By unleashing the propaganda machine against the Sikhs on Kartarpur Sahib issue, BJP is playing with fire that patriotic—and smart—Indians would rather not.
The Gandhi family may or may not forgive them, but they have no locus standi. India is a constitutional state, not a feudal or tribal one with blood money justice.
Left-libertarians have no problems cadging sponsorships from the same 'evil' corporates for their lit-fests, and generous wine ’n cheese laden evenings.
India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.
Gen Dwivedi framed Op Sindoor not just as retaliation to Pahalgam, but as demonstration of India’s capability to fight multi-domain conflicts with integration between services & agencies.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
Agree with Shekhar, although losing all hope is not a good thing either. Anatol Lieven’s “Pakistan a hard country is a good read” …I personally have stated that Islam created Pakistan and it will be Islam that will destroy it. Mark my words!!! Sadly Pakistanis suffer from an Identity crisis which has been re-enforced via the various madrassas attended by the masses.
My biggest criticism of Imran is not his limitation but rather his born again Islamist look and demeanour. I had higher expectations from an Oxford graduate. He is only cementing radicalism whether he realises it or not! He squandered the opportunity to have thinkers take him seriously!
Well said ..Foreign, strategic, India-US-China policies, control of the nukes, temperature in Kashmir, Afghanistan are all out of the syllabus for elected governments.”
“he’s Pakistan’s first volunteer bonsai. His intentions are unclear and don’t matter. His limitations do, and these are clear”
It’s a little amusing that you choose to forget the fact that Imran Khan has been the most popular sports hero in Pakistani history. He is a thousand times more popular than Wasim Akram or Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan, or Sachin Tendulkar could ever be in India. His charisma, lack of personal wealth and family sacrifice for the sake of his political struggle has given him a Godlike stature in Pakistan’s political history, a status only enjoyed by Jinnah before him, more so after Sharif & Bhutto dynasties exposed themselves as corrupt for using their tenures in govt to raise business empires worth tens of billions of dollars each.
Imran Khan went to jail for political resistance to the military during the govt of Musharraf. Today Pakistan’s military establishment has no choice but to stand by him, given immense ground swell of public support for his party across every region of the country. Indians only fool themselves in not taking him seriously.
it is not as if some people were born troublesome – and others saints – it is all a question of proportion and people. People in India may not recognize Gandhi ji as a human today ( I have no personal experience of Gandhi ji) . The same is possible in any other country. Politics and Politicians are the real problem – and their views are based on a so called populations views – perceived or manipulated – behind closed doors or out in the open. the past and the future.
Conditioned by the past our sheer inability to even grasp at hope is a sign of fraility and infirmity. Shekhar takes the easy way out to nail everything on military and the so called civil -military divide. It is a somewhat superficial view that misses out on societal change in Pakistan and around it in the region. Plenty of scope for fresh thinking.
Mr. Gupta always writes/speaks as if he knows something that others don’t. In his need to sound clever and unique, he often sacrifices common sense. (The other day, on a TV channel, while discussing Jayant Sinha’s having garlanded some convicts, he says that Sinha’s having studied at Harvard was not germane to the issue. That means that education is not expected to make a man better. So if a man commits a wrong, his having been well-educated does not make his wrong-doing more wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.). Coming back to this story, he assumes that the past is the only guide to the future. Well, Mr. Gupta is not the only person who is frozen in time; he is not the only person whose ego blinds him to the possibilities of the past not being a predictor of the future. While he has a right to to crow his opinions, what definitely bothers is this crow crows too loud, and is called a respectable journalist.
SUPERB !! piece by SHEKHAR GUPTA !!
Almost agreed on all points ! BUT the the press wants a straight POLICY towards PAKISTAN and they want to conclude it as early as possible to make headlines. BUT that is not how PAK policy works in INDIA . U should never have a concrete policy towards PAK as it is a military state and it is very important to keep them guessing. THE urge for peace from PAK side is new in the recent years due to their economical turmoil. BAJWA in his doctrine has called for economic relations with INDIA to survive this turmoil BUT we cant risk our security in dealing with PAK .
KARTARPUR!! yes its way too risky but DOVAL has played a gamble on sikhs (one of the most loyal community) and if the economic aspects are advantageous for PAK they would never want to be attacked by terrorist groups. BUT this is where LeT and JuD come in picture their ideologies don’t permit to have relations with INDIA without resolving KASHMIR soo BAJWA is going to have a really hard time maintaing these 2 groups. INDIA cleverly has put onus on PAK to maintain the corridor without discussing KASHMIR.
#Pakistan, old name Indus Valley Civilization was never part of Vedic Culture of India. Conflict between India and Pakistan is very simple its conflict on property. Now if it going to end Ramayan or Mahabharat way need to be seen. I guess would depend on your faith.
India should make good use of the fact that there is no creative tension between the civilian, elected government and Pakistan’s security establishment. It has sometimes been suggested that India should talk directly to the generals, as the Americans do. My personal view is that Pakistan’s halting, tentative, not irreversible, move towards democracy is good for both countries. Whatever minimal influence India has over the evolution of Pakistan should be expended in support of that outcome. A failing, flailing Pakustan is not in anyone’s interest. 2. The fact that serious dialogue has not borne fruit should not close the door completely to dialogue, for the alternative is a continuing impasse’. So whether it is the visit of the former Norwegian PM or any other formal or informal contacts, something should keep moving. A petulant refusal to talk cannot be regarded as a self contained policy. SAARC is collateral damage. Its comatose state enlarges the vacuum which China is moving in to occupy.
