Your Search Results

Update on Indo-Pak relations

Comments Off

By K.N. Pandita

Even a minor happening can negatively influence fragile and tenuous relations between the two countries. Generally speaking, within a broad spectrum of standard relationship between countries, there exists a mechanism meant to absorb sudden shocks of sporadic and unexpected events. No such mechanism exists between the two.  Continue Reading…

State actors behind 26/11

Comments Off

By K.N. Pandita

On a tip off from Indian Home Ministry, Abu Jindal (pseudonym) was arrested in Saudi Arabia, and deported to India where authorities arrested him and have now also interrogated him in the context of Mumbai attack of 26/11. This is a big achievement, as we are told that Indian Home Ministry had been tracking him down for last one year or more. It appears that from the interrogation of Kasab, there emerged the name of Abu Jindal as a key person who was directing the movement of terrorists in Mumbai while sitting in the control room in Karachi.   Continue Reading…

How Afghan Taliban look at India

Comments Off

By K.N. Pandita

From the very beginning of crisis in Afghanistan dating back to Soviet misadventure, India has been playing her Afghan role very discreetly.

Lack of direct overland connectivity and reluctance for active initiative, India has stayed away from military involvement in Afghanistan. Notwithstanding this, externally sponsored and abetted armed insurgency in Kashmir is a compulsion for her to keep close watch on Afghan happenings and their bearing on our secularity arrangement.   Continue Reading…

Coup under judicial mask

Comments Off

K.N. Pandita

A Prime Minister duly elected by the people of Pakistan through democratic process has been declared disqualified by the Supreme Court of that country. Disqualification is not for any serious act of treason or corruption jeopardizing national security and integrity: it is for a matter bogged with legal and constitutional controversies. Interestingly, besides declaring PM Gilani incapable of holding the post of Prime Minister, the court’s direction to Pakistan Election Commission is to arrange election to the Multan parliamentary seat vacated by Yousuf Reza Gilani.    Continue Reading…

The glacial watershed

Comments Off

By K.N. Pandita

World’s highest battlefield atop the Karakorum glacial region of Siachin is again under focus of the two contesting countries of South Asia. It is decades that both India and Pakistan are fully conscious of the perils of stationing troops on such inhospitable and treacherous region as have only recently consumed the lives of a hundred and forty Pakistani soldiers in the twinkling of an eye when they were buried under a massive avalanche. But alas such is the obstinacy and intransigence and such is the deep-seated doubt and suspicion between the two neighbours that they are unable to come to any agreement based on the ground reality. At least 1-3 soldiers on either side get killed every day on this deadly and desolate region, not by enemy fire but by the cruel and tyrannical cold and frost bite.   Continue Reading…

Panetta’s sermons with a pinch of salt

Comments Off

By K.N. Pandita

Not much needs to be read between the lines in regard to Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s two-day visit to New Delhi. He had been on a visit to five South East Asian countries with the last leg ending up in India.

Taking into account how the American mainstream press has viewed the event, there appears nothing that could be called either a special occasion or change in Washington’s policy towards India. In their foreign policy in particular, the Americans, like governments in all powerful countries, are pragmatic. Since we in India are not, being of feeble mind, we consider such visits of a senior official as change in policy.   Continue Reading…