Delhi Guardian

Pakistan continues to be ravaged by the remorseless fury of the rain gods. The scope of the natural disaster, which continues to wreak havoc, is wide and far reaching. Already struggling to sustain a strangulated economy, the future certainly looks bleak for the country. The repercussions of the worst floods to hit Pakistan in 80 years will be serious. Water related issues are now certain to assume greater prominence in future negotiations between India and Pakistan and the two countries simply cannot afford to indulge in evasive waffle like in the past. New Delhi's lack of consensus was equally responsible as Shah Mehmood Qureshi's incoherent rambling for the cul-de-sac that the last round of negotiations turned out to be. India needs to pencil down a strategy on how to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy. Pakistan is now faced with a wide array of issues ranging from the economic ramifications of the disaster, to the changing political nomenclature in the co...

Although South Africa lost early in the World Cup it ultimately emerged a winner. Successfully hosting the event has boosted its international image and its credibility in bidding for the 2020 Olympics. The country that was once infamous for its racist regime and brutality, stands out today as a model for policies in the pursuit of social harmony, inclusive economic growth and efficient democratic governance. Barely two decades ago, few would have imagined that the ruptured social fabric of South Africa could be knit together after the violent struggle against apartheid. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) made this possible. By systematically investigating atrocities committed by all sides during the apartheid era (1960-1994) under the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (1995), it cleared the air and hastened inter-racial reconciliation. The three committees under the TRC dealt with human rights violations, rehabilitation of victims, and the...

The recent Israeli raid on Turkish flotilla has severely dented diplomatic relations in the Middle East, eliciting criticism from every corner of the globe and raising anew a raging debate on the sustainability of the Gaza blockade. At this stage it is hard to apportion blame due to the ambiguity surrounding the raid. But one thing is abundantly clear; Israel may have over-reacted, and the loss of life is regrettable, but the Jewish state has been receiving more than its fair share of blame. That Israel faces an acute security threat has been well established. However, whether the threat is existential or not is debatable. Following the Hamas victory, Gaza has been used as a launching pad for firing rockets into Israeli territory which has proven difficult to quell .There is no denying the fact that a severe security threat has emerged. Given these security imperatives and an increasingly precarious environment, one can understand, but not fully justify, the blockade of ...

The west may still be struggling to recover from the scars of the financial turmoil which wreaked havoc in the developed world, but for China the picture is different. The country registered a growth rate of 10.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009. China's burgeoning economy and its ability to shield itself from the ills which plagued the west last year, have compelled observers to conclude that the balance of economic power is shifting, and that this may be irreversible in the long run. Other skeptics conclude that this will cause wrenching changes in the global economy. President Obama's 'engagement approach' and a wavering China policy have done little to placate these fears. If anything, this has only reinforced a rather gloomy picture. Yes, China is rising. But what should concern us more is the manner in which this rise will affect the international order. It is often contended that when the 'baton of power' shifts from the U.S to China, the worl...