News for '-soviet'

Natural partners, unnatural times

Natural partners, unnatural times

Rediff.com22 Feb 2020

'Even as discord over US-India trade and commerce colours diplomatic relations, defence relations between the two countries remain on a firm footing,' points out Ajai Shukla.

Why Charlie Wilson hated India

Why Charlie Wilson hated India

Rediff.com16 Feb 2010

Charlie Wilson, the flamboyant Congressman from Texas who directed millions of dollars in covert funding to help mujahideens including Osama Bin Laden fight the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s, died last week in Texas. He was 76 and was ailing with heart problems.Wilson had said that had India joined the Americans in opposing the Soviets in Afghanistan, India would have been able to impress its own Muslim population. New Delhi missed a golden opportunity to win.

How to avoid a two-and-a-half front war

How to avoid a two-and-a-half front war

Rediff.com20 Jul 2017

'When war is thrust on you as in 1962 and 1965 or is tempting as in 1971, ensure that all other fronts are kept quiet, leaving your army free to deal with one,' says Shekhar Gupta.

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Rediff.com20 Jun 2020

'The one aspect which no Indian military thinker would wish to see emerge is a LoC type of posture at the LAC.' 'The LoC is manned for 750 km and terrorist infiltration has led to the creation of a virtual fortress along its entire length.' 'Something mirroring this at the LAC is going to be expensive although deployment everywhere is not warranted there.' 'However, given the complete trust deficit, there appear few alternatives,' notes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Kyrgyzstan-born suspect eyed for Russia subway blast

Kyrgyzstan-born suspect eyed for Russia subway blast

Rediff.com4 Apr 2017

The suspect, named as Akbarjon Djalilov, is a Kyrgyzstan national.

The China factor in Obama's visit to New Delhi

The China factor in Obama's visit to New Delhi

Rediff.com20 Jan 2015

For a rising country like China with its sights set on global and regional power, any coming together of the US and India is the worst case scenario. Hence, China is concerned with the emerging equations between New Delhi and Washington, says Srikanth Kondapalli.

US-Russia N-arms control: A farce

US-Russia N-arms control: A farce

Rediff.com3 Apr 2010

How history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. The era of arms control is back. It was indeed tragic that all the arms control pacts between the United States and the former Soviet Union could not prevent the qualitative and quantitative improvements in the nuclear arsenals of the two super powers during the Cold War. And what is now being attempted by the two sides almost verges on the farcical, notes Harsh V Pant.

50 killed in twin blasts in Moscow metro

50 killed in twin blasts in Moscow metro

Rediff.com29 Mar 2010

The first explosion hit the second carriage of a train at the central Lubyanka station at 7.52 am (9.22 IST) killing some 35 people, spokesperson of Moscow Metro railway Svetlana Tsaryova told ITAR-TASS.

'US not cutting and running from Afghanistan'

'US not cutting and running from Afghanistan'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2009

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday said the Obama Administration is not cutting and running" from Afghanistan.

'US, Russia may sign disarmament pact soon'

'US, Russia may sign disarmament pact soon'

Rediff.com19 Mar 2010

Russia and the United States have made major 'progress' on a new deal to slash the nuclear arsenals during the cold war, replacing Soviet-era START-1 treaty that ended December last, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

Ukraine, China supplied arms to LTTE: ex commander

Ukraine, China supplied arms to LTTE: ex commander

Rediff.com5 Nov 2009

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, vanquished by the Sri Lankan Army in May after a three decade bloody civil war, procured most of their arms from the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine as well as China, a former rebel commander has said.

Come in and join the party, Tharoor advises Pak

Come in and join the party, Tharoor advises Pak

Rediff.com26 Oct 2009

India supports American efforts in Pakistan, but is concerned about the diversion of United States' aid and military equipment by Islamabad against it.

Let us have a trade Akhand Bharat

Let us have a trade Akhand Bharat

Rediff.com16 Sep 2019

'We have not been able to use the potential of our location in the region and the world and our strength as a nation and an economy to establish an EU-like structure in South Asia,' points out Aakar Patel.

