IISPPR

International Relations
Danvanth K

Echoes of Conflict: The Ripple Effects of Indo-Pak Tensions on South Asia and Beyond

INTRODUCTION Following the Pahalgam attacks, India’s retaliatory actions, justified according to the international laws, were taken as an act of war by Pakistani ministries. This led to cross-border attack by drones, missiles, and fighter jets between the two countries. When the apparent ceasefire was violated, it led to many political tensions in the country. This research paper aims to study the various economic, cultural, social, and political impacts of terrorism amid Indo-Pak tensions. It will also study the global context of cross-border terrorism, essential to critically study India’s nuclear war, and what gets obscured in the new military-industrial of nation-states. This paper then, in its attempt, will compose of concepts and interpretations revolving around terrorism, both in the global and domestic context. This article will answer certain integral questions like what is the relevance of mineral resources in such tensions, what are the methods and approaches followed by other countries to deal with terrorist activities, what is the impact of such tensions on the economy, how does this incident leads to an impact on urban displacement and tourism etc.   THE ACTION OF MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF INDIA Immediately after the political tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, X received orders from Indian Government to ban around 8000 accounts, both international and national, for purposes of national security. Multiple accounts, of celebrities, media channels and political, foreign governmental accounts were shut down. The external affairs ministry contacted multiple nations and was determined to brief the situation to secretaries and representatives of other countries. Moreover, Pakistani nationals were barred from entering India using SAARC Visa (Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri), and any previous SVES visas granted to citizens of Pakistan were considered to be revoked, with every Pakistani national still in India to deport within 48 hours.  The Indian High Commission in Islamabad would no longer have its own defence, navy, and air advisors. Additionally, five of the Service Advisors’ support workers were to be removed from both High Commissions. Understanding The Stance Of Major Powers America’s stance can confuse anyone in the world. On one hand, it supports India superficially, and on the other hand, it provides aid and support to Pakistan as well. Any analysis of its stance will bring us to the self-interested profits generated in America. Since 1954, the American alliance with Pakistan caused India to move closer to the Soviet Union. Now, USA and India do not have strained relations. Since, Donald Trump coming into power, Indo-American relations have seen drastic fluctuations. Trump can be seen floating appreciation of Indian subcontinent, as well as condemning Indian tariff policies. Similarly, boosting Pakistan’s capacity of fighter jets by aiding $397 Million to Pakistan, while condemning terrorism globally. On the other hand, China openly supports Pakistan. The Sino-Pakistani Agreement of 1963 officially settled all the two nations’ territorial problems, and Chinese military aid to Pakistan started in 1966. A strategic partnership was established in 1972 and by 1979, strong economic cooperation had begun. Maintaining a “special relationship” has been a top priority for both nations, and their frequent high-level visit exchanges have resulted in the creation of several cooperation initiatives. Pakistan has received military, technological, and economic support from China; the two countries view one another as close strategic partners. Even during recent escalations, China supported Pakistan expressly. This raises concerns for India as it creates “enemy” neighbours on both sides. India and Russia stand on good terms together. After their famous friendship agreement in 1971, their relations have since been positive and growing. While there is no formal alliance between Russia and Pakistan, their relation has been developing after militant attacks and post-cold war shifts. However, inclination of Russia can be concluded to be towards India more than Pakistan due to strategic relations, diplomatic appreciation, military exchanges, and presence of a common enemy – China, with whom they share a complex history. The UK expressly condemns terrorism. The UK has stated that it would want to assist either India or Pakistan, advising them to defuse the situation and have a conversation.  The UK recognizes Pakistan’s need for regional peace and security even as it backs India’s claims that Pakistan harbours terrorism. A diplomatic role in the India-Pakistan dispute has also been offered by the UK, which has emphasized the need for a peaceful conclusion.       THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF WATER IN TERRORISM AND STATE RETALIATION In today’s landscape of global security, water has emerged as a strategic tool in terrorist actions and more recently, in counter-terrorism efforts. In the context of Indo-Pak tensions, the role of water has evolved from a background issue to a central instrument of both aggression and retaliation. Violent Non-state actors have started shifting their focus from conventional areas like weapons, violence, and control over territory to water as a tool of influence. Water and water infrastructure has been directly targeted by terrorist organizations to disrupt livelihoods, economies and assert dominance. In August of 2014, ISIS seized control of the Mosul Dam which is Iraq’s largest hydroelectric dam near the Tigris River. Control of the structure gave ISIS the dangerous ability to either flood the city or create a famine. This was a way of displaying power and control to achieve their broader objective of establishing a caliphate. Such incidents of “water weaponization” by terror outfits show how essential resources can be manipulated to instil fear among the population and destabilize entire regions. However, states have also begun to harness this vital resource as a retaliatory measure to such threats. The Pahalgam attack, pushed India to carry out a number of measures to firmly exhibit its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. A major non-kinetic response which could have far-reaching consequences was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The move to place the treaty in ‘abeyance’ has sent a strong signal that continued acts of state-sponsored terrorism will not be overlooked and will carry serious consequences. The Indus basin is a lifeline for Pakistan’s agrarian economy. 80% of cultivated land relies on water

