Fareed Zakaria advises the US to keep pressing on Pakistan.
Fareed Zakaria hails the only foreign policy success of Obama administration, Pakistan. But ends his piece with a huge warning and a friendly advice.
There are some who believe that Pakistan has changed its basic strategy and now understands that it should cut its ties to these [...]
Only one reason — ensure the security and well-being of its citizens, thereby providing them with a better life.
Amidst all the hype over Indian involvement in Afghanistan and lamentations over declining India influence in that country, here is a quick check of the possible reasons that drive India’s continued interest in Afghanistan.
Let us start with [...]
India needs a holistic, well-crafted response that balances its short-term, mid-term and long-term goals vis-à-vis Pakistan.
The jehadis have struck again on the Indian mainland; this time in Pune, albeit more than a year after the horrendous terror attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. The initial response, while going with the most plausible and popular assumption [...]
Some gaps in the understanding are filled, but more questions emerge.
Too many trees have been felled and much ether used to debate the Indian offer to recommence peace talks with Pakistan. Most of the sensible debate — not the jingoistic bit of how we have been shamed by Pakistan cocking a snook at us — [...]
The calls for recommencing talks with Pakistan do not stand to logic and are not grounded in reality.
There are periods in history in which it isn’t enough to say you’ve done your best, when the only test is whether you have done what is necessary.~Churchill
It seems that the wonderfully efficient marketing machinery at an Indian [...]
The next army chief says Indian Army is designed for defence of India within the sub-continental domain.
Here is an excerpt from an interview in Salute with Lieutenant General VK Singh, who — in all likelihood — will be the next army chief in a few months time.
Warfare [...]
PM’s Fifth Working Group report on Kashmir’s relations with centre serves some purpose in the mêlée that is Kashmir.
The Prime Minister’s Fifth Working Group on Kashmir, dealing with centre-state relationship, headed by former Supreme Court judge S Saghir Ahmad has submitted its report to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. This working group [...]
Pratap Bhanu Mehta makes a valid case for engaging Pakistan, but there have to be other prongs in the strategy.
In today’s Indian Express, India’s foremost columnist Pratap Bhanu Mehta makes a case against Indian military involvement in Afghanistan. He instead asks India to make bold attempts to engage larger Pakistani public opinion to meet Indian [...]
Quiet talks between the Kashmiri separatists and centre have started. It is a long and bumpy road ahead.
The process has started. Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered the release of separatist Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah. This confidence building measure is in keeping with the Union Home Minister’s plan of “quiet dialogue” and [...]
Sending troops to Afghanistan is a valid strategic option for India.
There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot. ~Steven Wright
In two separate op-ed pieces today, former army chief General Shankar Roychowdhury and defence analyst Ajai Shukla try to find ways for India to influence the events in Afghanistan. Roychowdhury [...]
Why US should stay the course in Afghanistan?
Steve Coll of the New Yorker, at his blog Think Tank, makes a fist of a very difficult job: to explain that besides exterminating al Qaeda, South Asia — and India in particular — is the reason for the US to stay committed in Afghanistan.
The United States has [...]
McChrystal’s report warns of Pakistani retaliation to Indian influence in Afghanistan.
From the much-reported COMISAF initial assessment of the war in Afghanistan submitted by General Stanley A. McChrystal to Obama administration:
Indian political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan, including significant development efforts and financial investment. In addition, the current Afghan government is perceived by Islamabad [...]
If this is India-friendly opinion, what is the centrist view in Pakistan.
When he was a young officer with the Pakistan army, he believed — till the mid-1970s — that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. Then, as a serving and a retired general, he was associated with a Indo-Pak Track-II diplomatic initiative called [...]
US should warm up to implications of its South Asia policy.
Why do you say that India wants to help strengthen Pakistan?
India understands that it is not in its interest to try to destabilise or undermine Pakistan’s security at this very sensitive time.[Dawn]
This is Robert Blake, the new US Assistant Secretary of State for South [...]
China is worried about the Pakistan connection of Uighurs.
As far as the trouble in Xinjiang province goes, here is what the Communist regime in China expects from its neighbours.
China expected cooperation from neighbouring countries to safeguard peace and stability in the region, Qin said replying to a question on whether Beijing has asked neighbours [...]
India pushing more military resources to counter the Chinese threat.
Recent press reports state that Indian army is raising two more divisions to be stationed in Arunachal Pradesh. The IAF is also moving its Sukhoi aircrafts to the North East and reactivating old airfields in the region. This is ostensibly being done to counter the Chinese [...]
…before Pakistan army.
Despite Pakistan army’s much celebrated [by US officials] campaign against the jehadis in Swat, Buner and elsewhere, there are some contrarian voices being raised in the international media. Today’s NYT raises a pertinent question about why the top leadership of Pakistani Taliban still remains at large so far.
But they also highlight the frustration [...]
BJP must appoint one for (its own and) India’s sake.
Inspired by the way things happen at the Westminster, a Shadow Cabinet has been a long-standing demand of many well-meaning political commentators in this country. Now that most commentators are predicting the end of coalition politics in this country of last two decades, it is perhaps [...]
It has only protected the jehadis.
In the Dawn, Pervez Hoodobhoy demolishes the myth of perceived great benefits accruing to Pakistan vis-a-vis India, by going nuclear in 1998.
Did the bomb help Pakistan liberate Kashmir from Indian rule? It is a sad fact that India’s grip on Kashmir — against the will of Kashmiris — is tighter [...]
Smart idea from Washington. Will it succeed?
Other than the US, there are three other countries that Pakistan considers its foremost allies: China, Saudi Arabia and Iran. While the US is directing all its energies on to Pakistan, it is also looking at these countries for asking Pakistan to do more in its fight against the [...]
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