From India's Kashmir issue to Myanmar's persecution of Muslim Rohingyas, South Asia remains a volatile sub-continent teetering on a very dangerous precipice.
India’s foreign policy today is driven less by Western alignment or global liberalism and more by domestic political imperatives — economic, ideological, and electoral.
Electronics—specifically smartphones—& energy & pharma products make up 30% of Indian exports to US. 25% tariff on India came into effect Thursday, extra 25% to kick in by August-end.
India will face international isolation because of CAA / NRC, according to Shri Shiv Shankar Menon. That is an outcome far removed from seeking to isolate Pakistan globally, which has been our top diplomatic goal and endeavour in recent times. MEA’s Advisor has tweeted disparagingly about negative global media coverage, which is no different from how the growing chorus about the economic downturn has been dismissed in recent years.
That impressive inaugural ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, all SAARC leaders present to wish the new administration well, was a moment filled with promise for South Asia. Ms Ruchira Kamboj recalled from Paris to ensure flawless protocol. Then somehow the elegance and savoir faire of the diplomatic corps yielding to the tungsten edge of the security state. In that long slide, the blockade of Nepal stands out as a step singularly lacking in compassion and foresight. 2. In tatters now … After opting out of RCEP, ASEAN is looking as bleak as SAARC has been willed to become. Clearly, foreign policy should go back to the drawing board. Earlier as FS, now as EAM, we expect the world from Dr Jaishankar.
Life is incredibly – in this case, heartbreakingly – hard for the poor in India. We have such an immense development deficit, there should be a moratorium not for ten but a hundred years on all divisive issues. Foreign dignitaries arrive, are hosted in Mughal splendour, and then they see these images of the real India. 2. Beyond a point, it may be unfair to blame the hospital authorities. They make do with what they have, which is obviously not enough. Fix the most basic needs. Lofty aims like Aayushman Bharat can wait. For the BJP and the Congress to blame each other – depending on who is in power at the moment – is the worst form of cynicism.
The price of oil – which impacts India so much – is already edging up. Should actual conflict ensue, it could go up much more. 2. It remains unclear why India has given up its traditional neutrality when it comes to the Iran – Saudi Arabia competition / rivalry in the Islamic world. Both Japan and France have tried, admittedly without much success, to bridge the gap between America and Iran. Perhaps India should have lent its weight to this process of finding reconciliation. 3. There is nothing in President Trump’s record in office so far, including in global diplomacy, to give assurance that he is dealing with this situation – which would not have arisen if he had not resiled from the Iran deal – with calm, cool judgment of the sort President Obama generally demonstrated.
India will face international isolation because of CAA / NRC, according to Shri Shiv Shankar Menon. That is an outcome far removed from seeking to isolate Pakistan globally, which has been our top diplomatic goal and endeavour in recent times. MEA’s Advisor has tweeted disparagingly about negative global media coverage, which is no different from how the growing chorus about the economic downturn has been dismissed in recent years.
That impressive inaugural ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, all SAARC leaders present to wish the new administration well, was a moment filled with promise for South Asia. Ms Ruchira Kamboj recalled from Paris to ensure flawless protocol. Then somehow the elegance and savoir faire of the diplomatic corps yielding to the tungsten edge of the security state. In that long slide, the blockade of Nepal stands out as a step singularly lacking in compassion and foresight. 2. In tatters now … After opting out of RCEP, ASEAN is looking as bleak as SAARC has been willed to become. Clearly, foreign policy should go back to the drawing board. Earlier as FS, now as EAM, we expect the world from Dr Jaishankar.
Life is incredibly – in this case, heartbreakingly – hard for the poor in India. We have such an immense development deficit, there should be a moratorium not for ten but a hundred years on all divisive issues. Foreign dignitaries arrive, are hosted in Mughal splendour, and then they see these images of the real India. 2. Beyond a point, it may be unfair to blame the hospital authorities. They make do with what they have, which is obviously not enough. Fix the most basic needs. Lofty aims like Aayushman Bharat can wait. For the BJP and the Congress to blame each other – depending on who is in power at the moment – is the worst form of cynicism.
The price of oil – which impacts India so much – is already edging up. Should actual conflict ensue, it could go up much more. 2. It remains unclear why India has given up its traditional neutrality when it comes to the Iran – Saudi Arabia competition / rivalry in the Islamic world. Both Japan and France have tried, admittedly without much success, to bridge the gap between America and Iran. Perhaps India should have lent its weight to this process of finding reconciliation. 3. There is nothing in President Trump’s record in office so far, including in global diplomacy, to give assurance that he is dealing with this situation – which would not have arisen if he had not resiled from the Iran deal – with calm, cool judgment of the sort President Obama generally demonstrated.