News for 'central-asia'

How power was transferred in the Mughal empire

How power was transferred in the Mughal empire

Rediff.com9 Dec 2017

The cardinal rule for Mughal princes was 'Ya Takht, Ya Takhta' (the throne or the funeral pyre). They often went to battle against their brothers, even their father, to become emperor, points out Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Nothing bloodless about it.

'Nehru was eclectic, and brilliant'

'Nehru was eclectic, and brilliant'

Rediff.com11 Mar 2019

Historian Stanley Wolpert, author of several books on India, passed into the ages recently. We remember Professor Wolpert with Rajeev Srinivasan's March 1997 interview published on the occasion of his controversial book on Jawaharlal Nehru.

Javadekar attends Pak Day event where Hurriyat leaders attack Centre

Javadekar attends Pak Day event where Hurriyat leaders attack Centre

Rediff.com24 Mar 2016

Javadekar was at the event, where presence of his ministerial colleague V K Singh last year had drawn flak from the media, for around 20 minutes, and extended his 'best wishes' to the Pakistani people on the sidelines.

Rethinking our Westernised biases

Rethinking our Westernised biases

Rediff.com30 Dec 2017

Ajit Balakrishnan reflects on pariahs, small businesses, and blockchains.

The Dangal opportunity: How India can woo China

The Dangal opportunity: How India can woo China

Rediff.com1 Jun 2017

Dangal's success in China opens up the world's second-largest film market for India. But there are risks, warns Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

The Dangal opportunity: How India can woo China

The Dangal opportunity: How India can woo China

Rediff.com1 Jun 2017

Dangal's success in China opens up the world's second-largest film market for India. But there are risks, warns Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

Japan to join India and US navies in Malabar 2014

Japan to join India and US navies in Malabar 2014

Rediff.com18 Jul 2014

"Japan will participate in MALABAR this year which is our largest bilateral naval exercise with India and it's scheduled to take place at the end of this month," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Amy Searight told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on Thursday.

Rahul is a Hindu, so is Zakir Naik, and Amit Shah

Rahul is a Hindu, so is Zakir Naik, and Amit Shah

Rediff.com14 Dec 2017

Syed Firdaus Ashraf on the futility of the 'who is a Hindu?' debate.

Will another 26/11 lead to war?

Will another 26/11 lead to war?

Rediff.com25 Nov 2018

A senior former Obama administration official said if another attack would have happened like that, it would 'quickly escalates into a regional war'.

India's SCO membership will strengthen region's security: PM Modi

India's SCO membership will strengthen region's security: PM Modi

Rediff.com24 Jun 2016

At the summit, India signed the SCO's memorandum of obligations, kick-starting the process of its accession into the group as a full member.

Obama vows to protect religious minorities at home and abroad

Obama vows to protect religious minorities at home and abroad

Rediff.com16 Jan 2016

Obama made no reference to any country in his speech but said that his administration works to promote religious freedom around the globe.

How is attending an iftar appeasement?

How is attending an iftar appeasement?

Rediff.com16 Jul 2015

'The reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have attended the President's iftar was not merely to break a fast with the faithful, but more importantly to broker an understanding with India's second largest set of citizens,' says Shehzad Poonawalla.

Govt may fund strategically important Iranian port

Govt may fund strategically important Iranian port

Rediff.com30 May 2014

JNPT, the country's largest container port at Navi Mumbai, and Kandla in Gujarat's Kutch, the largest port by total cargo, will come together to form a Special Purpose Vehicle to operate the terminal at Chabahar, under a revenue-share agreement with the Port and Maritime Organisation, Iran.

My children asked if we have to leave after Trump win: Biswal

My children asked if we have to leave after Trump win: Biswal

Rediff.com18 Jan 2017

Biswal, who is in her late 40s, said there is a lot of fear and anxiety in a lot of communities.

India-Iran camaraderie raises red flags in Washington

India-Iran camaraderie raises red flags in Washington

Rediff.com25 May 2016

US Senators want Obama administration to clarify what India's 12 agreements with Iran are all about.

Why US threats no longer perturb Pakistan

Why US threats no longer perturb Pakistan

Rediff.com22 Feb 2018

'If the US intention was to use the FATF platform to isolate Pakistan and impose sanctions against it, that is not going to work when influential countries such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia will not lend support to the US campaign,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Trump's son-in-law we know, meet some other powerful s-i-l

Trump's son-in-law we know, meet some other powerful s-i-l

Rediff.com10 Jan 2017

Sons-in-law are 'in' these days in the circles of power.

India must overcome 'tremendous' challenges to realise potential, says top Indian-American diplomat

India must overcome 'tremendous' challenges to realise potential, says top Indian-American diplomat

Rediff.com11 May 2016

The US wants its trade with India to grow multi-fold, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told lawmakers.

'India and Pakistan need to get along'

'India and Pakistan need to get along'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2017

'Whatever the two countries are doing these days, on the diplomatic front and on their borders, that hostility is not sustainable.' 'Today's world doesn't approve it.'

Why Iran's infra push is good news for India

Why Iran's infra push is good news for India

Rediff.com30 Aug 2016

Two projects in Iran, which India is to execute involving major financial commitments on its part, are of particular significance for Indian steel.

GSAT-15, India's latest communications satellite, launched successfully

GSAT-15, India's latest communications satellite, launched successfully

Rediff.com11 Nov 2015

A high power satellite, GSAT-15 is being inducted into the INSAT/GSAT system. GSAT-15 carries a total of 24 communication transponders in Ku-band as well as a GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands.

Did the US turn a blind eye to the Taliban till...

Did the US turn a blind eye to the Taliban till...

