Aziz Haniffa

Stories by Aziz Haniffa

'US-India relationship has indeed been oversold'

'US-India relationship has indeed been oversold'

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2012

George Perkovich, vice president, studies, and director, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes that with the United States-India nuclear deal in limbo, the lack of convergence between Washington and New Delhi on Iran, climate change, the World Trade Organisation, and stagnation of defence cooperation, the US-India relationship has indeed been oversold.

'America's patience with Pakistan wearing thin'

'America's patience with Pakistan wearing thin'

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2012

The Obama administration's point man for counterterrorism, Daniel Benjamin, has said that America's relationship with Pakistan "is very complex," even as Congress has said its patience with Islamabad "is wearing thin."

US congressman campaigns for US visa for Modi

US congressman campaigns for US visa for Modi

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2012

On the urging of his Indian American constituents, particularly hoteliers who have origins in Gujarat and are ardent fans of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a United States lawmaker, Congressman, Joe Walsh, a right wing conservative Republican, and is the darling of the Tea Party Movement, has launched a campaign to prevail on the Obama administration to grant a diplomatic visa to Modi. Aziz Haniffa reports

'Passivity won't work for India on this trajectory'

'Passivity won't work for India on this trajectory'

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2012

United States lawmakers feel that India had also failed to use its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council to demonstrate why it should be a permanent member

India not oversold, but over-hyped: America Inc

India not oversold, but over-hyped: America Inc

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2012

Corporate America does not believe that the United States-India relationship has been oversold, but that it's certainly over-hyped. However, it is more concerned over New Delhi's recent actions such as retroactive taxes and predicts all of this will lead to foreign direct investment drying up at a time when India needs it more than ever.

America's first lady envoy will make history in India

America's first lady envoy will make history in India

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2012

'Clearly our relationship is founded on democratic values and a shared history that we have in promoting these values,' Nancy Powell said, but added, 'our economic and commercial relationship has been of great importance.'

India has transformed, govt tells new US envoy

India has transformed, govt tells new US envoy

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2012

The government of India in welcoming the new United States ambassador to India, erstwhile India and South Asia hand, Nancy J Powell, has said that while India would not be new to her, it would not be the same either, considering the transformational changes India has undergone.

US has no coherent policy on Pakistan: Stephen Cohen

US has no coherent policy on Pakistan: Stephen Cohen

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2012

In a scathing critique of 'the incoherence of the US government' and the 'dysfunctional organisation', Stephen P Cohen, considered the doyen of South Asia experts in Washington, said the continuing missteps were a no-brainer.

'Pakistan is still stuck in a Cold War time warp'

'Pakistan is still stuck in a Cold War time warp'

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2012

Noted journalist, scholar and author Ahmed Rashid has said that Pakistan is still caught up in a Cold War time warp and still wants to be dependent and a surrogate of some big power.

US: Kashmiri separatist Fai who spied for ISI sent to jail

US: Kashmiri separatist Fai who spied for ISI sent to jail

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2012

62-year-old Fai was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release by a court in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC.

Pro-azadi US lawmaker speaks up for Baluchistan's freedom

Pro-azadi US lawmaker speaks up for Baluchistan's freedom

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2012

A senior Republican lawmaker, who is the author of a bill in the United States Congress, calls for independence for Baluchistan from Pakistan and says he still strongly supports independence for Kashmir, reports Aziz Haniffa

'Does Pak want to be a friend or has it been an enemy?'

'Does Pak want to be a friend or has it been an enemy?'

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2012

Pakistan harbouring Osama bin Laden was the straw that broke the camel's back and led to the irrevocable trust deficit between the United States and Pakistan, says Louie Gohmert. Aziz Haniffa reports

'Govt of Pakistan is the fountainhead of radical Islam'

'Govt of Pakistan is the fountainhead of radical Islam'

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2012

The government of Pakistan has been providing weapons and resources to radical Muslim elements, who use them against Americans, says US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who declares he was once Pakistan's best friend. Aziz Haniffa reports

India's closest friend in US not to seek re-election

India's closest friend in US not to seek re-election

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2012

New York Democrat Gary Ackerman was arguably considered one of the most cerebral and strategic thinkers on foreign policy. He has been a regular visitor to India and a conspicuous presence at Indian American events and has a daughter-in-law who's Indian American too.

'Bid to end birthright citizenship can trouble Romney'

'Bid to end birthright citizenship can trouble Romney'

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2012

Margaret Stock, the author of the report 'The Cost to America and Americans of Ending Birthright Citizenship,' in slamming this effort by conservative Republicans, has said that if such a proposal is enacted, "it would call into question whether (former Massachusetts Governor and GOP presidential front-runner) himself is eligible for the presidency," since his father George Romney was born in Mexico while his parents were living in a Mormon commune in that country.

US lawmakers give thumbs up to USAID chief Rajiv Shah

US lawmakers give thumbs up to USAID chief Rajiv Shah

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2012

US Agency for International Development Administrator Dr Rajiv Shah has been praised by US lawmakers for shepherding America's development efforts with the scarce resources available and alleviating poverty-stricken populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South Asia, and Haiti, which was devastated by a killer earthquake over two years ago.

Goa-born grandmother elected as judge in Louisiana

Goa-born grandmother elected as judge in Louisiana

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2012

In yet another manifestation of an Indian American creating history in recent months, Goa-born, Mumbai-raised Bernadette D'Souza has been elected a judge in the US state of Louisiana and will head up the first family court in the history of the city of New Orleans.

South Carolina's Governor keen on tie-up with India

South Carolina's Governor keen on tie-up with India

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2012

If she can help it, South Carolina's Indian American Governor, Nimrata 'Nikki' Randhawa Haley, would like nothing better than have India and China competing for the investment opportunities in her non-unionised state and creating more jobs.

Diversion of aid in Pak serious concern: Clinton

Diversion of aid in Pak serious concern: Clinton

Rediff.com   29 Feb 2012

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged that even with a firewall that has been constructed against the diversion of massive American military aid to Pakistan to the nuclear weapons programme, there are no ironclad guarantees that aid cannot be diverted and hence it remains a major concern to the US. Clinton was appearing before the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee to defend the Obama administration's foreign aid budget for the fiscal year

Dominant stand in US: 'Pak behaving like rogue state'

Dominant stand in US: 'Pak behaving like rogue state'

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2012

There are two perspectives in the United States government vis-a-vis the imbroglio in South Asia, one of which holds that the problem really is about India-Pakistan relations, and the other is that it's all due to Pakistan's behaviour akin to that of a rogue state.