of India, and Consultant, Vivekananda International Foundation, on his fourth book, The Pashtuns: A Contested History.Putting Women at the Centre of Foreign Policy
More than a moral mission, by nurturing a feminist dimension in its Neighbourhood First policy, India will be able to better achieve its regional interests, says Riya Sinha and Constantino Xavier.Nepal’s Delicate Foreign Policy Balancing Act
By understanding Kathmandu’s domestic aims and regional balancing, both New Delhi and Washington can play to their strengths and maximize the developmental impact of their projects in Nepal.A Renewed Focus on India’s Border Management
Riya Sinha argues that simultaneous developments on both the security and socio-economic fronts will be key in India's renewed approach to land border management.India can Act today to Shape Tomorrow’s Terms of Connectivity with...
Trade incentives, border infrastructure or any other such unilateral initiatives are simple, low-cost ways for Delhi to reverse the lost time and rising costs of India-Pakistan disconnectivity.The Kashmir Back Channel 2004 – 2007: Prospects for India-Pakistan...
India and Pakistan have, in the past, entered a dialogue process in the wake of intensely violent periods. The Kashmir talks that began in 2004 are an example.How India’s Gati Shakti Plan Can Have an Impact Beyond Its Borders
India's Gati Shakti plan can generate positive spillover effects, strengthen India’s economic ties with its neighbours.Ethnic Rebellion: Armed Struggle in Myanmar’s Borderlands
Riya Sinha interviews David Brenner on the dynamics of conflict and explores how to engage with EAOs (Ethnic Armed Organisations) in constructive ways in the Myanmar borderland.Strengthen Land Ports to Boost India-Bangladesh Economic Connectivity
It is pertinent to address several existing challenges at the land ports between India and Bangladesh that hinder seamless connectivity, says Riya Sinha.Leveraging India’s Northeast Region for Regional Connectivity
Riya Sinha interviews Sanjay Kathuria and Priya Mathur on the changing scenario of the Northeast Region (NER) of India.Integrated check posts are boosting connectivity but challenges remain
Riya Sinha looks at India's increasing trade and passenger movement with Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.Borders: From zones of security to commerce via ICPs
The Integrated Check Posts along India’s borders show the capacity of the Indian Government to deliver on infrastructure projectsLinking Land Borders: India’s Integrated Check Posts
How India’s Integrated Check Posts at its borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan facilitate regional connectivityUpstream-downstream politics: South Asia’s water discourse
In this edition, we interview Sunil Amrith on his book Unruly Waters: How Mountain Rivers and Monsoons Have Shaped South Asia’s History.Sustaining trade routes in the Himalayan borderlands
In this edition, Riya Sinha interviews Dr. Tina Harris, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, on her book chapter, “The Mobile and Material in Himalayan Borderlands.”Regional Connectivity and India’s BIMSTEC Policy
This paper reviews how regionalism is making a comeback in the Bay of Bengal, the challenges of connectivity, and the opportunities and limitations of India’s new approach to BIMSTEC.Infrastructure across the India-Nepal borderlands: A photo-essay
This visual essay covers fieldwork and findings on how land acquisition and related challenges have delayed strategic infrastructure projects.Make way for connectivity projects
Nepal and India should focus more on the strategic objective of developing infrastructure.How India can take the lead in reviving tourism in South Asia
The pandemic provides an opportunity for India to take the lead in promoting regional tourism, an important metric of soft power.When land comes in the way: India’s connectivity infrastructure in Nepal
Land acquisition and lack of coordination has delayed India's development cooperation projects in neighbouring countriesTravel South Asia: India’s tourism connectivity with the region
Introduction Tourism is an important metric of a country’s soft power potential, marked by an increase in movement of people and enabling people-to-people connectivity. Over the last two decades, South Asia has emerged as an attractive tourist destination due to its natural and cultural diversity, and price competitiveness.[2] The region is home ...South Asia must now build resilient supply chains
Facilitate cross-border flow of goods and services by reducing tariffs; improving logistics, infra and digitisation.Linking border-making and sovereignty in postcolonial South Asia
In this edition of the Sambandh blog, Riya Sinha interviews Dr. Elisabeth Leake and Dr. Daniel Haines on their article, Lines of (In)Convenience: Sovereignty and Border-Making in Postcolonial South Asia, 1947-1965, published in the Journal of Asian Studies. The article combines archival history methodology with conceptual insights from political geography and critical ...India’s limited trade connectivity with South Asia
Introduction Despite geographical proximity and the existence of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), South Asia is one of the least economically integrated regions in the world. Owing to protectionist policies, high logistics cost, lack of political will and a broader trust deficit, intra-regional trade in South Asia remains well below ...The road from India to Nepal: Development assistance and connectivity...
Regional connectivity in South Asia faces challenges that are unique to the region. According to a recent Policy Brief under our regional connectivity initiative, Sambandh, South Asia is arguably the least connected region in the world. Nepal is unique owing to various factors ranging from its terrain, its strategic location as the common ...