Agree with Shekhar, although losing all hope is not a good thing either. Anatol Lieven’s “Pakistan a hard country is a good read” …I personally have stated that Islam created Pakistan and it will be Islam that will destroy it. Mark my words!!! Sadly Pakistanis suffer from an Identity crisis which has been re-enforced via the various madrassas attended by the masses.
My biggest criticism of Imran is not his limitation but rather his born again Islamist look and demeanour. I had higher expectations from an Oxford graduate. He is only cementing radicalism whether he realises it or not! He squandered the opportunity to have thinkers take him seriously!
Well said ..Foreign, strategic, India-US-China policies, control of the nukes, temperature in Kashmir, Afghanistan are all out of the syllabus for elected governments.”
“he’s Pakistan’s first volunteer bonsai. His intentions are unclear and don’t matter. His limitations do, and these are clear”
Superb Analysis. Till the Bonsai doesn’t grow out of the pot….no change possible,
It’s a little amusing that you choose to forget the fact that Imran Khan has been the most popular sports hero in Pakistani history. He is a thousand times more popular than Wasim Akram or Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan, or Sachin Tendulkar could ever be in India. His charisma, lack of personal wealth and family sacrifice for the sake of his political struggle has given him a Godlike stature in Pakistan’s political history, a status only enjoyed by Jinnah before him, more so after Sharif & Bhutto dynasties exposed themselves as corrupt for using their tenures in govt to raise business empires worth tens of billions of dollars each.
Imran Khan went to jail for political resistance to the military during the govt of Musharraf. Today Pakistan’s military establishment has no choice but to stand by him, given immense ground swell of public support for his party across every region of the country. Indians only fool themselves in not taking him seriously.
Brilliant piece! Your words expressed every fact, precisely!
it is not as if some people were born troublesome – and others saints – it is all a question of proportion and people. People in India may not recognize Gandhi ji as a human today ( I have no personal experience of Gandhi ji) . The same is possible in any other country. Politics and Politicians are the real problem – and their views are based on a so called populations views – perceived or manipulated – behind closed doors or out in the open. the past and the future.
Conditioned by the past our sheer inability to even grasp at hope is a sign of fraility and infirmity. Shekhar takes the easy way out to nail everything on military and the so called civil -military divide. It is a somewhat superficial view that misses out on societal change in Pakistan and around it in the region. Plenty of scope for fresh thinking.
Mr. Gupta always writes/speaks as if he knows something that others don’t. In his need to sound clever and unique, he often sacrifices common sense. (The other day, on a TV channel, while discussing Jayant Sinha’s having garlanded some convicts, he says that Sinha’s having studied at Harvard was not germane to the issue. That means that education is not expected to make a man better. So if a man commits a wrong, his having been well-educated does not make his wrong-doing more wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.). Coming back to this story, he assumes that the past is the only guide to the future. Well, Mr. Gupta is not the only person who is frozen in time; he is not the only person whose ego blinds him to the possibilities of the past not being a predictor of the future. While he has a right to to crow his opinions, what definitely bothers is this crow crows too loud, and is called a respectable journalist.
SUPERB !! piece by SHEKHAR GUPTA !!
Almost agreed on all points ! BUT the the press wants a straight POLICY towards PAKISTAN and they want to conclude it as early as possible to make headlines. BUT that is not how PAK policy works in INDIA . U should never have a concrete policy towards PAK as it is a military state and it is very important to keep them guessing. THE urge for peace from PAK side is new in the recent years due to their economical turmoil. BAJWA in his doctrine has called for economic relations with INDIA to survive this turmoil BUT we cant risk our security in dealing with PAK .
KARTARPUR!! yes its way too risky but DOVAL has played a gamble on sikhs (one of the most loyal community) and if the economic aspects are advantageous for PAK they would never want to be attacked by terrorist groups. BUT this is where LeT and JuD come in picture their ideologies don’t permit to have relations with INDIA without resolving KASHMIR soo BAJWA is going to have a really hard time maintaing these 2 groups. INDIA cleverly has put onus on PAK to maintain the corridor without discussing KASHMIR.
#Pakistan, old name Indus Valley Civilization was never part of Vedic Culture of India. Conflict between India and Pakistan is very simple its conflict on property. Now if it going to end Ramayan or Mahabharat way need to be seen. I guess would depend on your faith.
India should make good use of the fact that there is no creative tension between the civilian, elected government and Pakistan’s security establishment. It has sometimes been suggested that India should talk directly to the generals, as the Americans do. My personal view is that Pakistan’s halting, tentative, not irreversible, move towards democracy is good for both countries. Whatever minimal influence India has over the evolution of Pakistan should be expended in support of that outcome. A failing, flailing Pakustan is not in anyone’s interest. 2. The fact that serious dialogue has not borne fruit should not close the door completely to dialogue, for the alternative is a continuing impasse’. So whether it is the visit of the former Norwegian PM or any other formal or informal contacts, something should keep moving. A petulant refusal to talk cannot be regarded as a self contained policy. SAARC is collateral damage. Its comatose state enlarges the vacuum which China is moving in to occupy.