The Great Indian Hindu Kush Challenge
Tehelka|January 23 2016

Diplomatic cunning could bring India more of the Afghan booty.

Rushda Siddiqui
The Great Indian Hindu Kush Challenge

In more ways than one, the Pathankot debacle showed the inability of the Indian government to understand the dynamics of relations within South Asia, especially on its western front. Infact, Pakistani daily Dawn even released a list of responses by politicians and media houses in India, indicating the myopic vision of policymakers.

If we look at the developments in just the past one-and-a-half years since Narendra Modi became PM, the government comes across as unable to think out-of-the-box regarding the Afghanistan-Pakistan challenge. Trying to assert its ideological strength, the BJP began by stalling all dialogue and negotiations that had made some progress under the previous government.

Make no mistake, for the BJP, ideology is the biggest variable in determining foreign policy, and since the sabrerattling with Pakistan is intrinsic to it, breakdown of communications was inevitable. The breakdown was followed by talks with Pakistani diplomats in other parts of the world, with the stopover by the PM being touted as the beginning of a new era in India’s Af-Pak policy.

However, it is not just the policy of the current government that needs scrutiny, but the fact that government after government have failed to grasp the dynamics of developments in Afghanistan and, by extension, West Asia. The strategic importance of Afghanistan can never be understated. It’s a landlocked country in the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia and parts of West Asia. Pakistan is to the south and the east; Iran towards the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north; and China in the far northeast.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 23 2016-Ausgabe von Tehelka.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 23 2016-Ausgabe von Tehelka.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS TEHELKAAlle anzeigen
Why Did Ratan Tata Feel Compelled To Take Charge Again?
Tehelka

Why Did Ratan Tata Feel Compelled To Take Charge Again?

Did Cyrus Mistry fall victim to an ossified corporate culture or did he violate Tata Sons’ ethos and culture? MG BanGa tells the story so far.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
30 November 2016
Misguided Youths Or Trained Terrorists?
Tehelka

Misguided Youths Or Trained Terrorists?

As part of a dangerous trend emerging across the world, homegrown ISIL sympathisers are willing and attempting to carry out deadly terror attacks without any comprehensive support system.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
July 31 2016
Indian Railways: Living In Dreams
Tehelka

Indian Railways: Living In Dreams

Indian Railways is changing track, giving up its separate Budget and experimenting with surge pricing on three popular trains. That leaves the behemoth with no funds to replace ageing assets and encourage further investments.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
31 October 2016
Priyanka Gandhi Agreed To Play Bigger Role In UP
Tehelka

Priyanka Gandhi Agreed To Play Bigger Role In UP

Further delay in decision making could be detrimental to the party’s goal to rejuvenate its prospects in the State Assembly elections.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
July 15 2016
Mission 2019: Banega Swachh India?
Tehelka

Mission 2019: Banega Swachh India?

Two years ago, Modi kicked off a cleanliness drive in a spectacular way. Showing the contrast between world cities and Gurgaon, MG BANGA suggests ways in which the mission can be accomplished by 2019.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
September 15 2016
The Goodwill Enjoyed By Mehabooba Mufti Has Been Erased!
Tehelka

The Goodwill Enjoyed By Mehabooba Mufti Has Been Erased!

Mehbooba Mufti risks losing her popularity and irking her party ranks by using New Delhi’s rulebook to deal with the unrest in Kashmir.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
August 31 2016
Is China's Support To Pakistan, Big Threat To India?
Tehelka

Is China's Support To Pakistan, Big Threat To India?

New Delhi needs to be cautious as in Pakistan’s scheme of things, strategic ties with China can serve as a powerful weapon to deal with adversaries like India.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 15 2016
Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif'S Troubles Escalate
Tehelka

Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif'S Troubles Escalate

After his name surfaced in the Panama paper leak following several other charges of money laundering filed against him, there is pressure on Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to resign.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
30 November 2016
This Potus Will Make The World Go Bust
Tehelka

This Potus Will Make The World Go Bust

The man who believes global warming is a hoax and has a short attention span will now preside over the affairs not just of the United States but of the whole world. A daunting prospect.

time-read
9 Minuten  |
30 November 2016
Reel-Life Bohemians, Real-Life Hyprocrites
Tehelka

Reel-Life Bohemians, Real-Life Hyprocrites

ADHM vs Palm Grove Heights: In cinematic life, two strangers Ranbir and Anushka meet in a pub in London and go on a kissing spree while in actual life back in India, a woman from Barcelona was evicted from her male friend’s home in Gurugram. Is cinema really a mirror of society?

time-read
4 Minuten  |
30 November 2016