Aziz Haniffa

Stories by Aziz Haniffa

'India remains vulnerable to spectacular attacks'

'India remains vulnerable to spectacular attacks'

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2012

Michael Krepon, the co-founder of Washington, DC-based think tank Stimson Centre, believes that the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai set the bar very high for the next India-Pakistan crisis.

'Powell tasked with one of US's important postings'

'Powell tasked with one of US's important postings'

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

United States Senator John F Kerry, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in convening the nomination hearing of Nancy J Powell to be the next US ambassador to India, said, America's partnership with India "is without doubt one of the most significant partnerships in US foreign policy."

US-India N-deal in limbo even after 3 years: US Senator

US-India N-deal in limbo even after 3 years: US Senator

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

The ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Richard Lugar, has bemoaned the fact that more than three years after the historic US-India civilian nuclear deal was signed, it still remains in limbo sans any implementation.

US ambassador-nominee put on mat over India-Iran ties

US ambassador-nominee put on mat over India-Iran ties

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

Nancy Powell, being the quintessential diplomat, and attempting to be as circumspect as possible, replied, "Iran and India have a long tradition of trade across energy and other fields. It is one that is clearly a part of our sanctions regime, that we are hoping to see it significantly reduced."

Ex-CTO of US may run for governorship

Ex-CTO of US may run for governorship

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Even as he flirts with the idea of running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Chopra has indicated that he will now campaign feverishly for the election of his former boss Kaine.

Another Indian quits Obama administration

Another Indian quits Obama administration

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Before he came to the US, he also held senior positions internationally for Levi-Strauss & Co, Unilever and the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Longest serving India American quits Team Obama

Longest serving India American quits Team Obama

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Kumar was Deputy Assistant to the Vice President and Senior Advisor to the chief of Staff, at the time of his resignation last week

'China, a fundamental challenge to Indo-US strategic ties'

'China, a fundamental challenge to Indo-US strategic ties'

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

The fundamental challenge to United States-India strategic cooperation is China, says Daniel Markey, senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he specialises in security and governance issues in the subcontinent.

India and US sign MoU on labour issues

India and US sign MoU on labour issues

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2012

American trainers and technical know-how will be provided to India to assist in these areas.

'US is not out to undermine India's strategic autonomy'

'US is not out to undermine India's strategic autonomy'

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2012

Daniel Twining, a consultant to the US government on international security matters and a former member of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, has described as "a canard," the contention in some circles, both in New Delhi and Washington that the United States "somehow wants to undermine India's strategic autonomy."

'India is clearly in a moment of transition'

'India is clearly in a moment of transition'

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2012

Dr Deepa Ollapally, Associate Director and Research Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University's Sigur Center for Asian Studies says, "For many outsiders, trying to get a fix on India's foreign policy, often is ambiguity and mixed signals."

Hindu Americans appalled by US prez candidate's bigotry

Hindu Americans appalled by US prez candidate's bigotry

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2012

Hindu Americans have said they are appalled by the recent comments made by Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum -- the darling of the conservative evangelicals -- on the eve of last month's South Carolina primary that the concept of equality did not come from Islam or "Eastern religions" but rather from the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

US presidential candidate's bigotry shocks Hindus

US presidential candidate's bigotry shocks Hindus

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2012

Hindu Americans have said that they are appalled by the recent comments made by Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum -- the darling of the conservative evangelicals -- on the eve of last month's South Carolina primary that the concept of equality did not come from Islam or 'eastern religions', but rather from the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

We are against military confrontation with Iran: India

We are against military confrontation with Iran: India

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2012

As the Barack Obama administration tries to impress upon India and other nations to join in the US-led sanctions regime against Iran to isolate that country for its alleged nuclear weapons programme and reduce their energy dependence on Teheran, India's Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao noted that India's imports of Iranian oil has been on the decline and predicted it may dissipate even further.

Pakistan is America's most dangerous ally: Stephen Cohen

Pakistan is America's most dangerous ally: Stephen Cohen

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2012

Stephen P Cohen, noted South Asia expert has described Pakistan as "America's most dangerous ally," and has said that while Islamabad "professes to be a democracy," it's most important allies are the most authoritarian regimes in the world, namely "the People's Republic of China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia."

Diplomats hail Nancy Powell's nomination as envoy to India

Diplomats hail Nancy Powell's nomination as envoy to India

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2012

If confirmed, Nancy Powell will be the first woman ambassador to India, but some have questioned if she would have the ear of the President unlike a political appointee. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington DC.

'Haqqani coerced to confess that Zardari behind memo'

'Haqqani coerced to confess that Zardari behind memo'

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2012

Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani said that the judicial commission investigating the memogate was trying to coerce him to confess that President Asif Ali Zardari had urged him to draft the memo to former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen.

US-India ties: The year of the drift

US-India ties: The year of the drift

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2011

'The current period of implementation and consolidation will put the relationship on an even sounder footing when the leaders in both capitals determine it is time to quicken the pace,' US experts tell Aziz Haniffa.

Indian American Bal Sharma makes a run for Kansas legislature

Indian American Bal Sharma makes a run for Kansas legislature

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2011

Dr Bal Sharma has not given age a moment's thought in his determination to run for the Kansas legislature from District 54 in Topeka as a Republican.

'Opening of India's retail sector will happen'

'Opening of India's retail sector will happen'

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2011

Ron Somers, president of United States-India Business Council, has termed the Indian government's rollback of foreign direct investment in the multibrand retail sector as yet another addition to the disappointments American business and industry has had to endure.