The Act East Policy (AEP) has long been discussed in India’s foreign policy circles; it was upgraded from the Look East Policy (LEP) shortly after Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister in 2014. Since then, India’s engagement has expanded beyond the Southeast Asian region to include the broader Indo-Pacific region as well as with East Asian countries. The AEP is India’s ambitious strategy for countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region while bringing development to the North East Region (NER). The NER has received particular attention during the policy implementation of AEP, which has increased connectivity. Although the region is troubled by the oppressive Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which has undermined the region’s democracy. The region has a long history of secessionism, ethnic conflicts, and widespread illegal drug trafficking from neighbouring countries. These challenges and the Hindutva project of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtri...
The Political Punchline is ideologically fluid, blending left-liberal and conservative perspectives while fostering provocative discussions. By advocating alternative political viewpoints, it encourages free thinking. The PP seeks to transcend the constraints of ethnicity, homeland politics and insurgency, amongst others that have stifled Northeast India, embodying the regions resilience and dynamism in the face of adversity, it epitomizes the essence of a vibrant 'New Northeast.'