On Nuclear Weapons, Nations Must Cooperate to Avoid Catastrophe
By Sam Nunn - The Washington Post
President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima comes almost 71 years after the conclusion of a world war that was fought and ended with tremendous sacrifice, huge casualties and immense devastation. Today, global nuclear arsenals are capable of destroying not only cities but also civilization itself. Albert Einstein’s prophesy bears repeating: “I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth — rocks!”
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On the Brink of Oblivion
By Mortimer B. Zuckerman - US News
Our planet today faces two existential dangers: an impending climate catastrophe, and the very real possibility of a nuclear calamity. Both of these dangers arise from human activity and are thus within our capacity to address. And both challenges are interconnected and require a new attitude that recognizes our common interests and need to cooperate. Public awareness and political will must be raised to levels commensurate with the threat.
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Bangladesh Opting for Peace Rather Than Nuclear Arms
Analysis by Naimul Haq – IDN-InDepthNews
Despite increasing global threats of nuclear attacks, Bangladesh – surrounded by nations possessing nuclear arms – is opting to remain a peaceful nation rather than join the nuclear club.
Endorsing the political will to pursue global peace and comply with international nuclear peace treaties, national security experts say that although the Cold War has ended potential for nuclear strikes is still alive.
Failure to Join NSG Should Not Damage Sino-Indian Ties
Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran – IDN-InDepthNews
India's failure to break into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at its plenary on June 23 in Seoul does not translate into China's gain. It would be erroneous to see the NSG session as an India-China match which ended with a score of 0-1, for it casts in bilateral terms what was not a bilateral contest at all. However, there is no denying that New Delhi's abortive bid for NSG membership is bound to impact Sino-Indian relations in ways that it should not.
Afghanistan Pakistan USA: Drift into Realty
By Ajai Sahni
Editor, SAIR; Executive Director, ICM & SATP
While the turmoil and bloodshed in Afghanistan continues, with some indices escalating sharply in 2015-16, Pakistan’s gameplan to restore its proxies to power in Kabul appears to be unraveling. In a development that has shaken Islamabad, a United States (US) drone targeted and killed the Pakistan-installed head of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, near Ahmed Wal in Balochistan, squarely on Pakistani soil, on May 21, 2016.
The Hope Factor
By Peter G Hall
Vice-President and Chief Economist Export Development Canada
“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.” So penned wise King Solomon millennia ago, and it’s perhaps an apt adage for today’s political climate. The post-recession period has seen significant political upheaval, aided by social media but fed by a groundswell of underlying frustration that we just can’t seem to kick. Is it a new reality brought on by a confluence of multiple structural factors, or is it more of a passing fad?
Indian Ocean Power Struggle: Pakistan Responding India
Voice of Journalists
The third largest ocean in the world, the Indian Ocean, which can be characterized as a gateway, linking the East with the West and different regions of the world. The rising geo-politics in the Indian Ocean can be directed as power struggle between states to increase their influence and impact in the region. The international world lately has been buzzing with assessments and critique on Indian naval projection in Indian Ocean and also the sea-based nuclear deterrence around the region of Indo–Pacific.
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Indo-Pak Nuclear Arsenals Could Endanger Strategic Stability
Kashmir Images
Continued development of Pakistan and India's nuclear weapons programme could endanger strategic stability between both countries, a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report titled "Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons" has said.
Pakistan's expansion of its nuclear arsenal, the development of new types of nuclear warheads and the adoption of the 'full spectrum deterrence' doctrine have caused observers to "express concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India, which also continues to expand its nuclear arsenal," it said.
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Myanmar In Transition And India
By Dr Walter Fernandes
It is two months since the government controlled by Aung San Suu Kyi took charge in Myanmar. The elections that brought her to power were free despite western fears that the military regime would not allow freedom. The question being asked today is “to what extent will Myanmar change?” Amid what look like earth shattering events is there continuity with change? The military regime has ensured it by allocating to itself through the Constitution 25 percent of the seats in both the houses of Parliament and in the State legislatures.
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Afghanistan: Peripheral Consolidation
By S. Binodkumar Singh
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
Amidst surge in violence and talks with the Afghan Taliban hitting a roadblock, the Afghan Government signed a draft peace agreement with the Hezb-e-Islami (HeI) led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on May 18, 2016. The draft agreement was signed by HeI representatives and High Peace Council (HPC) officials in the residence of Pir (revered religious instructor, usually of Sufi orientation) Syed Ahmad Gilani. HeI has agreed to have no links with anti-Government armed militant groups.
