South Asia Chat

Episode 151: Environmental Security in South Asia

In 2022, the World Bank declared South Asia to be one of the most vulnerable regions to climate shocks. With intensifying heat waves, cyclones, droughts and floods across the subcontinent, governments, businesses, and citizens are having to adapt to their 'new climate normal'. South Asia is home to more than 600 million poor people, where climate resilient solutions have become the need of the hour. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses South Asia's environmental security and related issues with Dr Sufia Khanom, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.

Episode 150: India’s Agnipath Scheme

In June 2022, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment in the armed forces. While there has been resounding opposition on the streets, top defence personnel have clarified that there will be no rollback of the scheme. In this episode, Dr Yogesh Joshi, Research Fellow, ISAS, analyses the motivations behind the Agnipath scheme, and the opportunities and challenges it presents. He is in conversation with Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS.

Episode 149: Bangladesh’s Economic Outlook

Bangladesh’s economy is in the midst of tackling a host of macro-economic issues including rising prices, exchange rate volatility and subsequent widening of its current account balance. The pandemic is far from over and geo-political conflicts have fueled inflationary pressures and commodity shortages worldwide. Additionally, Bangladesh’s economy is due to undergo a change owing to its impending graduation from the United Nation's List of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the upcoming general elections in 2023. In this episode, Ms Divya Murali, Research Analyst, ISAS, spoke to Dr Mohammad Masudur Rahman, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS, to understand how internal and external factors facing Bangladesh affect its economic outlook in the next few years.

Episode 148: India’s New VPN Rules

The Indian government's recent announcement will force Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to retain user data for five years. This move is set to have important ramifications for data protection and user privacy in India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Karthik Nachiappan, Research Fellow, ISAS, spoke to Mr Gurshabad Grover, Information Controls Fellow, Open Observatory of Network Interference. They discussed India's new VPN rules as well as broader issues related to internet governance in the country.

Episode 147: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy

Pakistan has seen various tumultuous events take place within a short period of time over this past year. With an economic crisis on the horizon and a change in political leadership, both its foreign and domestic policies trajectory has been subjected to multiple changes. In this episode, Professor Touqir Hussain, Former Pakistan Diplomat and Visiting Senior Research Fellow, ISAS, discusses the nuances in Pakistan’s geopolitical strategies and analyses its various foreign policy considerations. He is in conversation with Ms Kunthavi Kalachelvam, Research Analyst, ISAS.

Episode 146: The IPEF - What, Why and How

On 23 May 2022, US President Joe Biden announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Albeit an unconventional trade framework, with the membership of ASEAN countries, India, and advanced OECD countries, the IPEF is promising. In this episode, Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS, discusses the potential economic development from the IPEF, India’s engagement in the framework and the IPEF’s implications for the region. He is in conversation with Ms Namrata Yadav, Research Analyst, ISAS.

Episode 145: India-South Korea Ties

On 10 May 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol was sworn in as South Korea's new president, and the leader of the nation's first conservative government in five years. His leadership is expected to revise many aspects of South Korean foreign policy orientations and goals. In this episode, Ms Claudia Chia, Research Analyst, ISAS, spoke to Dr Lakhvinder Singh, Director of Peace and Security Studies at the Asia Institute in Seoul, South Korea, on the new foreign policy goals of the Yoon administration and how it would impact the relations between India and South Korea.

Episode 144: China’s Engagements in South Asia

Over the last few years, China has dramatically increased its economic, security and people-to-people engagements across South Asia. In this vein, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visits to six out of eight South Asian countries in early 2022 is reflective of Beijing's efforts in the subcontinent. In this episode, Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses China’s growing role in South Asia and its geopolitical implications, with Ambassador Shivshankar Menon, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS. Ambassador Menon has been a career diplomat, who has served as National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He also served as the Foreign Secretary and Indian ambassador to China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Israel.

Episode 143: Australia and the Indian Ocean - Priorities, Responses and Challenges

The Indian Ocean is crucial for Australia’s national security and economic prosperity. Among others, Canberra’s involvement in the Quad and AUKUS is geared towards enhancing its presence and forging security ties with the region. The countries of the Indian Ocean are not just Australia's neighbours, several of them are also the country’s key economic and security partners. In addition to highlighting the importance of the Indian Ocean to Australia’s national interest, this episode will shed light on Canberra’s initiatives and challenges in deepening ties with India and the other South Asian states. ISAS Research Fellow Dr Chulanee Attanayake, discusses the key issues with Dr Bec Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia, and an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, in La Trobe University, Australia.

Episode 142: India’s Space Sector Boom

In recent times, India has been rapidly expanding its space programme, undertaking a series of steps to increase its capability and presence. This includes a decision to liberalise the space sector as well as commitments of collaboration and partnership at the bilateral and regional levels. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS discusses India's space policy landscape and strategy, and the broader regional implications with Mr Aditya Ramanathan, Associate Fellow, The Takshashila Institution.