Thursday 3 November 2011

The Great Game Begins (again) : Big boys eyeing Central Asia.

Please allow me to quote Wikipedia, which is not advisable and must be avoided in normal circumstances, to introduce you to a popular and readily available literature on 'The Great Game'.

"The Great Game or Tournament of Shadows (Russian: Турниры теней, Turniry Teney) in Russia, were terms for the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia."
                           

Those who believe that recently concluded (2-3 Nov, 2011) Istanbul conference was a flop show must factor in the perceptions of those participants who returned back with a sense of triumph. It was most likely a no show for the US but for Pakistan it was a more than a thumping victory and a confidence booster for the future to come. Many participants returned back, well educated, with the chilling realities of power tussle going on between the big boys of 21st century. It was a curtain raiser event for those, European nations, who were (still) confused over 'The End Game in Afghanistan' or were lost in all this 'Global War on Terror' Hara-Kiri.
Istanbul Conference had set a stage for the regional stakeholders to seriously revisit their strategies and set realistic objectives for Bonn conference.