Khyber Pakhtoonistan is a Factor in Pak-Afghan Relations: Challenges and Way Forward

This paper aims to explore out the challenges of Pak-Afghan relations and their impact on regional peace. Despite geographical proximity and common socio-cultural legacy, Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to settle their mutual differences amicable as a result, their bilateral relations have been exploited by the regional and international power. In addition to this, KPK and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan which are the main causes of geo-political differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been the home of terrorism, extremism and Afghan refugees since 1980s. The paper is qualitative in nature, and based on investigation of the various events and facts in order to address the question why did Pakistan and Afghanistan failto set a mechanism to end up their mutual geo-political difference? The paper also intends to forward policy recommendations for the durable and permanent friendly relations of Pakistan and Afghanistan and their possible impacts on the region.

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Characteristics of Slovak Culture in the Context of Bilateral Austrian-Slovak Relations

Journal of Intercultural Management ◽

10.1515/joim-2017-0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 81-101

Author(s):

Michaela Čiefová

Keyword(s):

Cultural Differences ◽

Intercultural Communication ◽

Empirical Research ◽

Value Added ◽

Point Of View ◽

Geographical Proximity ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Bilateral Relations ◽

Intercultural Encounters ◽

The One

Abstract Objective: The main intention of the present paper is, on the one hand, to provide a summary of the characteristics of Slovak culture by applying chosen theories and models. On the other hand, we attempt to underline the significance of bilateral Austro-Slovak relations in relation to the economy or migration tendencies. We assume that, based on geographical proximity and the above stated bilateral relations, intercultural encounters are relatively frequent as well. Therefore, certain perception of Slovaks from the Austrian point of view is likely to exist. Methodology: Our work is based on relevant scientific sources, as well as on our own empirical research reposing in the analysis of an online questionnaire. Findings: Overall, findings of our empirical research may be considered rather positive, as no negative or hostile responses concerning Slovak culture were reported. Furthermore, none of the participants experienced a conflict with a Slovak counterpart that could clearly be ascribed to cultural differences. Value Added: We believe that the conclusions presented in this paper might be helpful not only for managers operating on the international level or businessmen intending to do business with their Slovak partners, for scholars engaged in similar topics but also for anyone interested in intercultural communication and cultural differences.

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The Role of Peace Process in Mitigating the Trust-Deficit in Pak-Afghan Bilateral Relations

Global Social Sciences Review ◽

10.31703/gssr.2018(iii-ii).24 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol III (II) ◽

pp. 421-438

Author(s):

Huma Qayum ◽

Nargis Zaman ◽

Syed Ali Shah

Keyword(s):

Peace Process ◽

Geographical Proximity ◽

Entire Region ◽

Bilateral Relations ◽

Dialogue Process ◽

History Of ◽

Table Talk ◽

Diplomatic Relationship ◽

The Way

The history of Pak-Afghan relations is dominated more by conflicts then by cooperation since emergence of Pakistan. In the ongoing pattern of peace process, it is proposed that Pakistan should pave the way to bring the Taliban on negotiation table for peace and stability in Afghanistan. The recent steps taken in the form of different Confidence Building Measures show flurry of diplomatic relationship in the emerging cordiality between the two countries. Diverse civil society groups of Pakistan are of the view that the drawdown of US forces from Afghanistan will ultimately create a power vacuum and plunge the country again into yet another civil war. Pakistan’s efforts to use its influence to bring the Taliban on table talk will smooth the way for peace, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan as well as security of the entire region. Keeping in view the geographical proximity of the two countries, Pakistan’s own vital interests are attached to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan took cognizance of this very fact and played highly constructive role in facilitating dialogue process in Afghanistan and improving bilateral ties of the two countries.

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Interactive Management of the Sino-Indian Border Disputes: A Game Theory Analysis

Journal of South Asian Studies ◽

10.33687/jsas.007.03.2720 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 67-81

Author(s):

Bo Wang ◽

Pelagia Karpathiotaki ◽

Xinmin Sui

Keyword(s):

Spillover Effect ◽

Control Measures ◽

Central Feature ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Border Regions ◽

Bilateral Relations ◽

Interactive Management ◽

Political Differences ◽

Competitive Cooperation ◽

And Control

The complex Sino-Indian relationship is the result of the historical evolutions and shared borders between the two countries. Their underlying tensions are being exacerbated by today’s expectations of playing an increasingly important role in the global governance and a trend of mistrust of their respective geopolitical intentions. There exists a big gap of perception of Sino-Indian boundary and a massive deficit of mutual trust between the two states in addition to political differences and populism confronting both Chinese and Indian policy-makers. Sino-Indian relations are characterized by a security dilemma as a result of a mutual lack of trust. Both parties are trying to determine the true intentions of the other party. Although since the 1990s the management and control measures and the political vision of the policymakers have made their border disputes controllable without affecting the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in other fields, the boundary problem continues to reside in the nondeterministic elements between the two countries’ relationship, which in turn generates abnormality and even “crisis”, along with electoral changes in the Indian domestic political landscape from time to time. The “spillover effect” of the Sino-Indian border game is remarkable and has mitigated the border tensions or crises in the region. Therefore, the armed cold peace with controllable and low extent local crisis is expected to be the common “status-quo” for the Sino-Indian border regions. It is safe to assume that the spillover effect of the Sino-Indian border disputes leads to competitive cooperation under a dynamic, non-cooperative, incomplete information game. This central feature of the bilateral relations could not exclude the possibility of a conflict in the future as happened in 1962.

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"Diamond Stage" in Sino-Croatian Relations

Croatian International Relations Review ◽

10.37173/cirr.26.86.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (86) ◽

pp. 156-176

Author(s):

Ivica Bakota

Keyword(s):

Ad Hoc ◽

State Power ◽

Geographical Proximity ◽

Small State ◽

Short Account ◽

Relational Capacity ◽

Bilateral Relations ◽

State Size

By borrowing an ad hoc concept 'diamond stage' uttered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Croatia in April 2019 to describe a new stage in Sino-Croatian bilateral relations, this article sets to analyse the reasons behind this flattering diplomatic designation. It departs from the context of weak, historically distant and asymmetrical Sino-Croatian cooperation (SCC), giving, firstly, a short account on historical relations between China and Croatia and, secondly, relying on small state power scholarship in IR, depicting the opening and advancing of SCC. While categories of state size, geographical proximity, bilateral history and relational capacity are relatively pointless given the previous track of SCC, the dynamics of decreasing asymmetry between a small state and a big power helps to understand the recent upcoming of a new, 'diamond' stage in bilateral relations. Therefore, the article proposes several features as particularly relevant for understanding decreased asymmetry in SCC.

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