Nestled in the Himalaya, Bhutan has a very high strategic worth for India and this is the reason why China which has no diplomatic relations with Thimpu, wants to win it over.
Author: Shankar Kumar
Maverick Trump does it again, pushes West Asia into deep gorge of instability
All learned pundits of foreign relations are shocked; majority of international community members are stunned; close American allies are traumatized and they are scrambling for words to respond to President Donald Trump’s sudden decision to pull out US troops from Syria. They were not prepared for such unpredictability of the[Read More…]
Indian Army, Chinese PLA to hold 14 days military exercise in December: Will it change atmospherics between two neighbours?
For the first time since the 73-day old Doklam stand off last year, Indian Army and Chinese PLA will hold 14-day hand-to-hand drill from December 10 to 24 in Chengdu in China. Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the India-China military exercise, the 7th joint drill between[Read More…]
Sitharaman to visit US next month, her long wish list includes drones, helicopters, missiles’ purchase
India has already issued Letter of Request (LoR) to the US for the purchase of 24 MH-60 R Seahawk multirole helicopters for the Navy.
Kartarpur Sahib corridor: Will shrine diplomacy work well for India and Pakistan?
It was twenty years ago, during then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore, India had put the demand for a corridor to facilitate hurdle free, visa free movement of Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib.
Is China’s aggressive design forcing India to ramp up its preparedness in Indian Ocean?
But India is now not a sleeping elephant. This year in May, India and Indonesia agreed for naval access to Sabang, a strategically located island which is close to the Malacca Strait.
Indian Navy to buy Seahawk helicopters from US, plans next paws in Indian Ocean
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Singapore on November 14, India issued a letter of request (LoR) to the US government for the purchase of 24 MH-60 R Seahawk multirole helicopters for the Navy.[Read More…]
Despite enforcing sanctions on Iran, US may lose its Middle-East gambit
In view of their energy demand, the US which has imposed the second wave of sanctions on Iran, has exempted 8 countries, including India, Japan, South Korea and China from any punitive trade actions for six months. Shut off from dollar-dominated exchange, Iran will sell its oil to these countries[Read More…]
Political crisis in Lanka: President Sirisena comes under pressure over dissolution of parliament while US, Japan block aids
Sri Lankan President Maithiripala Sirisena has dissolved parliament and has called snap election in the country for January 5, forcing his political rival and deposed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to challenge the President’s decision in the country’s Supreme Court. Is the Sri Lankan President’s move aimed at scoring political points for[Read More…]
US mid-term polls: Frustrated Trump runs down media, further complicating his 2020 presidential chance
Trudging on war victory is not possible when people standing in line to cheer you turn down their back instead. This is what has happened to US President Donald Trump whose leadership has suffered a hemorrhage as American voters have chosen to show him mirror in the mid-term election to[Read More…]
Asia Bibi case: Pakistan SC proposes, PM Imran Khan damages by surrendering to extremists’ dictates
Instead of taking firm action against extremists who held whole Pakistan to ransom for three days over acquittal of blasphemy case convict Asia Bibi, the Imran Khan government bowed to Islamic hardliner’s demand for not raising objections to a review petition filed by the complainant against the Supreme Court’s judgment[Read More…]
Trump’s refusal to become chief guest at R-day function may hurt India-US relations
With US President Donald Trump turning down India’s invitation to be the chief guest during the Republic Day function, New Delhi has been left red faced by the country which swears to be India’s strongest strategic partner. Obviously, it will have a bearing on the relations of India and Trump-led[Read More…]
Sri Lankan crisis: Does India need to be cautious with President Sirisena’s move?
It has been rare in the Sri Lankan political history that a Prime Minister who enjoys majority support in the Parliament has been sacked by the President.
Afghanistan: Will India-China give new meaning to life in war-torn nation?
Despite threats of violence from the Taliban, a large number of people queued up before the polling booths to cast their votes for 250 parliamentary seats in Afghanistan recently. With this, myths so readily put forth by Western commentators that Afghans don’t want democracy have been once again debunked. This has[Read More…]
Is #MeToo movement another ‘Arab Spring’ of world?
The unsparing ferocity with which #MeToo Movement is catching powerful and popular figures from cinema, media and music world in its octopus grip, it is hard to assume that this social media generated frenzy will not continue for another weeks and months to come. Instead, it shows that the movement,[Read More…]
Does India’s Tajikistan conundrum have answers in strategy over PoK?
Last week Tajikistan witnessed a flurry of Indian leaders’ visit. Soon after President Ram Nath Kovind’s standalone three-day visit to the Central Asian country from October 7 to 9, the landlocked nation with its border touching Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) hosted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on its soil on[Read More…]
Why PM Modi’s forthcoming visit to Japan is strategically very important?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking two days visit to Japan for the annual summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at the end of October. Though Prime Minister Modi’s Japan visit has very high bilateral significance, what is interesting is that it is taking place just one day after[Read More…]
Non-Resident Indians: Are they contributing to India’s growth?
India will hold its 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) from January 21 to 23 in Varanasi. But does it hold any purpose for the country at all? Critics say the PBD has turned into a rich NRIs’ platform where poor diaspora has hardly any say on any matter related to NRIs. While this[Read More…]
Dancing at Army’s tune, Pakistan PM Imran Khan aims to beat media to silence; India needs to keep watchful eye on Islamabad
In Pakistan, talking and writing about India is anathema. Eulogizing Hafiz Saeed, the Jammat-ud-Dawa leader and mastermind of the 26/11 attack is considered as passport to good life and protection from any retributive action from Pakistan Army and its supporters. Imran Khan headed new Pakistan government works as a facilitator[Read More…]
Is Centre deporting Rohingyas keeping in mind 2019 elections?
India deported seven Rohingyas to Myanmar, the day after it celebrated 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation who was an apostle of non-violence, truth and humanity. Justifying the move, the Ministry of External Affairs on October 4 issued a statement in which it said that Rohingyas[Read More…]
Why India invited Afghan and Uzbekistan Presidents prior to Putin’s visit?
When Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving in India for a two-day visit on October 4, it will be appropriate to see through diplomatic prism the just concluded back to back visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the country. While security and strategy were the[Read More…]
Bypassing US’ objections, India readies to throw red carpet welcome to Putin on his visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India in the first week of October for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit is very important for India as it will make clear what side of pole the country stands, especially in its defence relations with Moscow. Although, recent[Read More…]
Trump to hold second summit with Kim, but Japan remains lukewarm in its response
Though details of Kim’s letter were not publicized by the White House, it markedly reflected fast geo-political development of the Korean Peninsula.
Maldivian election: Will India cut China to size in Maldives after Yameen is gone?
In the aftermath of the imposition of emergency, President Yameen sent special envoys to China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to brief them about the situation in the Maldives, but conveniently bypassed India.
Is electoral politics behind Modi govt’s decision to call off India-Pakistan meet?
Were brutal killing of three Jammu and Kashmir policemen and the release of stamps glorifying slain terrorist Burhan Wani as a “freedom icon” reasons behind India’s decision to call off a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in less than 24 hours[Read More…]