Many challenges for India in its neighbourhood The Statesman 03 Jan 2023 If the end of 2022 is taken as a benchmark, 2023 will witness upheavals in India’s neighbourhood, challenging India’s diplomatic ability. Neighbourhood first policy, less for Pakistan, will become a challenge. The nomination of Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the new PM of Nepal, growing terrorist activities, political […]
Deteriorating Pak-Afghan ties India vs disinformation 26 Dec 2022 Last weekend in their most audacious and serious attack, 33 TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) militants, under detention in the Bannu Counter terrorism Department Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa overpowered guards and held them hostage. Initially they demanded a safe passage to Afghanistan, which they later changed to moving them anywhere in North […]
Afghanistan: India’s quiet diplomacy winning odds in its favour India vs Disinformation 10 Dec 2022 When the US withdrew from Afghanistan on 15th August 2021, Pakistan believed it was solely due to its policies. It had assumed that its support to the Taliban throughout the US occupation would be repaid with interest. Imran Khan gleefully mentioned Afghans had ‘broken […]
Sheikh Hasina best bet in Dhaka Bharat Shakti 10 Sep 2022 Addressing the media after her formal reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Sheikh Hasina, on her four-day visit to India stated, ‘India is our friend. Whenever I come to India, it’s a pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. […]
Why India can’t let inimical forces in Nepal stop Gorkhas from joining Indian Army over Agnipath First Post 03 Sep 2022 Inputs over the weekend stated that Nepal has urged the government of India to currently stall recruitment of Gurkhas under the Agnipath scheme. The Nepalese foreign minister, Narayan Khadke, stated this after meeting the Indian ambassador to Nepal, […]
Sri Lankan crisis: Good time to push back against China’s growing clout in India’s neighbourhood First Post 19 Jul 2022 It is well established that Sri Lanka has defaulted on its payments and is in the throes of an economic crisis. With lack of funds for imports, prices have skyrocketed, resulting in public anger. Calls for resignations of members […]
China-Pak relations not as before The Excelsior 19 Jul 2022 The ‘higher than the mountains’ and ‘deeper than the ocean’ ties between China and Pakistan are possibly losing momentum. There is no doubt that China continues to support Pak diplomatically, as it did when it blocked Abdul Rehman Makki from being listed as a global terrorist, while simultaneously campaigning […]
Comparing the two conferences on Afghanistan The Excelsior 28 Dec 2021 Last week there were two simultaneous meetings held to discuss the scenario in Afghanistan and seek a way forward to resolve the crisis. Pakistan hosted the 17th extraordinary summit of the council of foreign ministers of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) while India hosted the five […]
100 days of Taliban rule The Excelsior 29 Nov 2021 Last week Taliban completed 100 days of power in Afghanistan. The interim government (as it terms itself) was imposed by the Pak ISI, with the DG ISI visiting Kabul and brokering disputes on government formation. This Haqqani led government, sidelined moderates who were part of Doha negotiations, is inclined […]
Dilemma for nations and for Afghanistan The Statesman 16 Nov 2021 Since the Taliban takeover of Kabul, nations in the neighbourhood have been competing with one another attempting to remain relevant players. While some seek consensus on Afghanistan, Pakistan considers it as its prodigal son and preciously guards it from nations which are on inimical terms with it. It […]