LAC tensions must end for better ties The Statesman 04 Feb 2025The Indian foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, visited Beijing last week marking another step towards restoring normalcy between the two nations. This followed interactions between the foreign ministers and the NSAs, post resolution on standoffs along the LAC and restoration of patrolling rights. No joint statement was issued following the […]
The defence budget – is there scope for improvement? Etv Bharat 03 Feb 2025The finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech for 2025-26 allocated a sum of Rs 6,81,210 crore for defence. This was an increase of 9.53% from the previous year. The Press Information Bureau, praising the budget mentioned, ‘This allocation will take care of major acquisitions planned […]
Pakistan fails to read the tealeaves The Excelsior 31 Jan 2025Pakistan media was aghast that the first meeting conducted by the new Trump administration was that of the QUAD and the first bilateral was with India, with Marc Rubio, the new US Secretary of State, meeting Dr Jaishankar. The Dawn in an article discussing the meeting mentioned, ‘Following the inauguration […]
The Trump era begins The Statesman 28 Jan 2025Donald Trump commenced his first day in office by signing a slew of executive orders, 26 in total, covering a vast variety of subjects. The same pace in issue of executive orders as also sacking of previously appointed individuals, continues. He has stopped all aid, less to Israel and Turkey. He appears […]
South Asia and the Israel-Hamas war The Excelsior 24 Jan 2025Islamist nations in the Middle East, less Iran, either maintained silence throughout the Israel-Hamas conflict, or commented only on the subject of civilian casualties. For them, ties with the US are more important. None displayed direct support for Hamas. Qatar, which funded Hamas for years, hosted its leadership on its […]
Ceasefire agreement marks new chapter in Israel-Hamas conflict E TV Bharat 21 Jan 2025Israel and Hamas have accepted a ceasefire deal which kicked in on Sunday. The deal, pushed through detailed negotiations spread over months, comes into effect just as Biden finishes his tenure as US President. Both, Biden and Trump, have taken credit for the ceasefire, with Trump claiming […]
Battlefield tourism is a small step The Statesman 21 Jan 2024On Army Day the MoD launched a portal on battlefields. The portal, released by the defence minister, has details of how to visit various well-known battlefields and war memorials in their vicinity, where tourists can pay homage to those who laid down their lives. The regions being opened include Kibithoo […]
The embattled ICC The Excelsior 17th Jan 2025Last weekend, the US House of Representatives passed a bill termed as the ‘Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act’ which seeks to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC). The bill proposes to freeze property assets and deny visas to any foreigners who materially or financially contributed to the court’s efforts to ‘investigate, arrest, detain or […]
The Changing Face of South Asia: India’s Neighbourhood Concerns Amid Pakistan’s Growing Ties with Bangladesh ETv Bharat 15 Jan 2024The recent meeting between the Indian foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, and the Afghanistan Acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai, is the latest in the changing scenario in South Asia. The landscape began to change with the overthrowing of […]
American role in targeting India The Statesman 14 Jan 2025Two recent reports emerging in The Washington Post have intentionally been published, without checking facts, intending to lower India’s image at a time when there is a government change in the US. The first was an article stating that India was scheming with politicians of Maldives to have the current pro-China […]