Political Fallout of the Creation of New Districts in Manipur (Gautam Sen, IDSA)

http://idsa.in/idsacomments/political-fallout-of-the-creation-of-new-districts-in-manipur_gsen_161216

Implications of a Complete Sealing of the India-Pakistan Border (Gautam Sen, IDSA)

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has recently declared that the entire India-Pakistan border is to be completely sealed by December 2018. The announcement may be viewed in the context of India-Pakistan relations reaching a particular low and uncertain threshold post the Uri incident and cross-Line of Control (LoC) operations by India on 28-29 September 2016. The above-referred decision of the Union Government is reported to have been taken after a review of gaps in border management by a high-level Committee on Security and Border Protection (CSBP) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (popularly known as the Madhukar Gupta Committee) set up in March 2016 to overcome the lacunae observed consequent on the Gurdaspur and Pathankot infiltration occurrences. The outcome of the review is likely to have influenced the decision on setting 2018 as the target for a total sealing of the border. As of now, Pakistan Government sources have indicated that they have no comments on this development given the absence of details. Some Chinese think-tank commentators have, however, observed that such a venture would be irrational, indicative of Cold War mentality and likely to complicate relations among China, India and Pakistan, without elucidating as to how this decision would impinge on Chinese interests.

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/complete-sealing-of-the-india-pakistan-border_gsen_181016

Deactivating the Permanent Indus Waters Commission (Gautam Sen, IDSA)

The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) has not been immune to the vicissitudes currently affecting India-Pakistan relations. In the aftermath of the attack by Pakistani terrorists on an Indian Army camp in Uri on 18 September 2016, the Government of India (GOI) has indicated its decision, at the highest level, to comprehensively review the functioning of the Treaty. India has been a scrupulous adherent to the Treaty over the past 56 years despite the periodic conflictual relations it has had with Pakistan. In the past, India has responsibly reacted to issues raised by Pakistan on India`s water usage in the Indus basin and tried to resolve them within the legal ambit of the Treaty.

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/deactivating-the-permanent-indus-waters-commission_gsen_031016

The Draft Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act 2016: A Review (Gautam Sen, IDSA)

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/maharashtra-protection-internal-security-act-2016_gsen_070916

Problem of Fishermen in India-Sri Lanka Relations (Gautam Sen, IDSA)

During his latest visit to India in early May, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the problem of frequent arrests of fishermen of both countries and seizures of their fishing vessels by the Sri Lankan and Indian authorities in the common sea area between the two countries. The issue is not new. The problem has been festering with political ramifications, particularly in Tamilnadu for a number of years. The situation with regard to fishing has gradually turned out to be adverse for Tamil fishermen from Sri Lanka’s northern province after the end of the Fourth Eelam War in 2009

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/problem-of-fishermen-in-india-sri-lanka-relations_gsen_200516