The volume, divided into four sections, deals with strategic developments pertaining to Asia. Recognising the diverse 'push' and 'pull' factors impinging on a country's strategic posture, the volume starts off by dealing with issues which the Advisory Committee of Experts guiding this publication felt were of immediate relevance. Accordingly, the first section, on “International Security Issues” has articles analysing India's responses to the global energy security challenges, the resurgent Russia, the emerging military technologies and their security implications for India, the 'global war on terror' and the issues concerning the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The next three parts contain in-depth analyses of major events in South, East and the West and Central regions of Asia. These constitute India's immediate and extended strategic neighbourhood. The wide range of issues dealt with include the evolving partnership between India and the United States, the changes in the contours of the Sino-Indian and the Sino-Japanese relationship, an evaluation of the India-Pakistan peace process, the challenges of institutionalising democracies in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, the East Asian 'economic dynamism and political flux', Pyongyang's nuclear 'brinkmanship', Iran's nuclear programme, developments in Israel-Palestinian relations, and the role of major powers in Central Asia.
The volume also presents a Statistical Appendix containing defence and conflict-related data for important countries in Asia.

S.D. MUNI, Senior Visiting Scholar, IDSA was formerly professor and Chairperson of the Centre for South, Central and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was also India's Ambassador to Laos (1997-1999) and Special Envoy in pursuance of India's claims for a permanent UNSC seat.
The author/editor of more than 20 books including Internal Conflicts in South Asia, Maoists Insurgency in Nepal, India's Energy Security, China's Strategic Engagement with the New ASEAN, Responding to Terrorism in South Asia, and over a 100 research papers, Prof. Muni is a distinguished expert on South/Southeast Asian political and security affairs. He was bestowed with Sri Lanka's highest honour for a non-national, 'SRI LANKA RATNA' in 2005.