Aziz Haniffa

Stories by Aziz Haniffa

Rediff scooped the Obama-UN story on Oct 15!

Rediff scooped the Obama-UN story on Oct 15!

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2010

On October 15, Rediff.com's Washington Editor AZIZ HANIFFA broke this story on how US officials wanted President Obama to support India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, telling him it could make his India visit truly historic. On November 8, President Obama told Parliament that the US supported India's membership of the UN Security Council.

Obama's trip hails 'India's rise'

Obama's trip hails 'India's rise'

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2010

At the USIBC event the president will refer to the "significant" deals between the US and India that are "being consummated." One of these deals, sources have said, will be the sale of Boeing C-17 aircraft to the Indian military. Obama's announcement of this deal would clearly be meant for consumption back home.

Obama's gift? US slaps sanctions on LeT, JeM

Obama's gift? US slaps sanctions on LeT, JeM

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2010

On the eve of United States President Barack Obama's maiden visit to India, the US Treasury on Thursday targeted the financial and support networks of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and also took action against Azam Cheema, who helped train operatives for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and was the "mastermind" behind the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings carried out by LeT.

Will Obama tread carefully after mid-term polls?

Will Obama tread carefully after mid-term polls?

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2010

Republicans seem to have dealt a huge blow to India-bound United States President Barack Obama in the mid-term polls, as they captured control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. But will this play on his mind while he visits India?

'Obama can go to mosque but not to Golden Temple?'

'Obama can go to mosque but not to Golden Temple?'

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2010

The Hindu American Foundation has assailed President Barack Obama for deciding against visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar during his visit to India but having not qualms about visiting one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia when on the second leg of his four-state Asian itinerary he visits Indonesia.

Republican surge drowns Indian Americans in US

Republican surge drowns Indian Americans in US

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2010

Indian American Democrats running for US Congress, including the Top-Tier Red to Blue candidates, who were supported to the hilt by the Democratic establishment, were caught up in the Republican surge and drowned in the tsunami as the GOP took back the House of Representatives

Obama must stay away from Kashmir issue: Experts

Obama must stay away from Kashmir issue: Experts

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2010

Noted South Asia analysts have warned the Obama administration to stay away from trouble-shooting in Kashmir despite the upsurge of violence in the Valley that has prompted some policy wonks urge the United States to be pro-active acquire a high profile vis--vis this dispute to stave off another India-Pakistan conflict if the situation unravels.

'Pak-Taliban link in fanning Valley insurgency'

'Pak-Taliban link in fanning Valley insurgency'

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2010

Former Central Intelligence Agency South Asia analyst, Lisa Curtis, now a Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, recalled how in 1995, when she served in Islamabad as a diplomat, the Pakistan-based terror groups that were funded, armed and supported by the Inter-Services Intelligence specifically to launch attacks in Kashmir against Indian security forces, also had strong links to the Taliban.

Bigoted attack on Indian in US congressional poll

Bigoted attack on Indian in US congressional poll

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2010

The latest attack against Goyle on the eve of the election on November 2 has been a bigoted and illegal attack through billboards exhorting 'Vote American, Vote Pompeo.'

US lauds Indian Americans for deepening ties

US lauds Indian Americans for deepening ties

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2010

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a video-taped message from Hawaii to a parley titled, "US-India People to People Conference: Building the Foundation for a Strong Partnership," lauded the Indian American community for being bridge builders that was catalytic towards "deepening the partnership between our two countries and people."

US hails India's decision to sign CSC

US hails India's decision to sign CSC

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2010

India's decision to sign the Convention on Supplementary Compensation -- which sets parameters on a nuclear operator's financial liability -- is 'a very positive step', according to Under Secretary of State William Burns. According to sources, during his visit to New Delhi last week, Burns had prevailed upon India to sign the CSC to alleviate the angst of US business and industry over provisions in the Nuclear Liability Bill.

'Obama shouldn't lean on India to placate Pak'

'Obama shouldn't lean on India to placate Pak'

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2010

The report prepared to coincide with the US president's visit to India by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, authored by its senior associate Ashley J Tellis, noted, "As Obama knows, there is nothing that India can meaningfully do to assuage Pakistani paranoia beyond what it has done already, namely offer to sustain the peace process and maintain its restraint in the use of force despite the continuing terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan."

'Obama should back India's UNSC bid during visit'

'Obama should back India's UNSC bid during visit'

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2010

United States Barack President Obama during his visit to India -- and preferably during his address to India's Parliament -- should do something big, like declaring 'forthrightly' Washington's support for India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, another report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has said.

Ahead of India visit, Obama speaks to Zardari

Ahead of India visit, Obama speaks to Zardari

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2010

Obama, who called Zardari on Tuesday evening, held a "detailed conversation covering several important subjects," said an official statement.

Why India is quiet on Iran, Myanmar rights abuses

Why India is quiet on Iran, Myanmar rights abuses

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2010

In the report titled Toward Realistic US-India relations, authored by George Perkovich of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, he cites an exchange between a senior White House official and an Indian businessman on Iran, which shows how poorly American officials understood India for all the talk of a strategic partnership.

US may offer military sweeteners to pacify Pak

US may offer military sweeteners to pacify Pak

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2010

Notwithstanding India's protests, the Obama administration is readying itself to provide Pakistan with even more massive doses of military largesse, as senior United States officials acknowledged that Pakistan's request for additional security assistance would be a top priority on the agenda of the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue that begins on Wednesday.

'Time ripe for Obama to back India's UNSC bid'

'Time ripe for Obama to back India's UNSC bid'

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2010

"I believe it would a great thing if the president were to do this during his visit," Karl Inderfurth, professor of international relations at George Washington University, told Rediff India Abroad

Exclusive! Obama may back India's UNSC bid

Exclusive! Obama may back India's UNSC bid

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2010

US officials want President Barack Obama to support India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, telling him it could make his India visit truly historic, reveals Aziz Haniffa.

Is Michelle the reason for Obama's Amritsar visit?

Is Michelle the reason for Obama's Amritsar visit?

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2010

During his November visit to India, Barack Obama will be paying a visit to Amritsar's Golden Temple, a first for a United States president. This stopover may be unusual for a head of the state and has many thinking. Is this visit being made especially for First Lady Michelle Obama, who will be accompanying her husband to India? May be, for not many know of the Obamas Punjab connection.

Dialogue can resolve Indo-US BPO row: FM

Dialogue can resolve Indo-US BPO row: FM

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2010

With quintessential diplomatic astuteness, the Congress party's master trouble-shooter for decades, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, shrugged off the irritants that loom large in US-India relations -- including the outsourcing controversy -- preceding the visit next month to India of President Barack Obama, saying all of these problems can be resolved through dialogue.