Aziz Haniffa

Stories by Aziz Haniffa

Pak a terror sponsor? US experts' opinion mixed

Pak a terror sponsor? US experts' opinion mixed

Rediff.com   28 May 2012

While the consensus seemingly among Barack Obama administration and US congressional lawmakers and several policy wonks who deal with South Asia at leading think tanks is that Pakistan meets all of the criteria to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, opinion is mixed among security experts if it would serve any purpose or be counter-productive.

'When will Pakistan shut down Frankenstein's monster?'

'When will Pakistan shut down Frankenstein's monster?'

Rediff.com   28 May 2012

The pathetic failure of United States' policy in Pakistan is evident by the fact that more than 10 years after the 9/11 terror strike, terrorist groups based in Pakistan continue to operate with impunity, according to Lisa Curtis, a former Central Intelligence Agency official and currently the head of the South Asia Programme at the Heritage Foundation. She argued, "The 9/11 attacks should have crystallised our policy in different ways,".

A geologist comes full circle with poetry

A geologist comes full circle with poetry

Rediff.com   26 May 2012

Tamil Nadu-born, Boston-based, Ramaswamy, who is in her mid-thirties, has traversed the world since her teens. And for years she was a geologist researching extreme environments and working for the United States Geological Survey.

Why the India chair in Virginia varsity matters

Why the India chair in Virginia varsity matters

Rediff.com   26 May 2012

Professor Niraj Verma, operational head of the first India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society in the US, in conversation with Aziz Haniffa

Honour for Indian American who feeds 2,000 slum kids

Honour for Indian American who feeds 2,000 slum kids

Rediff.com   24 May 2012

Sheela Murthy, founder, president, and managing attorney of the Baltimore County, Maryland-based Murthy Law Firm, will be honoured by the Children's Guild with its 2012 Sadie Award for her philanthropy and humanitarianism.

Mistrust with Pak yet to be overcome: Top US general

Mistrust with Pak yet to be overcome: Top US general

Rediff.com   24 May 2012

General John Allen, United States commander of the International Support Assistance Force in Afghanistan has acknowledged that the level of mistrust with Pakistan is a major challenge that has yet to be overcome but that the resurrection of this military relationship is underway.

Prestigious US university announces India chair

Prestigious US university announces India chair

Rediff.com   22 May 2012

Virginia Commonwealth University's India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society a first in the United States. Aziz Haniffa reports

Indians among 'top 10 undocumented populations in US'

Indians among 'top 10 undocumented populations in US'

Rediff.com   18 May 2012

Immigration and racial profiling are the burning issues for Indian Americans and the broader South Asian American community, said Deepa Iyer, executive director, South Asian Americans Leading Together, and chair, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans.

India-US nuclear deal: 'There is more work to be done'

India-US nuclear deal: 'There is more work to be done'

Rediff.com   18 May 2012

Amidst growing concern in the United States Congress that the India-US nuclear deal is in limbo, the Barack Obama administration last week attempted, albeit weakly, to assuage the angst that Washington has been taken for a ride by New Delhi. Parliament's nuclear liability law has left American companies hanging after all of the capital they extended in pushing the accord through both the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

First Indian American congressman a trailblazer: Obama

First Indian American congressman a trailblazer: Obama

Rediff.com   17 May 2012

President Barack Obama last week paid rich tributes to the late Dalip Singh Saund -- the first Asian-American and Indian-American United States Congressman -- and described him as a trailblazer. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Indian American appointed to key Pentagon post

Indian American appointed to key Pentagon post

Rediff.com   16 May 2012

Vikram J Singh, who was the senior defense adviser to Richard Holbrooke, the erstwhile United States special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been appointed to a key Pentagon post -- deputy assistant secretary of defense for south and Southeast Asia.

Indian-origin legislator puts political career on pause

Indian-origin legislator puts political career on pause

Rediff.com   15 May 2012

Ohio legislator Jay Goyal, who was elected to the state House of Representatives at age 25 -- the youngest to win a seat to state office in at least three decades since current US Senator Sherrod Brown won his seat from the same district -- has decided to not run for re-election for a fourth term.

Doctors discuss healers' hurdles at AAPI conference

Doctors discuss healers' hurdles at AAPI conference

Rediff.com   15 May 2012

J-1 visa, Green Card backlog issues permeate AAPI conference. Aziz Haniffa reports

Obama pays tribute to first Indian American Congressman

Obama pays tribute to first Indian American Congressman

Rediff.com   9 May 2012

United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday paid rich tribute to late Dalip Singh Saund -- the first Asian American United States Congressman -- and described him as a trailblazer for the entire Asian American and immigrant community.

Modi NOT eligible for diplomatic visa: US embassy

Modi NOT eligible for diplomatic visa: US embassy

Rediff.com   4 May 2012

The United States embassy in New Delhi has informed US Senator Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is not eligible to receive a diplomatic visa. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Rare honour: Ambassador Rao to address US varsity

Rare honour: Ambassador Rao to address US varsity

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2012

In a rare honour, and perhaps unprecedented in the annals of Indian diplomacy in the United States, Ambassador Nirupama Rao will travel to Gainesville, Florida, on Friday to deliver the graduation address to the University of Florida's Doctoral Degree Commencement Ceremony.

NO change in US stand on denial of visa to Modi

NO change in US stand on denial of visa to Modi

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2012

On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, asked at the regular noon briefing if Clinton would be replying to Walsh and if the US would review its position in 2005, when it refused Modi a visa to come to the US, said: "Our position on the visa issue hasn't changed at all."

Ties with Iran: Will India be able to avoid US wrath?

Ties with Iran: Will India be able to avoid US wrath?

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2012

India's Ambassador to Washington, DC, Nirupama Rao and her team are doing everything to avoid American wrath, and the resultant legislation of sanctions, against India for not whole-heartedly joining the US-led efforts to isolate Iran. Aziz Haniffa reports

'We don't need the Indians as much as they think we do'

'We don't need the Indians as much as they think we do'

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2012

Leading think tanks put a question mark on the India-US strategic partnership. Aziz Haniffa reports