How the government of India (GoI) responds, especially to the crisis in the Maldives and the power vacuum in Nepal, would determine its regional stature and image. The most difficult test is dealing with the Maldives where President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency on February 5. Predictably, President Yameen did not take note of India’s explicit concerns. Any Indian action in the Maldives may revive memories of the economic blockade Nepal was subject to in 2015. In Sri Lanka, the Chinese influence and economic clout has not waned after the regime change.

Source: dna February 09, 2018 02:03 UTC