On Nov. 26, 2008, India’s commercial capital, Mumbai, was struck by a series of terrorist attacks, killing 166 people. Of the nine attackers, only one, Ajmal Kasab, was caught alive, tried in India and hanged at Pune’s Yerwada prison in 2012.

The world has changed considerably since the end of the Cold War, but it seems South Asia is stuck in a time warp- stubbornly refusing to make new beginnings, or to harness the countless opportunities unleashed by globalization.

In many ways, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a lot in common. Both believe in a similar, right-wing ideological agenda, and one which often plays with the fates of millions.

The ninth round of US-Taliban talks is underway in Doha. A Taliban leader, Abdul Salam Zaeef, a former Ambassador to Pakistan, has reportedly claimed that the US and Taliban are now very close to striking a deal, following which intra-Afghan negotiations will begin.