Iran quagmire: US strategies totally failed Raksha Anirveda 23 Jul 2026 The world is tired of hearing President Donal Trump screaming victory and going back to war the next day. It is equally sick of listening to Trump’s claim that the US has destroyed Iran militarily or that Iranians have approached them for dialogue. Adding to ongoing illogical statements […]
Khamenei’s funeral: Iran’s strategic messaging Raksha Anirveda 13 Jul 2026 The carefully choreographed week-long funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei, killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on Feb 28, was a message to the world of unity and solidarity within Iran. The gathering of his supporters was possibly the largest seen in the globe in recent times. While estimates of numbers have varied, […]
US-Iran talks the Excelsior 07 Jun 2026 The US seeks everything in a hurry, unwilling to understand that others do not follow the same timetable. This desperation of the US is justified because every administration looks at its own term in office, ignoring long-term interests. This is Trump’s last tenure and about 18 months have already elapsed. If any […]
The role of narratives in the Iran conflict Raksha Anirveda 25 Jun 2026 The US missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary and girls’ elementary school in Minab in Southern Iran on the first day of the war on 28th Feb resulted in 168 casualties, predominantly schoolgirls between the ages of 7 and 12, while many more were wounded. […]
Has Trump scuppered Israel’s W Asia plans? The Statesman 23 Jun 2026 It was Netanyahu who pushed Trump into the Iran conflict promising multiple gains, including regime change, degradation of the IRGC and surrender of Iran with just a short and swift bombing campaign. He did this when talks in Geneva were progressing smoothly and Iran had almost agreed […]
Geography favours Iran The Excelsior 22 Jun 2026 US and Israel air strikes on Iran did cause damage to Iran’s military sites as also its research facilities. However, they failed to break Iran’s resolve nor did they push it to surrender. Talks are in progress and Iran is no longer bargaining from a position of weakness but one of […]
Amidst powder kegs, will peace hold in West Asia The Statesman 16 Jun 2026 It has been after over 100 days that both, Trump and Iran, announced a peace deal, much to global relief. This was the umpteenth time that Trump mentioned it, only to be rebuked by Iran each time. Iran’s insistence on including Lebanon in the agreement […]
EU envoy trips up in Pakistan The Statesman 09 Jun 2026 Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated during Operation Sindoor, ‘Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are alarming. I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue.’ This came after the EU chief, Ursula Von der Leyen, condemned the terrorist strike in […]
A simmering SE Asia – lessons for India The Excelsior 07 Jun 2026 Tensions in SE Asia were visible at the Shangri La dialogue in Singapore last month. SE Asia has witnessed increased defence spending solely due to challenges from a resurgent China. India is not the only country facing threats from China but all its neighbours. SE Asia’s […]
India counters Turkey The Statesman 02 Jun 2026 In Feb 2023, when Turkey and Syria faced a devastating earthquake, which killed almost 52,000 people, India was amongst the first countries to respond. India launched ‘Operation Dost’ where it deployed a field hospital as also sent tons of relief material, hoping to change Indo-Turkey relationship. Indian rescue teams worked around […]