Aziz Haniffa In Washington, DC &Amp; George Joseph In New York

Stories by Aziz Haniffa In Washington, DC &Amp; George Joseph In New York

'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.

'Pakistan's youth is frustrated with political leadership'

'Pakistan's youth is frustrated with political leadership'

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2011

Moeed Yusuf, South Asia advisor at the United States Institute of Peace and one of the rising stars among South Asia policy wonks in the country, who has done extensive field research on the youth of Pakistan, has said they are virulently anti-extremist. He said that 67.1 percent of the Pakistani population is below the age of 30 and "So, wherever this particular demographic decides to take Pakistan, is going to be the destiny of this country."

'Imran Khan is soft on Afghan Taliban'

'Imran Khan is soft on Afghan Taliban'

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2011

"Imran Khan is exciting because he is enervating the denervating, actually, the Pakistani polity, particularly the youth," said South Asia expert Professor C Christine Fair, at the Brookings Institution conference on The Future of Pakistan, on Monday.

'Many people in Pakistan feel that religion is under threat'

'Many people in Pakistan feel that religion is under threat'

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2011

Pamela Constable, veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent and author of Playing with Fire: Pakistan at War With Itself, said it was striking how bleak the prognosis for Pakistan seemed to be, with even the media playing to the lowest common denominator. She was speaking a panel discussion on the Future of Pakistan at the Brookings Institution.

'No diaspora to match Indian American community in US'

'No diaspora to match Indian American community in US'

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2011

Indian American community's activism and energy has made India's caucus on Capitol Hill the most influential, says Robert Blake. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington DC.

FDI in retail: US biz unhappy with India's decision

FDI in retail: US biz unhappy with India's decision

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2011

USIBC President slams India for suspending its decision to open the multi-brand retail sector to foreign direct investment.

Harvard snubs Subramanian Swamy, drops courses taught by him

Harvard snubs Subramanian Swamy, drops courses taught by him

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2011

A meeting of the faculty of arts and sciences at Harvard University in the United States has voted to remove the summer economic courses taught by Janata Party leader Dr Subramanian Swamy. The decision was taken after a heated debate, according to The Harvard Crimson, the campus newspaper.

'The US is very lucky to have Rao here'

'The US is very lucky to have Rao here'

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2011

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has echoed under secretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman's belief that Indians and Americans should consider themselves fortunate and thankful to have a diplomat in the caliber of Nirupama Rao in Washington, DC.

'Pak meets criteria to be called state that sponsors terror'

'Pak meets criteria to be called state that sponsors terror'

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2011

If there is another Mumbai-like attack; the US should not be constraining India. India and Pakistan should simply deal with it bilaterally, without US pressure, says South Asia expert Professor C Christine Fair. Aziz Haniffa reports.

US expert slams govt for caving in over NATO air strike

US expert slams govt for caving in over NATO air strike

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2011

No tears are shed for the thousands of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan by Pakistan's proxies such as the Afghan Taliban, says South Asia expert Professor C Christine Fair. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Caucus to urge US for bilateral investment treaty with India

Caucus to urge US for bilateral investment treaty with India

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2011

Us Senate India Caucus to urge President Obama to push for bilateral investment treaty with India; lawmakers hail Prime Minister's 'Brave Action' to open India to FDI in multi-brand retail sector.

'India, US fortunate to have diplomat of Nirupama Rao's caliber'

'India, US fortunate to have diplomat of Nirupama Rao's caliber'

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2011

Both Indians and Americans have to consider themselves fortunate and thankful to have a diplomat of the caliber of Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao posted in Washington and driving the burgeoning United States-India strategic partnership, a senior State Department official has said.

What's being 'foreign' got to do with healthcare, Mr Cain?

What's being 'foreign' got to do with healthcare, Mr Cain?

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2011

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin -- arguably the largest and most influential international medical organisation in the country -- has slammed African American Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain's bigoted remarks about minority physicians.

Virginia Governor bullish about FDI in India

Virginia Governor bullish about FDI in India

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2011

Virginia's Republican Governor, Bob McDonnell says the sky is the limit where the Indian market is concerned and "there's plenty of business for everybody."

No US visa for Narendra Modi yet, says Blake

No US visa for Narendra Modi yet, says Blake

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2011

While acknowledging the economic progress and the exponential growth in Gujarat, which has made it an attractive state for investment, United States Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said that there has been no review on the issuance of a visa for Chief Minister Narendra Modi to travel to America.

'Pakistan is taking advantage of US stupidity'

'Pakistan is taking advantage of US stupidity'

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2011

Fair, who is a senior Fellow with the Counterterrorism Centre at West Point, said all of Pakistan's strategic and security threat perceptions have always centered around India and all of the military aid and weapons systems it has received from the US has been to beef up its arsenal vis-a-vis New Delhi.

Uproar over US governor participating in 'bhumi-pujan'

Uproar over US governor participating in 'bhumi-pujan'

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2011

The Republican challenger David Williams in the 'Bible Belt' US state of Kentucky, has accused Democratic Governor Steve Beshear, who participated in a Hindu-style groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a $180 million manufacturing plant creating more than 250 jobs in this economically depressed state, as an idol-worshipper and anti-Christian.

No stable future in S Asia without partnership with Pak: US

No stable future in S Asia without partnership with Pak: US

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2011

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged that Washington's leverage with Pakistan to go after the Haqqani network, which has been killing US soldiers and is responsible for the attack on the US embassy in Kabul, was limited.

'Conditioning aid to Pak unless it cracks down on LeT untenable'

'Conditioning aid to Pak unless it cracks down on LeT untenable'

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2011

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said conditioning aid to Pakistan unless it cracks down on the Lashkar-e-Tayiba -- responsible for the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks -- is untenable at the present time.

World's foremost science journal gets Indian-American editor

World's foremost science journal gets Indian-American editor

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2011

Nothing stops you, except you, except your own imagination and your ability to do hard work, says Dr Inder M Verma. The Salk Institute molecular biologist, who was appointed editor in chief of the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, spoke exclusively to Aziz Haniffa.