Putin's 'sexy' weapon to silence critics

Putin's 'sexy' weapon to silence critics

Rediff.com30 Apr 2010

A woman known as 'Katya' has been luring Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's critics into having sex with her and making their videos.

Someone bought Hitler's dreaded red telephone for Rs 1.6 crore

Someone bought Hitler's dreaded red telephone for Rs 1.6 crore

Rediff.com20 Feb 2017

Adolf Hitler's personal telephone which the Nazi dictator used to give deadly orders during the World War II has been sold for a whopping $243,000 (Rs 1.62 crore), more than double the starting price, at a US auction.

India buying S-400 will have serious implications: US

India buying S-400 will have serious implications: US

Rediff.com31 May 2019

The Trump administration has been very clear that the acquisition of advanced Russian technology sends the wrong message to Russia at a time when it continues its aggressions, the official said.

Taliban, Haqqani, Osama Bin Laden and Zawahiri were our heroes: Musharraf

Taliban, Haqqani, Osama Bin Laden and Zawahiri were our heroes: Musharraf

Rediff.com28 Oct 2015

Former president Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan supported and trained groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba in 1990s to carry out militancy in Kashmir.

No ordinary terrorists: Russian expert

No ordinary terrorists: Russian expert

Rediff.com30 Nov 2008

For such guerrilla operations at least two, three years of preparatory work with the involvement of experienced instructors is required.

Will Modi go the Indira way?

Will Modi go the Indira way?

Rediff.com14 Jan 2020

'Sounds familiar? Barring inflation, much else looks, sounds, and feels more than a bit like 1974.' 'A phenomenally popular leader, with a party of unquestioning followers, a broken Opposition, a nationalist high and an economy in free fall, crippling joblessness,' recalls Shekhar Gupta.

US thought India will capture PoK after 1971 war: CIA files

US thought India will capture PoK after 1971 war: CIA files

Rediff.com27 Jan 2017

The US government was readying a strategy should India smash military power of West Pakistan.

British spies tried to get rid of Krishna Menon!

British spies tried to get rid of Krishna Menon!

Rediff.com5 Oct 2009

'The attempt to oust High Commissioner V K Krishna Menon failed because of the support of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,' the book titled The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5 by Professor Christopher Andrew released on Monday said.

Was air strike a clear victory for India?

Was air strike a clear victory for India?

Rediff.com13 Mar 2019

'Though the prime minister has talked somewhat needlessly of pilot projects and the real stuff to come, India cannot be sure of a clean victory in any full-fledged conflict -- even if there is reason to engage in such,' points out T N Ninan.

Time to divide J&K into Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh

Time to divide J&K into Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh

Rediff.com25 Jun 2018

'It is time to not merely assert that Kashmir is an internal problem, but begin to act on it,' argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Pakistan's nuclear bomb was ready in 1983: AQ Khan

Pakistan's nuclear bomb was ready in 1983: AQ Khan

Rediff.com9 Sep 2009

'The credit (for the nuclear bomb) goes to me and my team because it was a very difficult task, which was next to impossible. But given the US and European pressure on our programme, it is true that had the Afghan war not taken place at that time, we would not have been able to make the bomb as early as we did,' Khan told the Aaj News Television.

For the Pentagon, the Pak Army can do no wrong

For the Pentagon, the Pak Army can do no wrong

Rediff.com11 Dec 2009

Let's face it. When it comes to the Pentagon, the Pakistani military can do no wrong. Even if it's going after only the Pakistani Taliban and not the Afghan Taliban, which it apparently continues to promote for strategic depth against India and as a hedge in case the US decides to cut and run.

The man Putin fears most

The man Putin fears most

Rediff.com26 Dec 2017

Vaihayasi Pande Daniel glances at the life and political career of Alexey Navalny who has been banned from challenging Vladimir Putin in Russia's presidential election.