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Zero Hunger
Bhavya Nahar

Towards Zero Hunger: Strengthening PDS for Nutritional Security in India

This paper discusses how the Public Distribution System (PDS) has become very important in combating hunger and malnutrition in India, which is part of Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. It does so by using comparisons between states with high and low performance to show that the efficiency of PDS in terms of integration of technology, involvement of the community, and implementation of specific policies is related to better nutritional results. The paper identifies the necessity of inclusive and decentralized changes to narrow down the gap of malnutrition regional disparities.

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International Relations
Akshata Nair, Basundara Ghosh, Meriam hssaini, Rosana Isel Monier de Armas, Varunapriya R

Reshaping Multilateral Diplomacy in a Multipolar World

Multilateral diplomacy has been determined by international context and relationships among global actors. Some scholars agree with the statement that the dimensions and coordinates of the multipolar world are still unclear. The world is on the way to creating and reforming institutions and rules based on international law and cooperation policies, where emerging powers aim to take an important role.

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Public Policies
Gannavarpu Rajlakshmi

The Impact of Inflation on Access to Basic Amenities in Rural Communities: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and India

Keywords: Rural Inflation, Poverty, Cost of living, Basic amenities, Healthcare access, Food Insecurity, Education affordability, Housing crises, India and Nigeria, Low-income households The Impact of Inflation on Access to Basic Amenities in Rural Communities: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and India Introduction Inflation in rural areas has emerged as a critical global concern in contemporary times, significantly affecting the well-being and resilience of rural households. As the prices of basic necessities continue to surge, rural families are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their daily needs, especially in the essential areas of food, housing, education, and healthcare. These four pillars, which form the backbone of human development, are being eroded by persistent inflation, threatening the very fabric of rural life. One of the most pressing issues is the intersection of food basket inflation and limited employment opportunities. The rising cost of staple foods, coupled with stagnating or informal income sources, has created a severe resource deficit in rural households. This financial strain forces families to make harsh trade-offs, such as choosing between nutritious meals and medical care, or between school fees and house repairs, thereby compounding their vulnerability. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural households are disproportionately affected. Factors such as lower per capita income, limited access to technology, poor infrastructure, and fewer formal employment opportunities widen the rural-urban divide. While urban residents may have relatively better access to social safety nets or diversified income streams, rural populations often lack the institutional and economic buffers needed to withstand prolonged inflationary shocks. Literature Review Food inflation poses a critical challenge to rural households’ food security in both Nigeria and India. In Nigeria, rising food prices severely impact household access to sufficient, nutritious food, leading to decreased dietary diversity and increased vulnerability to economic shocks, especially among rural communities that rely heavily on agriculture and limited market access (Anugwa & Ugwu, 2022). Similarly, in India, food inflation reaching 10.9% in 2024 has intensified the financial burden on rural families, where over half of income is spent on food, resulting in limited accessibility and negative health outcomes like malnutrition and anemia. Factors such as global commodity prices, crop focus on staples, and supply chain inefficiencies aggravate the situation (Fathima, 2024). Both contexts underline the urgent need for long-term interventions, including improving agricultural productivity, crop diversification, strengthened supply chains, and effective social support systems like cash transfers and efficient Public Distribution Systems, to enhance food security and rural resilience to inflationary pressures. Food basket inflation leads the people in African households to cope