Aziz Haniffa In Washington,DC

Stories by Aziz Haniffa In Washington,DC

Indian Americans hail Rao's appointment as envoy

Indian Americans hail Rao's appointment as envoy

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2011

There has been overwhelming elation from across United States from Indian American community leaders and activists over the decision by the government of India to appoint Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao as the new Indian Ambassador to the US, to succeed Meera Shankar whose term ends on July 31 after which she is expected to go into retirement from the Indian Foreign Service.

In Chennai, mum's the word for Hillary on Lanka

In Chennai, mum's the word for Hillary on Lanka

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2011

Senior diplomatic sources, while conceding that there have been regular discussions of the Sri Lanka situation between Delhi and Washington, and that both countries were on the same page in terms of its policy regarding the repatriation of Tamil refugees and that the rights of the Tamil minority needs to be respected, reiterated that this issue would not figure in the discussion Clinton has while in Chennai

'Iran issue may be a train wreck for Indo-US ties'

'Iran issue may be a train wreck for Indo-US ties'

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2011

Richard Fontaine, director of the Task Force convened by the Centre for New American Security, fears that India's abstentions of key votes at the United Nations Security Council and a divide on the issue of Iran when it does come up may dissipate Washington's enthusiasm to push for India's bid for a permanent seat.

2 key Indian American physicians quit Obama's team

2 key Indian American physicians quit Obama's team

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2011

Two key Indian American physicians from the Obama administration, who worked on implementing healthcare reforms, are stepping down from their posts to return to clinical practice. Dr Sachin H Jain, 30, and Amol S Navathe, 32, worked for the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Kerala-born doctor heads Florida medical board

Kerala-born doctor heads Florida medical board

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2011

Indian American Dr George Thomas, the erstwhile president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, has been elected chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine, thus becoming the third Indian American physician to head this influential organisation in the American state.

Indian American doctor wins top Filipino honour

Indian American doctor wins top Filipino honour

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2011

Considered the pioneer of echocardiography in the world, Nanda explained that "Maharlika in the Filipino idiom connotes nobility or royalty -- as someone who has become the respected leader of a clan or tribe reverentially referred to as the Datu or Sultan."

Pratima Dharm is Pentagon's first Hindu chaplain

Pratima Dharm is Pentagon's first Hindu chaplain

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2011

Although neither the US Army nor the US department of defense has officially made public her appointment, Stars and Stripes, a Washington, DC-based newspaper that reports exclusively on the Pentagon, said the appointment was a done deal and that Hindu service-members would now have their own chaplain

US 'not trying to hold global power China down'

US 'not trying to hold global power China down'

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2011

The United States on Thursday said that it is not trying to 'hold China down,' despite crucial differences over issues like supplying arms to Taiwan and was trying to 'manage' differences with the 'global power.'

Why are we ignoring ISI-LeT nexus: US Senator

Why are we ignoring ISI-LeT nexus: US Senator

Rediff.com   27 May 2011

Speaking at a hearing of the Foreign Relations Committee, Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "There are mixed signals here that are very, very troubling and that the United States needs to be able to have alternatives for carrying out its foreign policy in that region."

Pakistan would never abandon Lashkar: US Expert

Pakistan would never abandon Lashkar: US Expert

Rediff.com   27 May 2011

Christine Fair, an expert on Pakistan-based Jihadi groups, has predicted that even if there is an India-Pakistan rapprochement and a resolution of the Kashmir imbroglio, it will not result in Pakistan reining in these strategic assets that are invaluable to it to wage it proxy wars against India.

Not interested in 2012 VP post: Nikki Haley

Not interested in 2012 VP post: Nikki Haley

Rediff.com   16 May 2011

The Indian American Republican Governor of South Carolina Nimrata 'Nikki' Randhawa Haley has said that she's not interested in being the vice presidential candidate of the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.

Clamour builds up in US Congress to cut Pak aid

Clamour builds up in US Congress to cut Pak aid

Rediff.com   4 May 2011

Soon after Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta provided a classified briefing to the House leadership in the US Congress on the covert mission inside Pakistan that killed Al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden, he was peppered with a volley of questions. He was quizzed about Pakistani duplicity, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence's perfidy about how it could have not known about bin Laden living right under their nose in Abbottabad.

Will jet deal hamper US-India ties? Experts differ

Will jet deal hamper US-India ties? Experts differ

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2011

While Obama administration officials and representatives of US industry strongly expressed their angst over India's rejection of the American fighter aircraft but did not want to be quoted by name, leading South Asia policy wonks in Washington had no such compunctions in interviews with rediff.com.

'Can't understand why BJP opposed Indo-US N-deal'

'Can't understand why BJP opposed Indo-US N-deal'

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2011

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake, the Obama administration's point man for the subcontinent, still can't get over the Bharatiya Janata Party's opposition to the US-India civilian nuclear deal, despite the fact that it initiated and championed this accord during the time it was in power.

India's Libya no-vote based on misinformation: US

India's Libya no-vote based on misinformation: US

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2011

The Obama administration has rationalised India's abstention on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 last month, calling for a no-fly zone in strife-torn Libya, as based on part misinformation and part going along with its Brazil, Russia, and China partners.

Defence minister 'suspicious' of private firms?

Defence minister 'suspicious' of private firms?

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2011

Indian Defence Minister A K Antony is 'very suspicious of the private sector', leading Indian business baron Jamshyd N Godrej has said.

'If US gets a raw N-deal it'll be breach of faith'

'If US gets a raw N-deal it'll be breach of faith'

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2011

Former Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen has asserted that any denial of a level playing field to United States industry and business -- that lobbied feverishly for the US-India civilian nuclear deal -- in the wake of the Nuclear Liability Bill passed by the Indian parliament would be 'worse than a breach of faith'.

'It was a delight working for Secretary Clinton'

'It was a delight working for Secretary Clinton'

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2011

Rahul 'Richard' Verma has become the second high-ranking Indian-American official in the Obama administration to resign and return to the private sector.

US bids farewell to 'gracious' Richard Verma

US bids farewell to 'gracious' Richard Verma

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2011

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accorded Richard Verma a rousing farewell at the State Department's ornate Thomas Jefferson Room. He exited after more than two years of serving as her principal Congressional affairs advisor in his capacity of assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs.

South Asian youth shine in nuke talks

South Asian youth shine in nuke talks

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2011

Two young South Asian Americansan Indian American and a Pakistani Americanwho are rising stars in the United States strategic affairs community, were the featured panelists on the discussion of Nuclear Risk Reduction in South Asia after Mumbai at the 2011 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference in Washington, DC at the Ronald Reagan Building Convention Center.