A new, emerging Indian security doctrine in the Indian Ocean is set to challenge the narrative and impact of China's influence - Rahul Roy-Chaudhury

LSE South Asia Centre and LSE SU Pakistan Development Society recently hosted Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), for the event titled “Can Intelligence Services Do Good?”. Roy-Chaudhury talks to Mahima A. Jain on India’s foreign policy, its involvement in Afghanistan, the difference in the operational styles of R&AW and ISI, and India’s approach in the Indian Ocean region

Regional maritime management and security

This monograph includes the discussion papers presented at the Third Meeting of the CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Group held in Bangkok 30 May-1 June 1997. It is the third in the series of similar monographs by the CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Group. The theme of the meeting was regional ocean management and security. Its objectives were fourfold: - to review progress with the Guidelines for Regional Maritime Cooperation; - to contribute to the development of new ideas about cooperative management of regional sea and ocean areas; - to identify present and planned activities in some area of regional maritime cooperation (such as shipping, resource management, pollution prevention, marine safety, and law and order at sea) which have benefits for regional security (that is, 'value added'); - and to share national and sub-regional perspectives of cooperative oceans and marine management. The overall aim of the meeting was to explore new ideas of preventive diplomacy and confidence building in the general area of regional maritime cooperation, particularly in the enclosed and semi-enclosed regional seas of Southeast and Northeast Asia, where maritime activity is increasing and cooperation so important. The opportunity was also taken to discuss existing arrangements for regional maritime cooperation and the experiences of other regions in the world with similar considerations of maritime cooperation (that is, the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, and the Caribbean)

Influence of Exteriorised versus Intra-abdominal Uterine Repair Caesarean Delivery under Spinal Anaesthesia on Intraoperative and Postoperative Complications

Introduction: Caesarean techniques have evolved over time to increase their safety. Intra-abdominal closure of uterine incision seems more physiological. Exteriorisation makes repair easier with a better exposure. But this causes tension to the supporting structures attached to uterus and stretching of vasculature with the risk of intraoperative haematoma or aneurysm later on. Aim: To compare the in-situ repair Group and exteriorised repair group caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia regarding occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications of interest. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at College of Medicine and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital, West Bengal, India, over a period of two years from April 2014 to March 2016. Four hundred women undergoing caesarean section who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in the study. They were randomly allocated into two study groups as per a computer generated random allocation table. In Group A (n=200) uterine incision was closed after uterus was exteriorised and in Group B (n=200) uterine incision was closed keeping it inside the abdomen. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters of interest such as nausea-vomiting, drop in pulse rate, incision closure time, drop in haemoglobin, blood transfusion rate, return of bowel sounds, febrile morbidity, surgical site infection, hospital stay etc., were noted and compared between the two groups. Numerical variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation and analysed using independent sample t-test. For qualitative variables frequency and percentage were calculated and analysed using Chi-square. Collected data was transferred and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version25. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The demographic profiles like age, parity, gestational age etc. of both the groups were similar. There was a significant difference in uterine closure time (9±2.5 minutes in in-situ repair group vs. 10±2 minutes in exteriorisation and repair groups, respectively (p0.05). Mean drop of haemoglobin was more in the intraabdominal closure group (1.5±1.3 gm/dL) as compared to the group of closure after exteriorisation (1.4±1.3 gm/dL) though the difference was not significant statistically (p=0.44). Postpartum blood transfusion rate was 6.5% in exteriorised repair group and 9% in in-situ repair group (p=0.35). Postoperative morbidity like fever, surgical site infection, length of hospital stay was similar in both the groups. Conclusion: Choice of uterine closure method is operator dependent and either method of uterine closure is acceptable when practiced and skill is gained. Exteriorisation is advantageous when excessive bleeding is encountered. Though time taken for closure in in-situ group is statistically more it is similar practically. Bowel sounds returned earlier postoperatively in in-situ group

Datasets related to Key Trends and Drivers in Military Modernization in the Indo-Pacific: Implications for Australia and Responses

This dataset underlies the report generated entitled "Key Trends and Drivers in Military Modernization in the Indo-Pacific: Implications for Australia and Responses" by Bates Gill, Yves-Heng Lim, Antoine Levesques, Adam Lockyer, Fred Smith, Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Viraj Solanki and Andrew T. H. Tan.  This project addresses the priority Defence policy topic of Accelerating Regional Military Modernization (and Asymmetric Advantages). It assesses the trends, attributes and drivers of accelerating military modernization in the Indo-Pacific, in order to understand and clearly delineate the challenges facing Australia. The report then proceeds to examine the roles of the key actors in this phenomenon, namely, China, the United States and India. Finally, the project puts forward and assesses potential Australian responses in the face of the region’s accelerating military modernization dynamic. The dataset is made up of the following: 1. Estimated_Personnel_in_the_PRC_Armed_Forces_2016_and_2020.csv 2. Selected_PLA_Weaponry_2020.csv  3. Report - Military Modernization in the Indo-Pacific.pdf  4. Seminar_Recording_1920x1080_GMT20220915-020051.mp4</p

The seas unite: maritime cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region

This monograph includes the discussion papers presented at the Second meeting of the CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Group held in Kuala Lumpur 16-17 April 1996. These papers confirmed that maritime issues, and the maritime environment generally, are a rich source of ideas and initiatives for developing the habit of cooperation and dialogue between Asia Pacific countries. Our choice of title for the proceedings of the second meeting, The Seas Unite: Maritime Cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region, reflects the progress made by CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Group in defining issues and identifying key areas for further action. The papers presented to the meeting enabled the Working Group to identify a comprehensive way ahead covering a wide range of initiatives that could provide the basis for a possible regional agreement on maritime cooperation, education and training, and the management of regional seas. These initiatives are described in more detail in the last chapter of this book. Preceding chapters cover areas such as regional naval cooperation, shipping and marine safety, marine scientific research and environmental issues, and the resolution of marine resource and boundary disputes. The CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Groups is dealing with issues which are of growing common concern to regional countries. They have immense potential value as a basis for preventive diplomacy and confidence building in the region. This potential has been recognised by the ASEAN Regional Forum but, while progress is being made, there is still a long way to go in implementing practical measures to overcome the tensions and unresolved problems of jurisdiction and sovereignty that exist in the maritime environment of the Asia Pacific region