Russia seals borders with Georgia

Russia seals borders with Georgia

Rediff.com19 Aug 2008

Russia has closed its borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan for the nationals and carriers of countries, which are not members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a body of former Soviet republics.The cabinet notification of August 12 has 'temporarily' banned third country aliens from entering into Russia through borders with Azerbaijan and Georgia to prevent infiltration of members of foreign terror outfits and smuggling of arms, a government daily reported.

De-mystify Shastri's death, BJP tells government

De-mystify Shastri's death, BJP tells government

Rediff.com31 Jul 2009

Siddharth Nath Singh was two years old when his legendary grandfather Lal Bahadur Shastri's body was flown in from Tashkent to New Delhi on a cold morning of January 1966. The sudden death of India's second prime minister in the Soviet city, where he had gone to talk peace with Pakistani leader Muhammad Ayub Khan on January 11, had plunged the country into grief.

For Putin, World Cup shows Russia cannot be caged by hostile West

For Putin, World Cup shows Russia cannot be caged by hostile West

Rediff.com7 Jun 2018

In the Russian president's eyes, it sends a message of defiance to the world and his own people which fits his favoured storyline: Russia is succeeding despite Western efforts to hold it back.

S Jaishankar: The strict IFS officer with a wicked sense of humour

S Jaishankar: The strict IFS officer with a wicked sense of humour

Rediff.com30 Jan 2015

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's worldview sets him apart

Why Nehru had set up the Planning Commission

Why Nehru had set up the Planning Commission

Rediff.com15 Aug 2014

The 64-year-old Planning Commission, a vestige of the socialist era, will soon become history.

Missile that downed MH17 came from Russian military

Missile that downed MH17 came from Russian military

Rediff.com24 May 2018

Dutch investigator Wilbert Paulissen said the Joint Investigation Team had come to the conclusion that the BUK-TELAR that shot down MH17 came from 53rd Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade based in Kursk in Russia.

Meldonium tests reignite doping scandal in Russian athletics

Meldonium tests reignite doping scandal in Russian athletics

Rediff.com21 Mar 2016

The Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) said on Monday four athletes had tested positive at the Russian Winter Indoor Athletics Championships in February.

Alcohol ban is like demonetisation

Alcohol ban is like demonetisation

Rediff.com6 Jan 2017

Sunanda K Datta-Ray considers them sound in theory, but incapable of making any dent in the corruption that is India's way of life.

Bangladesh hangs chief of terror group HuJI

Bangladesh hangs chief of terror group HuJI

Rediff.com12 Apr 2017

Bangladesh on Wednesday executed banned Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two associates for a 2004 attack on a shrine that killed three people and wounded the British high commissioner at the time.

Soccer Extras: Man Utd boss rules out Pogba sale

Soccer Extras: Man Utd boss rules out Pogba sale

Rediff.com20 Dec 2019

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

'People are afraid of speaking about Islam'

'People are afraid of speaking about Islam'

Rediff.com19 Jan 2009

'People are much more afraid,' Salman Rushdie said, speaking of the years following the fatwa Iranian clerics had declared against him. 'There has been a chilling effect. Now people think twice before they make... almost any remark about Islam. They think twice in case somebody decides to be offended.'

Stalin: From gritty teenage campaigner to mature DMK boss

Stalin: From gritty teenage campaigner to mature DMK boss

Rediff.com28 Aug 2018

The 65-year-old leader's ascent as the DMK chief heralds a new era in the Dravidian party, making him only the second man after his father to be elected as party president.

When US presidents came calling to India

When US presidents came calling to India

Rediff.com20 Jan 2015

President Obama's coming visit to India has created quite a buzz, here is a look at all past visits of American Presidents to the country

India must prepare for the daybreak of peace in Afghanistan

India must prepare for the daybreak of peace in Afghanistan

Rediff.com2 Aug 2018

'The danger today is that out of sheer fatigue and exasperation, the US might cut loose and exit from Afghanistan leaving it to the region to cope with the debris, which it is ill-equipped to handle,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.