Aziz Haniffa In Houston, Texas

Stories by Aziz Haniffa In Houston, Texas

A first: Obama to appoint PIO as asst secretary for South Asia

A first: Obama to appoint PIO as asst secretary for South Asia

Rediff.com   23 May 2013

In what could be yet another historic appointment in the annals of the Indian-American community's immigrant experience, senior administration sources have told rediff.com that Nisha Desai Biswal is strongly tipped to be appointed the new assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs

USIBC, India Inc to lobby against US Immigration Bill

USIBC, India Inc to lobby against US Immigration Bill

Rediff.com   17 May 2013

Industry sources told India Abroad they wouldn't shed any tears if the legislation died in the House.

'India will not serve US policy to balance China'

'India will not serve US policy to balance China'

Rediff.com   16 May 2013

Walter Lohman, director of Asian Studies Centre at the Washington, DC and former policy aide to Senator John McCain, said India's role in America's effort to maintain its commitment to ensuring the peace, security, prosperity, and freedom in East Asia was relatively minor.

Support family reunification, activists tell Obama

Support family reunification, activists tell Obama

Rediff.com   16 May 2013

A coalition of Asian-American groups led by activist Deepa Iyer recently met United States President Barack Obama to urge him to support family reunification in the new comprehensive immigration reform bill.

'Nawaz and Pak army can alleviate India's suspicions'

'Nawaz and Pak army can alleviate India's suspicions'

Rediff.com   16 May 2013

Cameron Munter, former United States ambassador to Pakistan, is optimistic that under the new leadership of Nawaz Sharif, a rapprochement between New Delhi and Islamabad may be on the cards.

Khalistani links cloud new Sikh-US Congressional caucus

Khalistani links cloud new Sikh-US Congressional caucus

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2013

In a major milestone on Capitol Hill for the Sikh American community, a bi-partisan group of United States lawmakers led by California Democrat and Congresswoman Judy Chu and California Republican Congressman David Valadao on Wednesday announced the formation of an American Sikh Congressional Caucus in the US House of Representatives.

IM's loose leadership moves between Pakistan and Gulf

IM's loose leadership moves between Pakistan and Gulf

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2013

'When one speaks to Indian intelligence officials, they will tell you "We actually have a better understanding of Pakistani groups than we have of our own indigenous networks".'

Lashkar's Saeed may run for political office in Pakistan

Lashkar's Saeed may run for political office in Pakistan

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2013

'Many in Pakistan were thinking about taking Saeed from the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and making him the pole around which they would bring in and demilitarise militants and turn them into a political entity in Pakistan.'

India knows more about terror in Pakistan than at home

India knows more about terror in Pakistan than at home

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2013

Renowned terror expert and author Stephen Tankel believes Indian intelligence agencies know more about Pak-based terror groups than it knows about indigenous Indian Mujahiddin. Also, LeT and other outfits might revive their terrorism against India post-2014. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Modi as PM may encourage militancy: US think-tank

Modi as PM may encourage militancy: US think-tank

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2013

'Certainly it could embolden some Hindu extremists. It could also embolden some fundamental extremists. Probably elements on both sides would seek to capitalise and one would worry about the potential tit-for-tat escalation of violence.' Aziz Haniffa listens to concerns at a Washington, DC think-tank about Narendra Modi's possible rise as India's prime minister.

Modi as PM may encourage militancy: US think-tank

Modi as PM may encourage militancy: US think-tank

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2013

'Certainly it could embolden some Hindu extremists. It could also embolden some fundamental extremists. Probably elements on both sides would seek to capitalise and one would worry about the potential tit-for-tat escalation of violence.' Aziz Haniffa listens to concerns at a Washington, DC think-tank about Narendra Modi's possible rise as India's prime minister.

Growth will be back on track by elections: Chidambaram

Growth will be back on track by elections: Chidambaram

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2013

'India will succeed. I know this past year has caused a lot of concern, but this year is over and by elections we will achieve our ambitious economic agenda.'

Pakistan-US ties are on an upward trajectory: Rehman

Pakistan-US ties are on an upward trajectory: Rehman

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2013

Contrary to the contention of leading policy wonks in the United States and Pakistan and intelligence officials, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman has asserted that the democratic civilian government led by the Asif Ali Zardari government, not the military, calls the shots in her country.

'Crook' Dr Desai goes into hiding; Investors lose $25 mn

'Crook' Dr Desai goes into hiding; Investors lose $25 mn

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2013

Indian American physicians and entrepreneurs, who invested an estimated $25 million in Dr Akshay Desai's Universal Health Care Group Inc, are seething in anger after the company filed for bankruptcy. "The crook", as the investors and friends call Dr Desai today, has gone underground. Aziz Haniffa reports

Envoy talks about surviving 'shocks' in Indo-Pak ties

Envoy talks about surviving 'shocks' in Indo-Pak ties

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2013

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman believes trade and people-to-people interactions between India and Pakistan can contain the fall-out of "flare-ups" like the recent killing and beheading of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control in Kashmir.

US judge Srinivasan a step closer to creating history

US judge Srinivasan a step closer to creating history

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2013

US Principal Deputy Solicitor General Srikanth 'Sri' Srinivasan on Wednesday moved a step closer to creating history, reports Aziz Haniffa.

Rousing farewell for deputy Indian envoy to US

Rousing farewell for deputy Indian envoy to US

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2013

At Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh's farewell, which attracted nearly 200 people on a Sunday evening, a slew of community leaders spoke of his warmth, his down-to-earth personality, and above all, always being there for the community by gracing every event the community hosted.

US needs to bring India closer to Asia-Pacific

US needs to bring India closer to Asia-Pacific

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2013

It behooves US to encourage integration of India into the Asia-Pacific, says US Congressman Ed Royce.

'America owned' hotel signs trigger discrimination row

'America owned' hotel signs trigger discrimination row

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2013

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association has recently launched an aggressive and concerted campaign to fight the practice of putting up 'American owned' signs at some hotels.

Indo-American gets 2nd term on US nuclear trade committee

Indo-American gets 2nd term on US nuclear trade committee

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2013

Srinagar-born expert was consulted by the Bush administration when the US and India began negotiating the civil nuclear deal. Aziz Haniffa reports