Rediff.com9 Nov 2014

'It is important to note that American officials were trying their best to use the Taliban for their oil games till December 1997 when Mullah Ghous was invited to America. State Department officials did not show any interest in capturing or killing Osama bin Laden even at that time.'

China springs a surprise at border talks with India

China springs a surprise at border talks with India

Rediff.com17 Feb 2014

China wants a code of conduct for troops on the India-China border areas. While the Indian side has reacted cautiously, it is not clear what effective additional protocols that the current proposed code will bring forth to usher stability in the border areas, says Srikanth Kondapalli.

World food prices drop to 55-month low

World food prices drop to 55-month low

Rediff.com6 Mar 2015

Higher local output estimated to depress cross-border sales

What has Arctic weather got to do with Indian monsoon? A lot, actually

What has Arctic weather got to do with Indian monsoon? A lot, actually

Rediff.com26 May 2018

Data spanning the years 1951 to 2014 show that temperature and pressure conditions at specific locations in the Arctic region during the pre-monsoon period correlate with the Indian summer monsoon rainfall, points out Charu Bahri.

Prime Minister Modi to visit Japan next month

Prime Minister Modi to visit Japan next month

Rediff.com6 Jun 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan, a key strategic partner, next month as he embarks on a busy foreign travel schedule in coming months that will include Bhutan, Brazil and the US.

Modi-Trump Summit: 'The buzzword is going to be continuity'

Modi-Trump Summit: 'The buzzword is going to be continuity'

Rediff.com25 Jun 2017

Aziz Haniffa, who has covered every Indian Prime Minister's visit to the US since Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, gives us a peek into what's happening in Washington, DC on the eve of the Modi-Trump summit.

China's dilemmas in Af-Pak region

China's dilemmas in Af-Pak region

Rediff.com12 Sep 2014

The developments in Af-Pak region, particularly the fall out of Pak political paralysis, would make President Xi Jinping's task a little more complicated, says Colonel R Hariharan.

Future looks bright for China's new Silk Road

Future looks bright for China's new Silk Road

Rediff.com18 Aug 2015

This new Silk Road has the potential to once again have a lasting impact on the commerce and culture of this region for generations to come

India, Pak, Afghanistan relations take centre stage at Jaipur LitFest

India, Pak, Afghanistan relations take centre stage at Jaipur LitFest

Rediff.com22 Jan 2015

Interrelations of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday took centre stage at the Jaipur LitFest where panelists discussed the upswing in talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan besides India's ties with its neighbour.

Defence cooperation tops PM Modi's agenda in Tajikistan

Defence cooperation tops PM Modi's agenda in Tajikistan

Rediff.com13 Jul 2015

India and Tajikistan on Monday pledged to further deepen their cooperation to fight terror and agreed to step up defence ties besides boosting trade and investment.

Afghanistan will succeed when terror no longer flows across border: PM

Afghanistan will succeed when terror no longer flows across border: PM

Rediff.com25 Dec 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Afghanistan's new Parliament built by India in Kabul

Why Modi's visit to Moscow is so important

Why Modi's visit to Moscow is so important

Rediff.com25 Dec 2015

'What should worry India and which needs to be expressed is Russia's simultaneous proximity to both China and Pakistan from a strategic angle. That hasn't happened ever before,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

US plans 280 mn aid to Pak to encourage counter-terrorism effort

US plans 280 mn aid to Pak to encourage counter-terrorism effort

Rediff.com5 Mar 2014

Arguing that Pakistan will remain a key player in counter terrorism post-2014, the United States has proposed $280 million in military assistance to the country, although it wants to cut civilian aid in an effort to acknowledge India's concerns about misuse of the funds.

As India remembers 26/11, jihadist threats multiply

As India remembers 26/11, jihadist threats multiply

Rediff.com26 Nov 2014

Through its early days to the 1980s, Pakistan sought to expand its sphere of Islamic influence through Afghanistan to Central Asia and got Pakistani citizens recruited in the Afghan government institutions in the 1990s when the Taliban were power. Now, it is looking eastward through India to Bangladesh and Myanmar to establish an imaginary caliphate.

Kunming knife attacks: China is playing with fire

Kunming knife attacks: China is playing with fire

Rediff.com3 Mar 2014

Domestically, China's 'strike hard' policy is alienating Uighurs further in Xinjiang. China's quid pro quo with the Taliban is hardly any lasting solution to the Afghanistan crises or to regional security, says Srikanth Kondapalli.

Trump's threat falls flat on Pakistani generals

Trump's threat falls flat on Pakistani generals

Rediff.com10 Jan 2018

'If push comes to shove, Pakistan does have the capability to make it difficult for the US and NATO forces to make even a withdrawal of troops out of Afghanistan in orderly fashion,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Pakistan must know retribution will be devastating

Pakistan must know retribution will be devastating

Rediff.com12 Apr 2017

'India can replicate what Pakistan did to Kulbhushan Jadhav should the need arise.' 'Hopefully, Pakistan will see reason before that transpires,' says Ambassador G Parthasarathy, former high commissioner to Pakistan.

India, Pak fear 'surplus terrorism' after Afghan pullout: US

India, Pak fear 'surplus terrorism' after Afghan pullout: US

Rediff.com31 Jul 2013

India and Pakistan fear that any instability in the war-torn Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops could result in "surplus terrorism" in both the countries, a top US official has said.

Why this US admiral's speech in Delhi upset China

Why this US admiral's speech in Delhi upset China

Rediff.com4 Mar 2016

US admiral's suggestion for a revival of a strategic maritime quadrilateral with Japan, Australia and India leaves China livid, says Rajeev Sharma.