with scarcity of food with educational investment of their children (Obibuba,2024) . These not only have physical and medical implications but the psychological implications as well. The similar cases have been observed in the Indian subcontinent region as well where the scenario has worsened with a disproportionate rise of income and educational expenses (Bhattacharjee, 2016). Food basket inflation impacts the foundational block of the society, i.e., the educational sector of the society. Inflation also significantly affects healthcare in low and middle income countries by driving up costs and reducing access. According to Uzor et al. (2024), inflation in Nigeria has driven significant increases in medicine prices, particularly in private pharmacies, due to currency devaluation and import dependence. This has led to reduced access and frequent stock-outs in public health facilities. Similar to this, Poongavanam et al. (2023) note that India’s healthcare system faces rising costs fueled by technology use and a growing chronic disease burden. To mitigate these effects, Uzor et al. (2024) recommend strengthening local drug production and expanding insurance in Nigeria, which also aligns with Poongavanam et al. (2023) call for cost control policies and investment in India’s primary healthcare infrastructure. Inflation also severely affects fundamental sectors such as education, housing, and healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. Food basket inflation drives African households to divert resources from children’s education to survival needs, leading to long-term psychological and developmental setbacks (Obibuba, 2024). Similar patterns emerge in the Indian subcontinent, where income stagnation and rising educational expenses deepen inequalities (Bhattacharjee, 2016). Inflation also strains healthcare systems. In Nigeria, it raises medicine prices due to currency devaluation and import dependency, leading to frequent public sector stock-outs (Uzor et al., 2024). India faces parallel challenges from technology-driven costs and chronic disease burdens (Poongavanam et al., 2023). Mitigation strategies include boosting local drug production and expanding insurance (Nigeria) and investing in primary healthcare (India). Additionally, in rural India and Nigeria, inflation in construction materials has made housing unaffordable for the poor, undermining dignity and health security (Chattopadhyay et al., 2022; Adebayo & Iweka, 2020). Impact of Inflation On Accessibility To Food Food is one of the basic necessities of life. The Constitution of India also includes the right to food in Article 21 i.e. right to life. But due to rising inflation in recent years, has resulted in soaring prices of food communities and this has impacted the accessibility of food mainly to the rural population. The data of the Ministry of Statistics and Implementation states that there has been an inflation of around 9.03% in December 2023, 9.10% in November 2024 and 8.56% in December 2024 (MoSPI 2024, CPI). This rise in inflation has led to a rise in the prices of food which has fueled the already dreaded issues like malnutrition, undernourishment and consistent health problems. India’s Global Hunger Index in 2024 stood at 27.3(Welt Hunger Hilfe, GHI 2024) which was classified as ‘serious’. Another reason for such inflation is rise in the crude oil prices, which shot up in 2021, after COVID-19. The main cause behind this was the recent rise of the market after a year of sluggishness during 2020. People have cut on their food intake to combat the effect of inflation. This has led to consumption of seriously nutrition-less foods. This has resulted in high levels of anemia in women and children at 57% and 63% respectively (MoHEW, NHFS-5 2019-21). A similar situation could be witnessed in Nigeria but the condition is far worse. With inflation

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Public Policies
Aryaman Sandwar

Rising prices, Deepening poverty: Understanding the impacts of inflation in the Indian countryside

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of rural inflation in Indian context, emphasizing the influence of food price inflation, climatic variability, structural transformations, and fluctuations in wages on the living expenses faced by rural populations. The paper calls for a hybrid policy approach combining monetary tools with robust rural infrastructure, agricultural reforms, and inclusive growth strategies to effectively mitigate rural inflation and enhance the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities.

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