Hindutva trumps ‘development’
Some Indian commentators have deplored the conferment of the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on Hindu Mahasabha founder Madan Mohan Malaviya. But many have welcomed its award to…
Repairs needed
Days after the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group’s meeting last month, Congress quietly green-signalled the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2015. The new bill includes an extension of the Coalition Support…
Good outcome to a flawed election
The power-sharing agreement signed a week ago by the incoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his election rival Abdullah, soon to be appointed to a specially created and tailor-made post…
What will we actually do?
We have an unmatched instinct for farce especially when we adopt our most grave and serious postures. Another all-parties conference; a dash to Kabul; a rage of hangings; a 20-point…
The mother of all U-turns
We are in the middle of a massive shift in global opinion – what we here call a U-turn. The arc of this turn is so wide that it is…
Toothless tiger
Presumably, Nawaz Sharif picked the tiger as an electoral symbol for his party because of its strength and speed. Sadly, however, the stuffed toy animal of PML-N rallies has shown…
Need for new survival kit
What is the best-case scenario for Nawaz Sharif’s government? That it might just survive PTI’s onslaught? Sums up the dilemma of those who believe that nothing except continuity of the…
Modi sarkar
Narendra Modi’s juggernaut reached Delhi six months ago amid excitement and anxiety. In some ways, Modi sarkar has performed as was expected of it – business friendly, imperious and self-righteous.…
Remittances and returns
A Large chunk of people born in developing countries like Pakistan will not work at home. Chasing jobs, they will go to other places and from there send back the…
200 days on, missing Dr Singh
History will judge me, Manmohan Singh said in his last comments as prime minister. It was 200 days on Thursday since he relinquished office. I am not surprised how some…
