The unprecedented destruction caused by Tsunami waves on December 26 last year is not only a rare phenomenon for Indian Ocean countries, but it is also unique as it witnessed intense diplomatic manoeuvring in the name of aid. The aid flowing from donor countries carry not only humanitarian assistance but are also seen as a diplomatic tool used to further their foreign policy objectives. The first move in this regard was made by India while coping with the disaster on its eastern shores. It is interesting to note that despite suffering the loss of almost 15,000 lives and the need for Rs.

The US Congress has approved a $ 300 million military aid package for Pakistan in November last year, the biggest military aid package to Pakistan since the events of 9/11. President Bush has thus begun his second term by deciding to dole out ‘arms bonanza’ to Pakistan. The $300 million is a part of the foreign military financing programme (H R 4818 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005) totaling more than $4.7 billion, a major chunk of which goes to Israel ($2.2 billion) and Egypt (1.3billion).

A containerised cargo system has emerged as the most convenient and cost-effective mode of transporting large volumes of goods. It has reduced handling time by minimising break-bulk operations, thereby permitting the shipping infrastructure to keep up with increasing volumes of goods that must be transported. But it has its own problems that seem to take a back seat, particularly with the international maritime shipping system, who believe in the philosophy of maximising profits and, in most cases, at the cost of security. 

Amidst security threats, sporadic bomb blasts, and international criticism towards one of the member states (Myanmar), the tenth ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) summit successfully laid out its plans to achieve the objectives of ASEAN Vision 2020 on November 29-30 in Vientiane, Capital city of Laos.

The three-day visit of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the northeast, described as significant for the peace and development of the region, failed to rise above the morbidity of a political visit and in the end, left many discontented. A visit to Manipur and Assam, especially when both States stand at crossroads, was expected to galvanise a host of positive forces leading to discontinuation in the phase of violence and agitation.

In recent times, North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear adventurism has become so significant that important news was found missing from the current global strategic discourse on weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The news was concerning the acceptance by North Korea of the presence of bio-weapons in their country. The North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju has declared to Japanese sources, "Other than nuclear, we also have many other things. We also have bio-weapons.”

The growing influence of the newly formed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M), the Naxal outfit, along Uttar Pradesh's (UP) eastern borders, and the rapidity with which they expand their organisation in the State is undoubtedly alarming. Naxals are looking to the State for fresh bases to build a formidable organization. The inaccessible hilly terrain and dense forests of the state provide perfect cover for the Naxalites, who use their maps to move around.

Terrorism and nuclear weapons proliferation have, by and large, dominated the security debate in South Asia. However, the overarching influence of these two issues has led to the neglect of the other problems that are equally, if not more, important for security in the region. One such problem is refugees and migration. The presence of more than 110,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and the condition in which they live in different refugee camps is threatening to develop into a major humanitarian crisis in the absence of concrete effort by the parties involved.

The US President George W. Bush’s re-election poses at least one central question with regard to his foreign policy initiatives in his second term—whether the administration will see an overhaul in foreign policy-making or not. The President’s involvement with India-Pakistan was not a major foreign policy priority for the administration during his first term. The issue, nevertheless, is an important strategic concern for the US. Both Bush and his Democratic rival, John Kerry, sidelined the two South Asian countries in their election debates except over the issue of outsourcing.

The Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore are not only critical for the economic vitality of Southeast Asian states but are crucial for global trade and commerce. Being congested and confined sea-lanes, the safety of maritime traffic is threatened from at least three directions. These are (a) poor navigation system (b) Pollution from the sea traffic and (c) Maritime security. These are closely related to each other. As regards to navigational safety, the Straits are shallow and have several wrecks that make navigation a very difficult task.